WCB - Key Persons
Brian McConkey is a human resources leader with more than 30 years of experience in sustainable forestry. Brian is Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs for Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
Brian has extensive industry association and not-for-profit governance experience. He currently serves on the board for CAREERS: The Next Generation and serves on committees of the Forest Products Association of Canada and the Forestry Futures Alliance partnership. He previously chaired the Alberta Forest Products Roadmap Labour Availability Task Force and has contributed to a number of community and minor hockey organizations.
Claire Seo is an experienced manager specializing in instructional design and curriculum delivery, bridging compliance and safety through strategic training initiatives, and working with diverse teams to enhance proactive workplace safety culture. Her expertise extends across EPCOR, Kiewit and Ledcor, underpinned by a profound commitment to enhancing work environments.
Claire has been part of the Advisory Committee, Senate and Board of Governors at NAITSA & NAIT. She is recognized for her professional achievement with awards like the Community Advocate Award and Golden Gavel Awards for Excellence in Governance. She holds a bachelor of education from the University of Alberta and diploma in occupational health and safety from NAIT.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Employee and Corporate Services
Dr. Joshua Bezanson is an emergency and occupational medicine physician in Edmonton with extensive experience in pre-hospital and disaster medicine, crisis leadership and emergency management. He is passionate about occupational health and safety and has spent over 20 years working as and supporting first responders and health care workers. He is the senior Canadian medical director for International SOS and serves as chief medical officer and medical director for a number of fire and EMS agencies including the International Association of Fire Fighters. He has served on multiple boards.
His practice includes aerospace and dive medicine and he leads the Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit at the Misericordia Hospital. He has deployed nationally and internationally to various major disasters and is active in medical education and research with interests in hazardous materials response and occupational toxicology. He is a clinical lecturer at the University of Alberta, has completed multiple fellowships and holds a master of science degree in disaster medicine.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Leader in Alberta
Dr. Ray Block is a valued leader in Alberta, with over 30 years of leadership experience that includes nearly 10 years in various roles as President, CFO and V.P. of Administration at NAIT and as interim President of Olds College. Since his retirement in 2020, he has been working as a consultant and serves on three different boards. In addition to his role as WCB-Alberta Board Chair, he is the Vice Chair of uDigit Systems and serves as a member on the Out-of-Country Health Services Appeal Board.
Dr. Block brings extensive board experience, including previous service on the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Mental Health and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology boards.
Job Titles:
- Chief Officer of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board
Jordon has been the chief officer of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board since its inception in 2018. He was hired to build a small, not-for-profit crown corporation from the ground up. This included creating information technology, human resource and governance policies as well as building a small team of professional staff to carry out the mandate of the Board.
He is a skilled external affairs professional with extensive experience in policy development, process management, communications and team leadership.
Jordon spent eight years of his career at the Alberta Legislature, beginning his time in Edmonton as research officer for private government members, writing speeches, researching legislation and helping shepherd several bills through the legislative process. He then spent three years as the executive assistant to Premier Ed Stelmach, responsible for providing daily briefings and strategic advice to the Premier. He then spent two years as the chief of staff to the Minister of Employment and Immigration, providing advice to the Minister on operational, policy, legislative, communications, budgetary and political matters. In 2011 Jordon left government and began a successful six-year career in the oil and gas sector in Calgary, leading the government relations teams at both BP Canada and Cenovus Energy.
Ms. Phillips-Rickey FCPA, FCA is currently a member on several boards including the Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). She is a past board member of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, Edmonton Arts Council and Friends of KSPS.
Mary has held positions with the Edmonton Opera Association, Alberta Power Limited, Canadian Utilities Limited and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta. She is currently the Director of Finance for CKUA Radio.
Job Titles:
- Director of Negotiations and Policy at Health Sciences Association of Alberta
Mike Boyle is the Director of Negotiations and Policy at Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA). In this leadership role he coordinates and leads the strategic planning and execution of negotiations for HSAA, a union representing approximately 26,000 paramedical professional and technical health care workers throughout Alberta.
Mike is a labour relations practitioner with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of labour relations including management, grievance handling, formal hearings, collective bargaining and all things in between. He has had the opportunity to work with many people in diverse settings including corrections, the department of Environment and Parks and now in health care. Mike enjoys working with people to create a positive and safe place to work.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance and Administration at the University of Lethbridge
Nancy Walker was appointed vice president of finance and administration at the University of Lethbridge effective July 1, 1999. Prior to her appointment as the University's vice president, Nancy held the positions of internal auditor, director of financial services and associate vice president of administrative services. She oversees Ancillary Services, Financial Services/Planning, Human Resources, General Counsel, Sport and Recreation Services and Facilities. She also is a trustee on the Universities Academic Pension Plan board.
Her educational achievements include a masters of business administration (MBA) from Heriot Watt University, chartered accountant (CA) designation, and a bachelor of management from the University of Lethbridge. She was honoured with the Fellow of Chartered Accountants in February 2010.
She has achieved several awards including the Vic Dzurko Honour Roll on the Chartered Accountants Uniform Final Exam, Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Distinguished High School Alumni Award, Alberta Centennial Medal, the University of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society Award, University of Lethbridge Senate Volunteer Award, Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Allied Arts Council Joan Waterfield Memorial Award, 2016 YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Leadership and Management, 2020 CAUBO Ken Clements Distinguished Administrator Award, and the 2023 CAUBO Honorary Membership for Distinguished Service Award.
Shawna Miller is an entrepreneur and business woman with over two decades of experience. As head of a number of family businesses, Shawna co-owns and operates a number of restaurants across northwestern Alberta, an oilfield service company and a property investment firm.
Shawna has served on a number of not-for-profit boards including Grande Prairie United Way, Tiny Hands of Hope, Business Link and the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation. She served on the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors for eight years, including five years on the Executive Committee and two years as Chair. Shawna currently also serves as the Board Chair for the Alberta Chamber of Commerce and Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.