Mark is President of From Here to There and a Thought Leader with the Tamarack Institute. A past Fellow of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, he has worked internationally and in Canada on economic development and poverty reduction.

He played key roles in Poland’s post-communist transition and led award-winning initiatives in Canada, including Vibrant Communities Canada. His focus is on tackling complex social issues through developmental evaluation and real-time learning. Mark lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and two children.

Karen McDonald has devoted her career to gerontology, including 10 years in seniors’ supportive housing and 15 years at Sage Seniors Association, where she has served as Executive Director for half her tenure. Sage, a community-based seniors-serving organization, offers social services, community development, and life-enrichment programming for and with under-resourced older adults.

Karen chairs the Community Leadership Council and is Provincial Director of Healthy Aging Alberta, supporting sector development, non-medical services, and community initiatives for seniors. She also co-chairs the National Community-Based Seniors Services Sector Interim Community Leadership Council, guiding national sector growth.

Contributing to health system transformation, Karen served on the Modernizing Alberta Primary Care System (MAPS) Strategic Advisory Panel and the Assisted Living Alberta Transition Committee. She holds an MBA and a BA from the University of Alberta and volunteers as Treasurer of the Muttart Foundation Board.

Jared Wesley is Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), a professor of political science and member of the Black Faculty Collective at the University of Alberta. He studies the links between public opinion, public policy, and political culture. His career path has included several senior management positions with the Government of Alberta. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, he is a lucky husband and proud father of two daughters.

Cheryl is the Executive Director of the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, where she has played a key role for nearly 30 years. She oversees 22 programs that connect Indigenous clients to their community, building skills and resilience.

She serves on the boards of the Canadian Accreditation Council, Align Association, and PolicyWise for Children & Families. Cheryl mentors through the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations and represents Bent Arrow in C5, a nonprofit collaboration. She values strong cross-sector partnerships in her work.

Gemma Dunn is the Executive Director of ECVO, a leading resource and advocate for Alberta’s charities and nonprofit organizations. She is a seasoned nonprofit thought leader with over 20 years of experience in the sector, including 15 years in capacity building where she is recognized for her ability to tackle complex issues. Gemma’s passion has driven her to work very closely with communities and non-profit organisations to create innovative solutions and develop systems that support a thriving non-profit sector. Her work focuses on sector transformation, leadership development and strengthening the evidence base for voluntary action. She believes that building authentic relationships and deepening connection within the sector will ultimately lead to better outcomes for all.