A native of Saskatchewan, Mr. Vollman has a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta.

Mr. Vollman has spent his career working in the energy sector gaining his practical experience with oil and gas production while working in the private sector. During his career at the NEB, Mr. Vollman gained experience in energy supply and demand, pipelines, energy regulatory issues and management. In 1998, he was designated as Chairman after serving as a Member and Vice-Chairman.

Over the past 35 years, Mr. Vollman has authored and presented numerous papers at Canadian and international conferences.

Accountability Profile [HTML] [PDF: 143 KB]

Vice-chairman

Gaétan Caron (gcaron@neb-one.gc.ca)

Originally from Québec City, Mr. Caron obtained his Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree from Laval University and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Ottawa.

Mr. Caron joined the NEB in 1979, where he has held several senior positions. Prior to his appointment as a Board Member in 2003, he held the position of Chief Operating Officer. He was designated Vice-Chairman in 2005.

Mr. Caron is a member of several organizations including the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada, the Quebec Order of Engineers and the Board of Directors of the Calgary United Way.

Accountability Profile [HTML] [PDF: 123 KB]

Members

Accountability Profile [HTML] [PDF: 29 KB]

Rowland Harrison, Q.C. (rharrison@neb-one.gc.ca)

Originally from Australia, Mr. Harrison has a Master of Laws degree from the University of Alberta and is a member of the bars of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta. He has gained extensive advisory, consulting and research experience in various aspects of energy regulation and policy during his career.

As a Professor of Law at various Canadian universities, Mr. Harrison taught Oil and Gas Law, Advanced Petroleum Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law. He has held senior management positions with a number of organizations including Canada Oil and Gas Lands Administration, the Canadian Institute of Resources Law, the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the Dalhousie Institute of Environmental Studies. Before his appointment to the Board, he was a partner in the Calgary office of Stikeman Elliott, a national and international Canadian law firm. In 2006, Mr. Harrison was appointed a Queen's Counsel for the Province of Alberta.

John S. Bulger (jbulger@neb-one.gc.ca)

Originally from Manitoba, Dr. Bulger has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from York University in Toronto, as well as a Graduate Management Diploma from McGill University in Montreal. He has experience in procurement, operations, planning, regulatory affairs and providing advice on energy issues.

Prior to being appointed to the Board, he held the position of Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs at Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also spent almost 20 years at Gaz Métropolitain in Montreal, Quebec in various senior management positions. He began his career at DuPont of Canada Ltd.

Dr. Bulger is a member of the Chemical Institute of Canada.

Carmen Dybwad (cdybwad@neb-one.gc.ca)

A native of Saskatchewan, Dr. Dybwad has a Ph.D. in Regional Planning and Resource Development from the University of Waterloo. She has an educational background in economics as well as practical and academic expertise in public participation, resource development and the electricity sector.

Dr. Dybwad has held several positions with the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Power Corporation, including Manager of Environmental Policy and Planning. Most recently, she was an assistant professor at the University of Regina where she taught classes in ecological economics, sustainable development and public administration.

Dr. Dybwad is a volunteer with the Wood's Homes Foundation and a member of the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Association.

Kenneth Bateman (kbateman@neb-one.gc.ca)

Mr. Bateman holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta and a Masters degree in International Business Management from the American Graduate School of International Management. Mr. Bateman has extensive experience acting as senior legal counsel for a variety of organizations including investment consortiums and technology companies.

Most recently, Mr. Bateman was vice-president of Legal Affairs at ENMAX, a vertically integrated utility corporation in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retail services. His portfolio included all regulated and unregulated affairs. In this capacity, he was responsible for legal services, environmental affairs, compliance and information records management. Mr. Bateman has also acted as interim Regulatory Department head where he reviewed transmission and distribution applications, refilings and implementation of EUB decisions.

Mr. Bateman is currently a member of the Alberta Law Society and the Canadian Bar Association and has taught a variety of senior level courses at the University of Victoria.

