MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans, Calgary-Varsity

Heavenly Father we pray for MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans today, asking that she would be strong and full of courage as she faces the many needs of those she serves. May she always be known for the kindness and compassion she shows. Bless her as she comes and goes throughout her day and favour her with good friends and close family. In Jesus name, Amen

Donna Kennedy-Glans was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-Varsity on April 23, 2012. Donna chairs the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship and is a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members´ Services. As well, she is a member of Treasury Board and the Alberta government´s Ministerial Working Group on Natural Resources and Environment.

Previously Donna served as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills.

Donna was born near Tillsonburg, Ontario, and was raised on a cattle farm in rural southwestern Ontario, where her parents and extended family continue to farm today. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1981 and earned her bachelor of laws degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1984.

Since moving to Calgary in 1984, Donna has worked as a lawyer, businesswoman and leader in the energy sector. Highlights of her 28-year career in this sector include:

• Lawyer and negotiator with TransCanada Pipelines´ exploration and production company during the deregulation of energy markets in the 1980s;
• Corporate executive and first female vice-president with Nexen Inc., an upstream oil and gas company, where she was responsible for managing above ground risks in domestic and international projects from 1991 to 2001; and
• Independent consultant, advising global energy operators on how to manage non-technical risks in resource projects over the past decade.

Donna founded Bridges Social Development in 2002, and served as its executive director until 2011. Bridges is a volunteer organization that brings together local champions and Canadian experts to train and mentor community leaders in health care, law, journalism, education and politics in countries like Yemen, Egypt, Oman, India and Nepal. In 2008, a global youth social entrepreneurship initiative was launched, focusing on training youth leaders in Canada, including youth from Diaspora, First Nations and Métis communities.

Donna is lead author of Corporate Integrity: A Toolkit for Managing beyond Compliance, published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons. Her second book, Unveiling the Breath: One Woman´s Journey into Understanding Islam and Gender Equality was published in 2009. In 2007, she was awarded a Global Woman of Vision Award and was named a 'Compelling Calgarian' by the Calgary Herald in 2010. Donna is a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Calgary´s Haskayne School of Business.

While Donna has worked in more than 35 countries around the world, she has lived in Calgary-Varsity for the past 20 years with her husband, Laurie Glans. Together they have raised three sons, who are either attending, or have graduated from, university. In addition to volunteering with local community, inter-cultural and interfaith groups, she enjoys hiking, biking and working in her garden.

March 18, 2013