Team

Chana Martineau is the CEO of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, a provincial Crown Corporation with a mandate to serve as a catalyst for Indigenous prosperity and independence through investment and involvement in Alberta’s natural resources, agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, tourism, healthcare, and technology sectors. Prior to joining AIOC, Chana had an extensive and diverse background in the financial services sector with 30 years of experience across all aspects of banking and investing. Her experience includes strategy and consulting in the key sectors under the AIOC mandate. Under her leadership, AIOC’s work in economic reconciliation was recognized by both Alberta Chamber of Resources and Institutional Connect. Chana has been recognized for her efforts fostering Inclusion and Diversity for women in leadership and Indigenous peoples. She has a track record of building high performance teams both inside and outside of the boardroom. She currently serves as a corporate director for Cenovus Energy and Alamos Gold, in addition to a directorship for the Alberta Heritage Fund. Chana is a proud member of Frog Lake First Nation on Treaty 6 Territory. She is a graduate from the University of Alberta with a degree in Economics, is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Steven Kroeker has over 28 years of financial experience in Alberta. He is currently Chief Investment Officer of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation where he has responsibility for investment and engagement. Prior to joining AIOC, he was with Keyera Corp. and its predecessors for 14 years. Keyera Corp. is a publicly traded energy infrastructure company with assets largely located in Alberta. For almost half of his time at Keyera Corp., he was Vice President, Corporate Development, where he was responsible for evaluation and execution of acquisitions and divestments. He then became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Keyera Corp. where in addition to being responsible for Corporate Development, he became responsible for Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, Information Technology and Supply Chain Management. Prior to Keyera Corp., Steven spent nine years as an investment banker in Calgary with Scotia Capital. At Scotia Capital, he worked on various mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, as well as on various equity financings. Prior to Scotia Capital, Steven worked at Gulf Canada Resources Limited for over four years, including in Corporate Development where he worked on various strategic and economic evaluations of acquisitions and divestitures.

Steven has a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business of The University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from The University of Calgary. He enjoys spending time with his wife and four children and enjoys various water sports and going on volunteer trips abroad. Steven’s volunteer commitments currently include serving on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of World Vision Canada and serving on the Calgary Advisory Board for The Salvation Army.

Scott brings experience, expertise and leadership capabilities around structuring, financing, and negotiating Indigenous partnerships in Alberta, including several deals directly involving AIOC. Scott’s previous experience positioned him as a principal architect of AIOC's first investment, Cascade Power.

Scott has directly supported a large number of Indigenous nations and groups across Western Canada in the equity ownership of major assets including renewable and non-renewable power generation, energy storage, hydrogen and critical minerals, oil and gas infrastructure, carbon capture utilization and storage and agriculture, in addition to key land acquisitions directly for Alberta Indigenous nations and groups. Scott’s previous experience spans Alberta economic sectors including energy, oilfield services, real estate, manufacturing, and international trade.

Scott holds a CPA designation and is accredited as a Chartered Business Valuator and Chartered Financial Modeller. He is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors education program.

Hamid Shahzad is a chartered accountant, ACA (ICAEW), CMA, CIA, CISA, CFE and EMBA. He moved to the United Arab Emirates, and worked in Audit and Finance for the Retail, Construction, Aviation and Education Sectors for approximately eight years. Hamid immigrated to Canada in 2012, initially to Toronto and held his first job in the Yukon. He has lived in different provinces of Canada and likes exploring the country. Hamid's beautiful family of five includes his wife and three daughters. Hamid loves to travel and explore the culture and cuisine of different countries. He's visited the USA, France, UK, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. His most recent trip was to Morocco, and the next destination on his bucket list is Turkey. Hamid's hobbies are travelling and reading. He holds over 20 years of experience and has led finance departments at different organizations for 14 years. Hamid has had other opportunities to serve Indigenous organizations in Canada. He joins AIOC after his most recent assignment with a Saskatchewan Metis organization as a CFO.

