TELUS Spark

Leadership

Spark Executive Leadership Team

Roderick Tate

President and Chief Executive Officer

Roderick was appointed CEO of TELUS Spark Science Centre in July 2023.

He is a creative leader with more than 20 years’ experience in in the development and execution of world-renowned attractions and events. Roderick joined TELUS Spark Science Centre in 2021 as Chief Experience Officer, where he built a solid vision and strategy for executing world-renowned guest experiences at Spark.

Rod is a musician and performer by trade. His musical talents and years in the entertainment industry, strategic leadership of large-scale attraction and events, have culminated into his vision and mission for delivering extraordinary guest experiences and high-performance teams.

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Kyle Corner

Vice President, Experience

Meet Kyle, a trailblazer in entertainment and visitor experiences with over 20 years of experience. He has made his mark on iconic events like the Calgary Stampede and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Kyle is not only a professional creative but also an entrepreneur and artist. He founded the award-winning Peanut Butter Cupboard mobile concession and leads The OTB Company, specializing in eye-catching displays for non-profit and community events. At Spark, he and his team, known as 'Hackademics,' skillfully blend scientific wonder with artful entertainment experiences.

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Pamela Todd

Vice President, Brand, Marketing & Communications

Pamela Todd is a strategic senior brand leader with 25+ years of experience in big-box retail and small business. Pamela ran an award-winning business for over 10 years, was voted one of Alberta’s Top Ten Entrepreneurs by Venture Magazine and awarded best Retail Business in Canada by the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association. Previously at the Canadian Tire Corporation, leading large scale projects and progressing in roles in communications, marketing and digital innovation at FGL Sports, Sport Chek and Mark’s. Pamela is a Métis mixed media artist with a BFA in Drawing and Digital Media from Alberta University for the Arts and attended Babson University in Boston obtaining a certificate in Social Media Management.

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Angelika Goncalves DaSilva

Vice President, Business Services

Angelika is a Finance professional and enjoys supporting businesses in reaching their goals. Prior to joining Spark, she worked with various businesses as a consultant.

She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary.

Angelika enjoys the outdoors and spending time on the bike and ski trails of the Canadian Rockies.

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Spark Director Team

Angela Stinson

Director, Strategic Projects and Facility Operations

Angela Stinson is an interior designer with a bachelor of interior design degree from Ryerson University and 15 years of design and project management experience working in real estate development and large-scale commercial interiors. Prior to joining Spark, Angela led the design and construction for the cross-Canada expansion of Canadian retailer, Simons. Her portfolio includes a number of award-winning projects, with a focus on public-facing spaces that incorporate sustainable design and renewable energy.

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Victor Bustamante

Director, Guest Services & Events

Victor Bustamante is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of extensive experience in the hospitality and events industry that holds a degree from the University of Guelph in Hotel and Food Administration. Growing up in Peru, a country recognized for its food culture and warm hospitality, Victor has merged his culinary passion with creative problem-solving and a guest-first approach to deliver compelling experiences and products. From being part of leading the biggest Drive-In in Western Canada during the pandemic to the IAAPA-recognized, science-inspired James Webb Ice Cream cone, Victor has garnered national and worldwide recognition for Spark.

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Zack Anderson

Director, Science Connections

Zack is a passionate science communicator and self-professed nature nerd. He has led education and programming teams at Spark for the last five years, and has extensive experience leading experiential teams across the attraction and museums industry at locations such as the Calgary Zoo, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and the Government of Alberta. He also currently serves as the Vice President of the Alberta Museums Association, and on the Advisory Board of Campus Calgary Open Minds. He has a fun animal fact for every occasion.

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Spark Board of Directors

Nancy Brennan | Chair and Corporate Secretary

Executive Vice-President & Chief Legal Officer, TransAlta

Nancy is an experienced executive, with over 20 years leading legal, sustainability and external relations teams in the energy sector. She holds an LLB degree from Dalhousie University and a BA from the University of Alberta. She is active in the community and previously served on other not for profit boards in Calgary.

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Sophia Langlois | Vice Chair and Treasurer

Corporate Director, Alaris Equity Partners

Sophia Langlois recently retired from KPMG where she was an audit partner, corporate services leader for the Calgary office and national audit people strategy leader for Canada. She recently served as the Vice-Chair of the Board and the Audit Committee Chair at SAIT.

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Jason Green | Past Chair

Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group

Jason Green began his career as an engineer in the environmental services sector. He has a BSc in civil engineering and an MEng in environmental engineering from the University of Alberta as well as an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University. Jason specializes in strategy and operations issues in the energy, agriculture, and technology sectors.

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Kirstie Boyle | Board Member

Chief Executive Officer, Envirosoft

Kirstie Boyle is a leader in the technology and entrepreneurship community who leverages new technologies to solve complex problems. She has been recognized by the United Nations Global Innovation of Change program, Women of Influence in Calgary, and the Rising Stars program of the Daily Oil Bulletin.

