As part of its Climate Leadership Plan introduced in 2015, the government of Alberta has imposed a broad-base carbon tax to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerated plans to phase out coal-generated electricity by replacing it with renewable energy and natural gas, capped oil sands emissions and implemented a carbon price for oil sands facilities.

Please join us for a conversation with Gitane DeSilva, Alberta's Senior Representative to the U.S., to learn more about Alberta's progress and outlook for achieving its climate goals, in particular with respect to its energy sector.

SPEAKER:

Gitane DeSilva

Gitane DeSilva serves as Alberta’s Senior Representative to the United States.  Prior to her current appointment, she served as Deputy Minister of Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations. Before joining the Alberta Civil Service, De Silva was Consul General of Canada in Chicago. As Canada’s representative in Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri, she worked to advance Canada’s political and economic interests, including trade and investment promotion. De Silva served for 12 years in Canada’s Foreign Service and, prior to her appointment as Consul General, held several roles at Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (now Global Affairs Canada), including Director, Canada-US Advocacy and Mission Liaison, and director, US Transboundary Affairs. She also served as Counsellor (Environment & Fisheries) at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC and in the Canada-US Secretariat at the Privy Council Office. De Silva also served as Deputy Head of Agency at Status of Women Canada and Director General, APEC Women and the Economy Summit, where she worked on women’s economic empowerment and women in leadership. She holds a BA in International Relations from the University of British Columbia.

MODERATOR:

Louise Burke

Louise Burke is President of the Energy Forum Advisory Board and is currently working for Argus Media on strategic business initiatives for the company. Prior to this, Ms. Burke was Executive Director, of the Energy Forum, and president of J.C. Energy, an energy consulting firm. She has worked extensively in the energy sector analyzing pricing and markets for Mobil Oil Canada, Alberta Energy Company and Petroleos DeVenezuela. In addition, as Vice-President of marketing for the New York Mercantile Exchange she supervised major energy and metals futures and options product launches and was closely involved in the successful growth of energy commodity markets. Ms. Burke holds a BA honors economics degree from the University of Alberta and an MBA from New York University.

PROGRAM:

5:30 - 6:00 PM: Registration
6:00 - 7:30 PM: Presentation and Discussion
7:30 - 8:00 PM: Reception

COST:

$40.00 for General Admission
$10.00 for Academic/Military
$0.00 for Energy Forum Sponsors
$0.00 for Energy Forum Subscribers

QUESTIONS:

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