Allison Wusaty is an operations and governance leader with experience across the energy and utilities sectors. Recognized for her strategic approach and commitment to organizational excellence, she works closely with executive teams and boards to strengthen governance maturity, enhance operational performance, and support effective long-term decision-making. As Director, Operations AIOC, Allison oversees a broad portfolio that includes corporate governance, strategy, compliance, policy, and communications. She leads initiatives that advance operational discipline, reinforce accountability, and align organizational practices with AIOC’s mandate and strategic vision. Her work ensures that governance standards, compliance frameworks, and operational processes support transparency, risk-aware decision-making, and sustainable growth. Prior to joining AIOC, Allison held roles within major energy and power organizations, where she collaborated closely with boards and senior leadership teams to drive enterprise initiatives.

Allison holds the GPC.D (Governance Professionals of Canada – Designation), underscoring her expertise in governance, ethics, board operations, and strategic oversight. This professional accreditation reflects her commitment to excellence in organizational leadership and strong governance practices.

Outside of work, Allison is an avid traveler and hiker, and she actively supports cancer research through fundraising and volunteer efforts.

Whitney Buhr is a seasoned engagement professional with a strong background in Indigenous–Canadian history and more than a decade of experience leading public participation and community engagement initiatives. As Director of Engagement at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), she builds trusted relationships with corporate partners and Indigenous nations and groups across Alberta. Her leadership has supported more than $1.2 billion in successful and prospective Indigenous equity partnership.

Before joining AIOC, Whitney supported Indigenous and stakeholder engagement at a midstream company, where she developed a national operational engagement framework, advanced reconciliation-focused training initiatives, and supported engagement on an Indigenous-led 50/50 partnership to acquire a major stake in the Trans Mountain expansion.

Whitney holds a Master of Arts in History from the University of Victoria, specializing in Indigenous history, and has completed the CFA Institute’s Investment Foundations Certificate. She volunteers with the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) and has supported reconciliation-focused initiatives with Young Women in Energy.
Her work is grounded in collaboration, cultural awareness, and a commitment to advancing meaningful partnerships that foster economic and social opportunity.

Wendy brings investment, strategy, and advisory experience across the energy and infrastructure sectors, spanning private equity, corporate development, and major projects. As Director, Investments at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), she focuses on evaluating investment and loan guarantee opportunities and supporting transaction execution.

Most recently, she was part of the infrastructure advisory team at KPMG, where she worked on valuation, due diligence, and business case development for large-scale projects. Prior to that, she held senior roles at Parkland Corporation, advancing complex initiatives including energy transition projects, supporting M&A and divestitures, and contributing to enterprise capital allocation and growth planning. Earlier in her career, she worked in private equity at ARC Financial, focusing on investment evaluation, portfolio oversight, and financings.

Wendy holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Finance. She currently serves on the board of the Writers' Trust of Canada and previously served on the board of the Honens International Piano Competition Foundation.

Nelson has a decade of experience in capital markets, financial advisory, corporate finance, structured finance, project finance and investment banking covering multiple sectors including Oil & Gas, Power, Energy, Social Infrastructure, and Real Estate in Sub-Saharan Africa and North America. His area of expertise includes transaction structuring & management, investment appraisals, valuation, capital raising, financial modelling, due diligence, commercial negotiations, and business planning & risk assessment.

During his career, most recently, he was at the City of Calgary as a Senior Investment Strategist, where he was responsible for evaluating investment opportunities, carrying out due diligence, developing optimal capital raising strategies and conducting risk assessment for the development of social infrastructure projects. Prior to the City of Calgary, Nelson worked as a Senior Associate with Deal Advisory KPMG and as a Manager, with Argentil Capital Partners, an investment banking firm focused on Social Infrastructure and Natural Resources, where he worked on various transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, equity & debt capital raise, capital restructuring, divestitures, market entry & expansion culminating to a deal size of US$10 billion.

Nelson is a CFA Charter holder and a Chartered Accountant. He also holds Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

Calvin Steendam is an Analyst, Investments at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation. He graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree from the Alberta School of Business where he majored in Finance. He also brings a variety of experience which includes managing a corporate real estate portfolio at Stantec and contributing to capital raising efforts at a start-up. Calvin has directly worked with Indigenous nations and groups through his most recent work at Indigenous Services Canada. While working there he supported the negotiation and implementation of claims, and supported exploratory discussions around Band creation and Band division. Outside of work, Calvin loves to travel and recently got into long distance running. He just completed his first half-marathon and hopes to combine these interests by completing a marathon in another country.

