Main Stage Events
Opening Keynote & Plenary
How Suncor is Advancing Innovation in Oil Sands Mining
Thursday, October 2 | 8:00 – 09:00 | Exhibition Hall D
Kick off MEMO 2025 with Peter Zebedee, Executive Vice President at Suncor, as he shares how Canada’s leading oil sands operator is driving change through innovation.
Keynote Speaker
Peter Zebedee
Executive Vice President
Suncor, Oil Sands
Career Summary
Peter Zebedee is the Executive Vice President – Oil Sands, responsible for all oil sands operations including mining, in situ, and upgrading.
Before joining Suncor, Peter brought 25 years of multi-disciplinary industry and executive leadership experience to his role as Chief Executive Officer of LNG Canada. Prior to his secondment by Shell into the LNG Canada joint venture, Peter’s last positions with Shell were Vice President Canada Manufacturing and General Manager, Scotford.
For the first two decades of his career, Peter worked in oil sands mining in a variety of technical and operational positions of increasing responsibility at Shell, Petro‑Canada and Syncrude. He held positions in engineering, operations and numerous corporate assignments where he was a driving force in improvements in personal and process safety, delivery of exceptional business results and enhanced competitiveness.
Peter is Chair of the Energy Safety Canada Board, and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
Peter holds a bachelor of applied science in geological engineering from the University of British Columbia.
General Panel Session
Why Mining Needs You – Mining Opportunities in Canada.
Friday, October 3 | 8:00 – 09:00 | Exhibition Hall D
Is mining still a growth sector and a viable long-term career path?
Join us on Day 2 of MEMO 2025 for a panel discussion tackling the big questions about where the industry is headed and what that means for the next generation of workers.
The panel will explore emerging opportunities across Canadian mining, including oilsands, potash, metallurgical coal, critical minerals, and Indigenous partnerships.
We’ll also dive into what future mining careers could look like, and why mining remains a vital, opportunity-rich sector of the Canadian economy.
Panelists
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier
CEO and Co-Owner
Bouchier
Career Summary
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is an accomplished CEO, entrepreneur, and proud Mikisew Cree woman whose bold leadership has reshaped Canada’s business and social landscape. As Co-owner and CEO of Bouchier, she leads one of the country’s largest Indigenous-owned companies, known for its excellence in industrial services and deep commitment to Indigenous inclusion.
With over 30 years of experience in the energy industry — including senior roles at Shell Canada and TrueNorth Energy — Nicole blends operational discipline with strategic foresight and values-based leadership. Since becoming CEO in 2014, she has guided Bouchier through significant growth, service diversification, and capital investment, establishing the company as a trusted partner in Alberta’s energy sector.
Under her leadership, Bouchier has significantly expanded its workforce and reach. 38% of employees self-identify as Indigenous, representing over 90 Indigenous communities from across Canada. Nicole’s efforts have earned Bouchier recognition for operational excellence, workforce equity, and community partnerships.
Beyond business success, Nicole is deeply committed to social impact. Over the past decade, she has championed significant philanthropic investments in education, leadership development, wellness, community and female empowerment, including contributions through the Bouchier Family Foundation and direct support to Indigenous communities across Canada.
She also launched internal initiatives, such as the Female Empowerment Initiative and high-performance leadership training, to foster inclusive leadership within Bouchier.
Nicole’s influence extends nationally. She serves as Board Chair of the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation. She has held governance roles with Indspire, Keyano College, the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, and the Alberta Apple Schools Foundation.
Her impact has been recognized with the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, RBC’s Canadian Women of Excellence CEO of the Year, and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Indigenous Women in Leadership Award.
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is a nation-builder whose leadership is rooted in Indigenous values, driving progress for business and community across Canada.
Sheila Risbud
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs (Canada)
Glencore
Career Summary
Sheila Risbud, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs (Canada) at Glencore, brings nearly 30 years of experience in government affairs, sustainability, and Indigenous partnerships in the Canadian mining sector. Before joining Glencore, she held senior roles at Teck Resources and spent over a decade in federal public service, shaping policy and regulatory frameworks. At Glencore, she leads engagement strategies that strengthen community relationships and advance responsible resource development.
