A graduate of the U of A’s Faculty of Engineering (Department of Mining and Metallurgy) in 1980, Norm Hanson has worked ever since in companies that operate within the energy sector in western Canada and internationally. In 1991, Norm Hanson formed Thermex Metal Treating Ltd., the result of the amalgamation of a local steel heat treating business together with a similar business that he acquired in the Vancouver area. The Edmonton branch was moved to a larger facility in 1992, and since then has seen its revenues grow by more than 650%. Around the same time, an agreement was reached with the founder of Metal Supermarkets in Ontario, to open a branch in Edmonton under a simple “franchise” agreement. That location has grown to be consistently amongst the top 5 revenue earners in the network, which now includes more than 70 locations across North America.

A lifelong Albertan and Edmontonian, Norm Hanson remains committed to the economic growth and success of the province and its citizens, convinced of the significant opportunities that exist, and the willingness and capacity of Albertans to seize those opportunities and transform them into winning enterprises that generate great working lives and prosperity for those who put in the work.

Dr. Jing Liu is an Associate Professor and Engineering Research Chair in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta. Prior to joining the University of Alberta in 2019, she worked as a Principal Metallurgist at Kemetco Research. She received her Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from the University of British Columbia, where she also completed her postdoctoral research.

Dr. Liu’s research focuses on corrosion and materials degradation, high-temperature and high-pressure electrochemistry, and sustainable materials engineering, with particular emphasis on materials for extreme energy environments. She has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals, including Materials Today, Acta Materialia, and Chemical Engineering Journal. Her contributions have been recognized by several awards, including the 2022 Petro-Canada Young Investigator Award and the 2024 MetSoc Brimacombe Award. She also serves as an Associate Editor of Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly and a Subject Editor of Process Safety and Environmental Protection.

Imran Ally has over 25 years of leadership experience in the areas of financial management, financing, business analysis, risk management, strategic planning, accounting, financial reporting, operational monitoring and reporting, information systems management, procurement, contracts, and corporate governance.

Prior to joining GLC, Imran was the CFO for the Canadian division of a publicly traded international engineering firm where, as a member of the leadership team, he provided strong financial oversight, strategic advice and inputs to key business decisions for Canadian/North American operations. During his tenure Imran led the company financially through periods of growth and periods of significant challenges. He possesses superior business sense, strong analytical skills and innovative thinking which he successfully applied to the financial management of Canadian operations. He was also responsible for ensuring adherence to governance requirements, controls, and reporting practices in various areas, in addition to stringent cash flow management.

Imran earned his Business degree from the University of Alberta which houses one of the top business schools in Canada. The University of Alberta is ranked as one of the top 100 universities in the world. His formative post-graduation professional years were spent with a big four firm where he developed a strong foundation in internal controls and processes, risk assessment, financial analysis, and business analysis, in addition to accounting, auditing, and tax. Imran also spent time in the business financing industry developing a solid understanding of the attributes and information required to obtain and maintain funding from lenders and investors.

During his career, he has managed through periods of start-up, growth, stability, and contraction, and has a strong understanding of strategies and actions required during such phases.

Mr. Arsenych is Co-Chair/CFO of Rainforest Energy Corp., a renewable fuel start-up he co-founded (www.rainforestenergy.ca). A veteran entrepreneur, he was co-founder/CEO of eight prior start-ups in the petroleum, renewable energy, and technology sectors.  He has over 40 years business development experience in structuring innovative financings totalling more than $500 million in value.  He was co-founder and chair of the first major biodiesel operation built in Western Canada.  He sat on a joint venture committee with a major oil company for the joint development of a new refining technology.  He also sourced and negotiated the acquisition of a crude oil refinery and served as acting general manager.

He sat on the board of a Swedish engineering firm that specialized in district energy and power cogeneration. As chair or CEO of four successful oil and gas start-ups, he achieved compounded rates of return ranging from 12% to 38% for the initial investors. Mr. Arsenych for 10 years was a sessional instructor at the Haskayne Business School, University of Calgary, where he taught petroleum economics and strategy. Mr. Arsenych has served on more than 20 private, public, and non-profit boards, 11 of which as chair or lead director.