Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is pleased to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors: Kate Chisholm and Mark Blackwell. These Alberta-based leaders with backgrounds in business and sustainability will join ERA’s current Board of Directors in providing direction and oversight to the organization.
ERA’s Board helps to shape its strategy and business plans, guides and approves funding decisions, provides governance oversight, and ensures the organization remains accountable to its mandate and vision. It also plays a role in building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
Chisholm and Blackwell start their three-year terms on May 1, 2023.
“After a robust search process, ERA is pleased to announce that Kate Chisholm and Mark Blackwell will join our Board of Directors. Each of these Alberta-based leaders bring a wealth of experience to the table and will play an important role in ensuring ERA continues to support Alberta’s environmental and economic goals.”
Dave Collyer, Board Chair, ERA
“ERA plays an important role in supporting Alberta’s emissions reduction ambitions while creating jobs and attracting investment. Kate and Mark are highly engaged, thoughtful leaders with impressive backgrounds that will help further advance our vision and mandate and build on the strong foundation and legacy our Board of Directors has built.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, ERA
Chisholm is an innovation advocate and recognized leader in sustainability within the province. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer for Capital Power. Her corporate experience includes previously serving as Capital Power’s Chief Legal Officer and EPCOR’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. She was also Vice President, Legal and Commercial, with Alberta’s Transmission Administrator, now the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). Chisholm is currently in her second three-year term as Chair of the University of Alberta Board of Governors.
Blackwell is a successful IT entrepreneur who is a well-recognized figure in Alberta’s venture capital circles. He is an Investing Partner with Builders VC, which is a leading venture capital fund with $400 million in assets under management (AUM) investing in the future of agriculture, industrials, and the built world. Previously, he was a Product Manager at SolarWinds, which develops IT monitoring and network management tools. He joined SolarWinds when it acquired GNS3 Technologies, an enterprise networking startup where he was Chief Operating Officer. He sits on several Boards, including the University of Calgary and SafeAI. Blackwell was the former Board Chair of the $100 million Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.
An extensive search was conducted with support from a third-party recruitment firm. There were several highly qualified applicants in the competitive process. These individuals join a diverse Board with backgrounds that include experience in industry, government, academia, and the not-for-profit sector.
For more information contact:
Kevin Duncan
Media Relations, Emissions Reduction Alberta
Cell: 403.431.2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA):
For more than 13 years, ERA has been investing revenues from the carbon price paid by large emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions. Since we were established in 2009, we have committed $855 million toward 245 projects worth $7 billion that are helping to reduce GHGs, create competitive industries and are leading to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative GHG reductions of 41 million tonnes by 2030 and 105 million tonnes by 2050.