Afshan Naveed – Board Chair
Partner, Dentons Canada LLP
Afshan Naveed is a lawyer with the international law firm, Dentons Canada LLP. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at the University of Calgary and her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Edinburgh. Afshan practiced law in Edinburgh for two years before moving back to Calgary in 2010 to practice law.
Afshan has been involved in various volunteer roles in the community since high school, demonstrating her commitment to giving back. At present, Afshan volunteers her time with Pro Bono Law Alberta (Queen’s Bench Amicus Court Assistance Program and Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project) and the City of Calgary – Protective Services Citizen Oversight Committee.
Afshan plays field hockey with the Calgary Ladies Field Hockey Club and is somewhat of a board game aficionado!
Deputy Chief Katie McLellan
Calgary Police Service
Having immigrated from Scotland, Katie joined the Calgary Police Service in 1987. For the next thirteen years, she worked in the Communications Section and as a general duty patrol Constable and Sergeant in Districts 4 and 3.
Her career in the Calgary Police Service spans numerous areas including the Professional Standards Section, the Chief Crowfoot Learning Center, the Emergency Communications Center, and as a Duty Inspector. She was the first Inspector of the Criminal Operations Section. In 2008 she was promoted to superintendent and lead the Information and Technology Division, Executive Office of the Chief Constable with oversight of the Professional Standards Section, the Legal Services Section, the Strategic Communications Section and the Freedom of Information and Privacy Section. From 2010-2013 she was the Superintendent of the Field Operations Division where her team built and led frontline policing in the city.
In 2013, she retired as the Senior Superintendent and transitioned to the corporate security realm as a Senior Security Advisor. Her goal was always to return to public policing. In 2018, she joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She was later selected to be the Officer in Charge of Federal Policing South, Serious and Organized Crime (K Division). The following year she returned to municipal policing as a Deputy Chief of the Calgary Police Service.
She has a Bachelor of Professional Arts degree (Criminal Justice, Athabasca University). Also, she is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, holds a Corporate Executive Diploma from the University of Alberta as well as numerous certificates including Senior Police Management, Police Leadership Supervisory Skills, and a Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement Diploma. She has been trained as a Hostage Negotiator, an Emergency Operation Centre Lead, and an Incident Management Team Commander.
She has received the Police Exemplary Service Medal, Alberta Police Officer Centennial Medal, Alberta Emergency Services Medal, Calgary Police Distinguished Service Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Neal Coleman
President, CEO, and Director, Pulse Seismic Inc.
Neal has 20+ years of experience in business development, strategic planning, negotiation, leadership, public company management, and investor relations. He became Pulse’s President and CEO in November 2012, after serving four years as the Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. Neal’s focus has been to create value for shareholders by enhancing Pulse’s ability to generate sales, growing the seismic data library in a capital-efficient way, and carefully managing the Company’s costs.
Neal completed his Bachelor of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University in Calgary in 1999 and has a Petroleum Engineering Applications Certificate from SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary in 2004. He has also completed numerous executive education courses at Ivey Business School and Queen’s University.
Neal is honoured to be a member of the YouthLink Board and is passionate about the education of our youth.
Leanne Courchesne
Community Investment and Community Engagement Specialist
Leanne is an experienced professional and has11+ years of oil and gas experience in community affairs, community investment, community relations, aboriginal relations, public relations, and event planning. She has developed, managed, and communicated dozens of innovative community and business partnerships within the energy sector.
Leanne also worked and volunteered for 8 years as Senior Manager, Community Partnerships for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation AB/NWT Chapter. She also oversaw and coordinated the CIBC Run for a Cure in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Leanne has a Marketing and Business Administration diploma from Mount Royal College. She holds a Corporate Community Involvement Management Certificate and Corporate Citizenship Management Certificate from the Boston College Carroll School of Management.
Leanne is on the Board of Directors for Youthlink and Advisory Board for the Campus Calgary – Open Minds Program. She also sits on the Sponsorship and Communications Committees for the Coalition for a Safer Highway 63/881. Also, a committee member for the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations Innovation Awards and is Co-Chair of the Professional Forum for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropy Week in 2017. Leanne also regularly volunteers with a number of Cenovus’s community partners.
Born and raised in Calgary, Leanne is married to a Calgary Police officer and has two boys, Adam and Tyler.