Originally from Calgary, Aman is a recent graduate of Mount Royal University with a BBA in Financial Analysis. He’s eager to deepen his skills in risk assessment, financial modeling, and deal structuring. Long term, Aman aspires to become an investment manager focused on impactful investments.
Outside of work, Aman enjoys playing and watching sports, working out, hiking, reading history, and playing video games.

Mario is a proud member of the Bigstone Cree Nation of Treaty No. 8 Territory. He is a NAIT graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in management. Mario has several years of experience with Indigenous relations and over twenty years in the energy industry, more specifically in civil earthworks.

Mario has worked for non-profits, industry, and local governments in roles such as Business Industry Liaison, Project/field coordinator, Field Supervisor and Foreman. Within those roles he developed an extensive network and built key relationships with First Nation communities, different levels of government, Indigenous organizations, and numerous companies in various sectors.

Mario’s personal mission is to foster meaningful relationships built on trust and respect, bridging the gap between Indigenous and corporate communities, and work towards the advancement of reconciliation by Indigenous inclusion in the Alberta workforce. He is a proud father of two beautiful children and is passionate about learning and reconnecting with his culture.

Thalia brings over 15 years of experience working in the Alberta energy sector serving in both technical and non-technical capacities as a Geophysicist, Community Liaison, Consultation & Regulatory Advisor and Indigenous & Community Relations Manager. She has supported the development and execution of oil and gas upstream planning for technical and non-technical risk, by serving on integrated teams for both large and mid-sized energy companies. She also has created and implemented an Indigenous Relations strategy, rooted in meaningful partnership with Indigenous Nations, for an energy industry service company.

Thalia is passionate about transferring the knowledge that she has gained throughout her career to the youth through mentorship with programs such as Calgary Youth Justice Society’s In-The-Lead, along with the many Indigenous summer students from the various organizations she has been with.

Thalia was raised in Treaty 8 Territory in what are now known as Grimshaw, Peace River and High Level and is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. She spends time with her beautifully blended family being a swim parent, hiking in the mountains, camping, and participating in outdoor sports, as a guest in Treaty 7 Territory, moh’kinsstis (Calgary), where she calls home.

Jessica is of Cree Métis and mixed settler ancestry with family ties to the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement. She is also a member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

Jessica has over 14 years of experience in strategic communications and community development. She believes strongly in the impact of storytelling, and the importance of centering the voices of Indigenous communities.

Jessica is pursuing her Master’s in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University. She recently received an Indigenous Scholar Award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for her research in crisis communications. She also won the 2024 Asper Foundation Communications Award for her mentorship and leadership of communicators. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria, and a Public Relations and Communications Management Certificate and Journalism Certificate from Mount Royal University.

She is an active community volunteer and sits on the board of directors for her community association as well as the Pokaiks Reconciliation Society.

Suzanne MacRae is the Executive Operations Specialist at AIOC. Her professional background includes over 15 years of experience working with senior leaders in a variety of industries including hospitality, healthcare, and energy services. She has a passion for building strong teams and supporting the enrichment of our communities.

Elescia has over 11 years of experience in office management and corporate governance and is a people person through and through. She is empathetic, intuitive, and well-organized. She is proud to join the AIOC and be a part of economic reconciliation for Indigenous nations and groups within the province of Alberta.
When not making sure the office is running like a well-oiled machine, she can be found with her nose buried in a book, watching movies, taking a long walk with her dog, or spending time with her husband and two children.

Olamipo has over five years of experience in strategic communications, capital project communications, Indigenous relations and broadcast journalism. She has worked closely with Indigenous Nations across British Columbia, supporting initiatives that advance the priorities of Indigenous Nations.

Her expertise includes communications planning, issues and crisis support, media relations, graphics design, and digital media engagement. She is committed to ensuring Indigenous voices, perspectives, and achievements are represented respectfully and authentically.

Before joining AIOC, Olamipo supported a successful external campaign at a mid-sized Indigenous agency in Prince George which won a 2026 IABC Gold Quill Award in the audio/visual category.