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Asanga Gunatillaka | Board Member

Managing Director (CEO), FibreNest

Asanga Gunatillaka is a senior executive currently based in the UK with 20 years of experience in transforming media and telecommunications companies with the introduction of new products and business models. He brings 20 years of diverse international technology and business leadership experience across a variety of companies including Accenture and Virgin Media.

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Graeme Harrison | Board Member

President - Harvest

Graeme Harrison is a lawyer and entrepreneur, who worked at a major national law firm in Calgary prior to starting an energy storage technology company set on revolutionizing Canada’s energy future.

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Chelsea Hunter | Board Member

Partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

With over 15 years’ experience practicing law, Chelsea specializes in advising public and private clients on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings and securities law compliance and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 for her contributions to corporate law. Chelsea holds a J.D. from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Applied Policy Studies from Mount Royal University.

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Bhushan Ivaturi | Board Member

Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Enbridge

Bhushan Ivaturi has shaped, led and transformed the business of technology and services in several industries. Prior to moving to Calgary, he was Vice President and global CIO at AP Moller Maersk, where he led and transformed the global data, cybersecurity, information and industrial technology and built the digital strategy. Before Maersk, Bhushan served as an executive at General Electric (GE) for 15 years.

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Duane Schellenberg | Board Member

Managing Director, ARC Financial Corp

Duane Schellenberg co-heads the investment team at ARC Financial, is a member of ARC's Executive Committee and currently represents ARC on the boards of Convergent Oil Corp. and Longshore Resources Ltd. Duane joined ARC in 2007 with prior experience at a global investment bank. He has an MBA from the Yale School of Management, a BCom in Finance from the University of Saskatchewan.

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Kelly Schmitt | Board Member

Software Executive and Corporate Director

Kelly is the former Chief Executive Officer of Benevity, the market leading global enterprise social impact platform. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer of three Calgary technology unicorns, including SMART Technologies, Solium and Benevity. She currently supports earlier stage tech companies as a Board Member and advisor.

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Shazia Soban | Board Member

Vice President Network Planning, TELUS

Shazia is an accomplished multilingual senior executive with 20+ years of domestic and international experience in highly transformative, multi-stakeholder complex technology driven projects. She is results oriented, people centric, decisive leader with proven success in creating systemic change while spearheading operational excellence and driving efficiency and optimization of resources.

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Neil Smith | Board Member

Corporate Director, Long View Systems

Neil is a CPA(CA) and recently retired CFO for a private Calgary based North American IT services provider, Long View Systems and prior to that held various senior finance and supply chain positions with Shaw Communications, and the ATCO group. In addition, Neil spent almost 19 years of public accounting experience providing tax advisory and audit services with Ernst and Young. He is currently a board member of Long View Systems and has prior health charity board experience.

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Janeen Speer | Board Member

Chief People Officer at Benevity

Janeen has over 20 years of experience in recruitment, leadership, and talent management, including growing Shopify from 5,000 to 10,000 employees. She’s held senior roles at WestJet, Lululemon, and Starbucks. Janeen holds a degree in Psychology, an MBA, and is a certified coach. She often speaks on topics such as the future of work, DEI, and HR best practices.

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Jana Taylor | Board Member

Jana Taylor is a passionate supporter of social impact initiatives and an accomplished tech executive whose career adventures have included senior roles in strategy, marketing and people operations. Most recently the Chief People Officer of StellarAlgo, she was also part of the original team at Benevity, and has advised and guided numerous early and growth stage tech companies in Alberta.

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Gina Thornton | Board Member

Partner at MNP Enterprise Risk Services

Gina has over 25 years of experience gained across three continents in finance, accounting, and auditing. In 2021, Gina was honoured as one of the Top 50 Women in Accounting worldwide. Gina has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and holds the following post-graduate designations: CA, CPA, CIA, CISA.

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Spark Indigenous Advisory Circle and Indigenous Leadership

Casey Eagle Speaker

Sorrel Horse. Elder and Knowledge Keeper from Kainai First Nation.

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Hal Eagletail

Knowledge Keeper and Cultural Advisor from Tsuutina First Nation.

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Diana Melting Tallow

Elder and Knowledge Keeper from Siksika Nation.

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Rob Cardinal

Astronomer from Siksika Nation. Mentor/teacher for IndigeSTEAM.

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Alice Kaquitts

Knowledge Keeper from Îethka Nakoda First Nation.

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Doreen Bergum

Métis Elder from Métis Nation.

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ᒥᐦᑯᐱᐦᐁᓯᐤ
Kori Czuy

Manager, Indigenous Science Connections

Kori Czuy, ᒥᐦᑯᐱᐦᐁᓯᐤ, is Cree/Métis Polish, and was born in Treaty 8 by the banks of the Peace River. She is the Manager, Indigenous Engagement at the Spark Science Centre, focusing on bringing together multiple ways of knowing science. Kori is on an ongoing journey to reconnect with and learn from the knowings of the land, as well as helping others connect with the complexities of these knowings alongside Western science.

Her PhD is in storying mathematics; through her research she worked with children and Treaty 7 Elders to explore the depth of mathematics within Indigenous stories.