Shoghi Arjomandi
Head of Mining Solutions & Technology
Finning
Career Summary
Shoghi Arjomandi is a senior mining executive with deep experience spanning operations, technology, and commercial strategy across the oil sands and global mining sectors. He currently serves as Head of Mining Solutions & Technology at Finning International, where he leads a talented team advancing next-generation mining technologies, commercial models, and operational strategies across Canada and South America. His focus is on developing strategy and enabling customers to achieve operational excellence, productivity gains, and sustainable growth through innovative technology solutions.
Prior to his current role, Shoghi held several operational leadership and engineering positions at Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL), including overseeing large-scale oil sands mining operations and managing teams accountable for mine production, safety, and budget performance. He has led the execution of complex mine plans, while ensuring alignment between technical, operational, and financial priorities.
A Professional Engineer, Shoghi brings a unique perspective at the intersection of mining operations and emerging technologies. His career reflects a passion for bridging frontline execution with long-term strategic innovation, helping shape the future of autonomous and technology-enabled mining.
Keynote
Overview of Alberta’s Mineral Strategy and Action Plan
Friday, October 03 | 12:45 - 13:30 | Exhibition Hall D
This keynote will provide an overview of Alberta’s Minerals Strategy and Action Plan, outlining how the province is advancing new development projects and diversifying its resource sector.
Keynote Speaker
Minister Brian Jean
Career Summary
Brian Jean was sworn in as the Minister of Energy and Minerals on June 9, 2023. He previously served as the Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development. Prior to his service as an elected official at the provincial level, Mr. Jean was a Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2014 where he served as the Parliamentary Secretary to 3 different Ministers of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. He has also previously dedicated 11 years to private legal practice as partner at a large Northern Alberta law firm, primarily as a litigator, and owned several successful small businesses. Mr. Jean holds a Bachelor of Laws as well as a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Business Administration. Brian Jean was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Fort McMurray-Conklin May 5, 2015, and as the Member for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche on March 16, 2022 and was re-elected on May 29, 2023.
WIM Panel Session
Western Canada’s Critical Mineral Future
Thursday, October 2 | 12:45 - 13:30 | Exhibition Hall D
In partnership with Women in Mining Calgary, this panel will bring together leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges of building Western Canada’s critical mineral future. Panelists will share diverse perspectives on how the industry can advance responsibly, foster inclusion, and strengthen the role of critical minerals in the global energy transition.
Panelists
Dr. Adriana Guatame-Garcia
Assistant professor in critical mineral resources (science and policy)
University of Calgary
Career Summary
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is an accomplished CEO, entrepreneur, and proud Mikisew Cree woman whose bold leadership has reshaped Canada’s business and social landscape. As Co-owner and CEO of Bouchier, she leads one of the country’s largest Indigenous-owned companies, known for its excellence in industrial services and deep commitment to Indigenous inclusion.
With over 30 years of experience in the energy industry — including senior roles at Shell Canada and TrueNorth Energy — Nicole blends operational discipline with strategic foresight and values-based leadership. Since becoming CEO in 2014, she has guided Bouchier through significant growth, service diversification, and capital investment, establishing the company as a trusted partner in Alberta’s energy sector.
Under her leadership, Bouchier has significantly expanded its workforce and reach. 38% of employees self-identify as Indigenous, representing over 90 Indigenous communities from across Canada. Nicole’s efforts have earned Bouchier recognition for operational excellence, workforce equity, and community partnerships.
Beyond business success, Nicole is deeply committed to social impact. Over the past decade, she has championed significant philanthropic investments in education, leadership development, wellness, community and female empowerment, including contributions through the Bouchier Family Foundation and direct support to Indigenous communities across Canada.
She also launched internal initiatives, such as the Female Empowerment Initiative and high-performance leadership training, to foster inclusive leadership within Bouchier.
Nicole’s influence extends nationally. She serves as Board Chair of the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation. She has held governance roles with Indspire, Keyano College, the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, and the Alberta Apple Schools Foundation.
Her impact has been recognized with the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, RBC’s Canadian Women of Excellence CEO of the Year, and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Indigenous Women in Leadership Award.
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is a nation-builder whose leadership is rooted in Indigenous values, driving progress for business and community across Canada.
Eric Pelletier
Director
Battery Minerals Association of Canada
Career Summary
Sheila Risbud, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs (Canada) at Glencore, brings nearly 30 years of experience in government affairs, sustainability, and Indigenous partnerships in the Canadian mining sector. Before joining Glencore, she held senior roles at Teck Resources and spent over a decade in federal public service, shaping policy and regulatory frameworks. At Glencore, she leads engagement strategies that strengthen community relationships and advance responsible resource development.