Bruce Heyman is an American businessman, author and former diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2017. Before his diplomatic appointment, Heyman was a prominent investment banker, vice president, managing director and partner at Goldman Sachs. A Vanderbilt University alumnus, he’s since co-authored The Art of Diplomacy with his wife, Vicki, detailing their experiences in bilateral U.S.-Canada relations. Heyman remains active in international affairs, co-chairing the Advisory Board to the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center.  

Mark is Vice President and Chief Economist at ATB Financial. Over his 20-year career, Mark has served in key senior economic roles, including as Chief Economist and Assistant Deputy Minister of Economics and Fiscal Policy at Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. He has provided leadership in a range of areas, including economic analysis and forecasting, fiscal analysis and data analytics. Mark previously worked as a senior economist at PwC and as an economist at the Department of Finance Canada. Mark holds a Masters degree in economics from the University of Alberta.

The Honourable Danielle Smith is a proud Albertan.  As Leader of the governing United Conservative Party, she was sworn in as the nineteenth Premier of Alberta in October 2022, and represents the riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat in the Legislative Assembly.

Premier Smith has had a lifelong interest in Alberta public policy and finding the right balance between free enterprise and individual freedom, and the role of government.  She was previously MLA for Highwood and leader of the Official Opposition.

Before re-entering politics, Premier Smith worked extensively in the media and in business, most recently as President of the Alberta Enterprise Group.  Before that she was a radio host with Corus Entertainment for 6 years. 

Premier Smith holds degrees in both Economics and English from the University of Calgary.  She is married to David and proud stepmom to his son.  Premier Smith and her husband own and operate a restaurant.  They live in High River with their two dogs.

Joe Lougheed is a Partner in the Calgary office of the international law firm Dentons, where he has practiced since 1991.  His focus is corporate law, private equity and corporate governance. 

Joe is an active community volunteer and is dedicated to serving his City.  Among his numerous volunteer roles, he is a past Chair & Director of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), a past Chair & Director of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and a former Director of United Way of Calgary & Area. 

In addition to his role as CED Board Chair, Joe also serves as the Hon. Consul for Sweden in Calgary & Southern Alberta. 

Brad Parry was appointed President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development (CED) in 2022, following two years as Vice-President of Marketing and Communications.

With over two decades of leadership roles across industries that span public, private, startup and not-for-profit organizations, Brad has a strong track record of driving high performing teams by leading with integrity and compassion, and creating a culture of accountability, teamwork and collaboration.

Previous to his leadership roles at CED, Brad held executive positions for companies, including CEO and Founder of Atlarge Consulting, a consultancy focused on marketing, communications, operations, strategy, commercialization, and revenue generation

for technology, media and venture capital companies; Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Intertainment Media; and Vice President of Marketing at E! Television Network.

With a strong foundation in marketing, communications, labour, investor, stakeholder and government relations, Brad has built a reputation for being a strategic and analytical leader known for building inclusive organizational cultures that are data-centric and focused on growing revenue, spearheading digital and technology transformation and driving innovation.

A passionate, strategic and analytical thinker with a penchant for getting things done, Brad has led and acted as a key advisor to small, medium and large-scale operations.

In addition to leading the team at CED and serving on the Board of Directors, Brad is also the CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and Board member of the Calgary Film Centre Ltd.. He is also a former Board member and advisor to Data for Good, a national volunteer organization that focuses on supporting their communities through the use of data.  

In January 2023, Brad was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee medal in recognition of his track record of leadership and contributions to the province.