Honourable Ken Hughes, Calgary-West

Dear God, we pray that you make your presence known to the Honourable Ken Hughes and guide him in the decisions he makes for our province. Let him feel your hands on his shoulders as his job is very important. We pray that you help him in stressful situations and fill his heart with peace. Amen.

Minister of Energy

Ken Hughes was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Calgary-West on April 23, 2012. He was appointed to cabinet on May 8, 2012, and serves as Minister of Energy.

Mr. Hughes holds an undergraduate degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta. He also has a master’s in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1981-1983) with a focus on public and corporate finance.

Mr. Hughes is an entrepreneur and the founder of the insurance brokerage firm Alpine Insurance & Financial, Inc., with offices across Alberta. As a successful businessman Mr. Hughes is keenly aware of how the ebb and flow of the economy affects Alberta families. Mr. Hughes is a certified director (ICD.D) and has worked in several business sectors, including property and casualty insurance, energy and energy services and information technology.

Mr. Hughes has a distinguished public service career, which includes serving as the founding chair of Alberta Health Services (2008-2011), chair of the former Headwaters Health Authority (1994-1995) and federal Member of Parliament for the rural riding of Macleod (1988-1993), including appointment as Parliamentary Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister. Earlier in his career he gained significant experience working at provincial, national and international levels while serving in the positions of senior adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and executive assistant to the Alberta Minister of Education.

Mr. Hughes’ family roots extend deeply in the Alberta cattle industry, prior to the creation of the province of Alberta. Personally, he has served in leadership roles with community organizations as well as volunteering across the province. This includes work on voluntary and community boards like the Lethbridge Community College Board of Governors, the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Board, the Calgary Counseling Centre, the 2002 Kananaskis Summit Advisory Committee, the 2005 and 2008 Alberta World Cup of Cross-Country Skiing Organizing Committees, the Calgary World Fair Bid Committee Board and the Calgary Technologies Inc. Board. He is the first non-U.S. citizen to be asked to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Midwest Research Institute in Kansas City. As part of a group of 37 Albertans Mr. Hughes and his son, Aidan, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in August 2011, raising over $1 million for orthopedic services in Alberta.

Mr. Hughes and his wife, Denise, have three children.

October 4, 2012