Olamipo holds a master's degree in development economics at the University of Northern British Columbia, and is certified through the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2).

Ava is originally from Cold Lake, Alberta, and is a proud member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She is heading into her fourth year at Mount Royal University, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Law and Governance. She’s passionate about Indigenous relations, community engagement, and governance, and is looking forward to deepening her knowledge in these areas.
Fun fact: Ava loves to travel and cheer on her favorite MLB team, the Dodgers.
Her goal is to support Indigenous self-determination through governance and policy. Outside of work and studies, she enjoys exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and learning Indigenous history.

Kenady is a strategic human resources leader with over 16 years of experience partnering with senior executives to align people strategies with organizational priorities. She is known for her ability to diagnose complex workforce challenges, coach leaders through high-stakes decisions, and implement people-focused solutions that strengthen culture, performance, and operational results.

With deep expertise across talent development, workforce planning, employee relations, and organizational change, Kenady has supported multi-province operations and guided leaders through transformative initiatives that improved engagement, leadership capability, and customer satisfaction. She excels at translating business goals into actionable HR strategies, leveraging data and insights to drive sustainable improvements.

Kenady holds a Bachelor of Management in Human Resources Management and is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). She is committed to continuous learning, regularly engaging in professional development through reading, leadership, and HR coursework, and emerging practice training that strengthens her strategic impact.

Outside of work, Kenady finds balance through time in the mountains, staying active, travelling, and connecting with friends and family.

Shahab Yaqoob is a versatile professional with a background in finance, project management, and policy creation. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (1994), an MBA (2005), PMP certification (2012), and an MPA (2021). With over 25 years of robust working expertise in finance, risk, marketing, project management and policy development, Shahab brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to AIOC.

In 2019, Shahab relocated from Kingdom of Bahrain to Canada, where he completed his master’s in public administration at the Johnson Shoyama School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, specializing in Public Sector Financial Management. During his time in Canada, he has contributed his skills and insights to Non-Profit, Indigenous Organizations, as well as the Government of Saskatchewan in different capacities.

Shahab's professional journey includes significant roles with government and crown corporations in South Asia and the Middle East, reflecting his diverse experience. As a lifelong learner, he actively contributes to the Project Management Institute (PMI-USA) on various topics, showcasing his commitment to professional development and knowledge sharing.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Shahab, along with his wife, Dr. Humaira, takes joy in parenting their beautiful daughter. The family shares a passion for travel, exploring new places, and immersing themselves in diverse cultures.

Kori brings over 30 years of experience in accounting and payroll. She holds a business degree and has qualifications in fundraising and dance instruction. Throughout her distinguished career, Kori has held senior roles and management positions within both government and private sectors across Canada, Australia, and the USA.

Her expertise and dedication have been instrumental in the success of numerous businesses, company start-ups, and significant projects. Notably, she played a pivotal role in the fundraising efforts to establish the first rehabilitation modules at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and in the launch of the Canadian Diabetes donation pick-up and drop boxes in Edmonton.

Outside of her professional career, Kori has a long history of volunteering. Her commitment to community service is exemplified by her involvement in the initial setup of Child Find Alberta. She continues to contribute her skills and time to various not-for-profit organizations.

Kori enjoys traveling, entertaining, and the arts, and is an avid supporter of the Edmonton Oilers. Above all, she values spending quality time with her husband and their three young adult children.

Yanique brings over 15 years of experience in Accounting and Finance. He holds an HND, a B-Tech in Accounting, and an MBA. His work experience spans various industries, including Banking and Finance, Public Accounting, and Human Resources.

He started his career as a high school teacher, teaching Accounting and Management. He has worked as an Accountant in a microfinance establishment in Cameroon and later became the General Manager. He also worked for one of the largest Human Resources companies in Douala, Cameroon, as an Assistant Controller and HR Consultant for petroleum clients. His professional journey has been enriched by entrepreneurial projects.

Yanique moved to Canada two years ago and has since worked with a Public Accounting firm as a Financial Analyst. He is versatile and skilled at bringing creative solutions to organizational challenges. He brings great experience and enthusiasm to AIOC.