Lorenzo Donadeo
Lorenzo is Co-Founder, current Chair, and the former Chief Executive Officer of Vermilion Energy Inc., an international oil and gas producer with assets in Canada, Europe, Australia and the United States. From inception in 1994, Vermilion has provided a compounded annual rate of return of 28% over the last 24 years and currently has a $5 Billion market capitalization. Since 2010, Vermilion has consistently been recognized as a Best Workplace by the Great Place to Work Institute. It has also been recognized as a sustainability leader by a number of independent sustainability organizations.
Lorenzo is currently the Managing Director of Casadona Group, a private family-owned diversified investment company. Casadona’s strategy is to develop the internal capacity and resources to generate competitive market returns while focusing on long term capital preservation.
In 2015, Lorenzo and his wife Donna and their family made a significant donation to the University of Alberta Faculty of Engineering to help fund the Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering. The Donadeo family understands that they have a responsibility to give back to the community, and they support a number of initiatives that are primarily focused on Education and Homelessness and Poverty. Vermilion is also recognized as a leader in community giving in areas where their employees work and live.
In 2015, Lorenzo was recognized for his outstanding service to France with his official appointment to the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit, at the rank of Chevalier. In 2016, he was named CEO of the Year by Alberta Oil Magazine, and received the SAIT Distinguished Alumni Award.
Prior to Vermilion, Lorenzo worked at Dome Petroleum and Amoco Canada, as well as a private oil and gas company. Lorenzo has a Diploma in Welding Engineering Technology (Honours), SAIT, 1977 and a B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering (Honours), University of Alberta, 1981.
Dr. T. Chen Fong
Chen was born and raised in Shanghai. He moved to Hongkong as a teenager where he completed high school. Chen attended the University of Manitoba, graduated with MD in 1977; the same year he became a Canadian citizen. After his radiology training, Chen joined the Foothills Hospital in 1981 as a junior doctor. He also taught at the University of Calgary School of Medicine. He chaired the Examination Board (Radiology) of the Royal College and served on the Academic Advisory Council of GE Medical. He retired in 2006 after serving as the Head of Diagnostic Imaging of the Calgary Health Region and the Head of Radiology at the University of Calgary. In 1999, he was honored by the American College of Radiology and elected as a Fellow. Dr Fong is Professor Emeritus of Radiology at the University of Calgary.
Chen has enjoyed investing early in his career. In 2006, he turned this passion into his vocation. His first foray outside of energy investing was a medical imaging start up. He helped to build Ultrasonix Medical Corporation which was sold in 2012. Chen has helped 11 groups of entrepreneurs to turn university based intellectual properties into successful companies. In addition, he seed funded and guided 43 start ups, mostly in medical technology.
Chen has been deeply engaged in Calgary in many ways. He contributes to and is a key fund raiser for healthcare and research, especially for the University of Calgary. He is in the Million Dollar Donor Circle of the United Way of Calgary and Area. Recognizing the need to bring new and specialized clinical skills to Southern Alberta, he funded the Helios Fellowship. This Fellowship has sent 38 young medical specialists to further their training around the world. These specialists are bringing their expertise back to our communities.
In 2015, Chen joined the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) at the University of Toronto business school as a mentor. CDL helps young entrepreneurs to shape or pivot their nascent ideas. He is widely credited with launching CDL at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, bringing together seasoned business leaders from Alberta, Canada and the US to grow budding companies. Chen is on the Strategic Advisroy Board of CDL and a Fellow of CDL in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.
Currently, Chen is on four corporate boards and five philanthropic and research institution boards. He is a co-founder of Calgary Scientific Inc.
In 2017, Chen was invested into the Order of Canada for his contribution to medical technology innovation and philanthropy.
David E. Mitchell (1926 – 2010)
David E. Mitchell was born in Calgary in 1926. After finishing high school at the age of 17, he decided to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. During training, the Air Force discovered he was underage, so he had to “age up”. During this time, he worked at the Hudson’s Bay Store in Calgary until he could return to the Air Force, where he completed his aircrew training in 1945.
He started his career in the oil business in what he termed “the classic fashion,” by digging ditches in Turner Valley. He then enrolled in university and worked summer months as a geological field assistant. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma in Petroleum Engineering. After graduation, he joined Great Plains Development Company of Canada Ltd. As a trainee engineer, he did land work and scouting, later working in wildcat drilling and production operations. His responsibilities gradually increased and he soon became Head of Drilling and Productions. In 1956, he was appointed Vice President and over four years, moved up to oversee the firm’s head office in Calgary, and eventually became Director of the company. By 1963, he was appointed Vice President of Finance and Corporate, and the following year became the President & CEO. He remained in this position until the end of 1974 when Great Plains was sold. In January 1975, Dave started Alberta Energy Company (AEC) with a staff of four. The Alberta Energy Company developed Alberta’s natural resources responsibly and profitably. He led the company on behalf of its 60,000 shareholders, in an era of corporate diversification fervour. He went on to become the Chairman of AEC.
Dave was an enthusiastic participant and supporter of many local and national voluntary endeavors, and received many accolades for his community activities. He founded, and was President of, The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation. He was a member of the Senate and Board of Governors at the University of Calgary; Chairman of the Calgary Police Commission, Honorary Chairman of the World Police and Fire Games; Honorary Calgary Fire Chief, General Campaign Chairman of the Calgary United Way. Dave was one of the three individuals who brought JA to southern Alberta and became one of the chapter’s first Board members. Dave was married and had two children.
Patrick Daniel
Patrick Daniel held the position of President and CEO of Enbridge Inc from January 2001 to October 2012. Pat's energy experience spans over 40 years. His background includes process engineering, information technology, business development, and corporate planning with Hudson’s Bay Oil and Gas and Enbridge (and its predecessor companies). He was responsible for the start-up of Enbridge's technology and consulting business unit, its international division, and its expansion into the Natural Gas business. As CEO, Patrick led Enbridge's entry in wind, solar and geothermal energy. During his tenure as CEO, Enbridge was named Canada's most sustainable corporation and always among the Top 100 in sustainability in the world.
Pat is currently the Chair of Cenovus Energy Inc. and Director at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Capital Power. He also chairs the North American Review Board of Air Liquide. Pat is an active industry and community volunteer. He chairs the Daniel Family Foundation, a philanthropic charitable organization and volunteers with the Light Up the World charity. He has travelled to three continents on projects to bring energy to those who cannot afford it. The Daniel Family Foundation supports the Perimeter Institute, University of Calgary Psychosocial Oncology, Outward Bound Canada, Servants Anonymous, University of Alberta, and students at the University of British Columbia and McGill University.
In 2007, Pat was named Canadian Energy person of the year by the Energy Council of Canada. In 2009, he received the Distinguished Business Leader Award from the University of Calgary and the Chamber of Commerce. Patrick was named 2010 Resource Person of the Year by the Alberta Chamber of Resources.
In 2011, he was awarded Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year Award as chosen by an independent national advisory board. In 2013, he was named Canadian Business Leader of the Year as awarded by the University of Alberta.
Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science