Roland George (rgeorge@neb-one.gc.ca)

Mr. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from McGill University, a Master's degree in Economics from Carleton University and a Master of Business Administration degree from École des Hautes Études Commerciales in Montreal.

For the past 25 years, Mr. George has worked primarily in the private energy sector. Most recently, he was senior principal at Purvin & Gertz, an international energy consulting firm. There he led the North American natural gas practice. Mr. George has also held positions with the Canadian Energy Research Institute, Gaz Métropolitain, Téléglobe Canada and Canadian Pacific Limited.

Mr. George is a member of the International Association of Energy Economists and the Canadian Association of Business Economists.

Georgette Habib (ghabib@neb-one.gc.ca)

Ms. Habib holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the American University of Beirut and a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Alberta.

For the past 24 years, Ms. Habib has been with the Alberta Energy & Utilities Board, most recently as Manager of the Economics Group. During her time with the EUB, Ms. Habib acted as a panel member at public hearings and provided expertise and advice to the Board on regulatory and policy issues.

Ms. Habib has also lectured intermediate-level courses in micro and macroeconomics at the University of Calgary.

Sheila Leggett (sleggett@neb-one.gc.ca)

Ms. Leggett has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from McGill University and a Master's degree in Biology from the University of Calgary. She has regulatory experience as well as a background in environmental issues.

Recently, Ms. Leggett was a Board Member with the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) which conducts hearings into natural resource development projects in Alberta. She also served as Director of Operations for the NRCB. Prior to working with the NRCB, Ms.M^me Leggett was a vice-president and senior consultant with an environmental consulting firm. She also has experience as a project biologist and advisor focusing on soil remediation and reclamation programs.

Ms. Leggett has published numerous papers and made presentations at conferences across Canada.

Temporary Members

David Hamilton (dhamilton@neb-one.gc.ca)

Originally from Scotland, Mr. Hamilton has a Master's degree in Leadership and Training from the Royal Roads University, Victoria British Columbia. Mr. Hamilton has more than 30 years of experience working in Northwest Territories in the development of people and communities through both the parliamentary and democratic processes.

Mr. Hamilton was Deputy Minister and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for 20 years. He also held the appointment as Chief Electoral Officer for the Northwest Territories. Mr. Hamilton administered the first general election for Members to the Legislative Assembly in Canada's two new Territories, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, following division of the NWT in 1999. Mr. Hamilton participated in the ratification votes for the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement, the Sahtu Settlement Agreement and the Inuit Land Claim Settlement.

Mr Hamilton has been involved in the electoral process in Canada for over 30 years and has extensive experience in community development.

Jim Donihee (jdonihee@neb-one.gc.ca) was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Board on 17 November 2003. Reporting directly to the Chairman, Mr. Donihee is responsible for all operational and support functions of the National Energy Board; accountable for the development, execution and delivery of results identified in the Board's Strategic Plan; accountable for business relationships with Canada's energy ministries and to foster strong relationships with all principal stakeholders of the NEB.

Mr. Donihee served in the Canadian Forces for over twenty-seven years as an operational pilot, where he gained leadership experience leading groups ranging in size from 30 to 3000 people in dynamic task and performance oriented organizations. He has extensive experience in process re-engineering and change management. Retiring as Colonel from the Canadian Forces, Mr. Donihee worked in the energy industry where he introduced Knowledge Management and led initiatives that fostered organizational effectiveness, including Knowledge Exchange, leadership development and performance management.

Mr. Donihee earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Computer Science from the College Militaire Royal in St.-Jean, Quebec. He was awarded the Order of Military Merit by her Excellency the Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.

Mr. Donihee was appointed Temporary Member on May 19, 2005 for a period of two years.

Strater Crowfoot (scrowfoot@neb-one.gc.ca)

Strater J. Crowfoot has gained a wealth of experience serving First Nations throughout his career, both as a community leader and in the federal government. He has earned the respect of First Nation leaders and Parliamentarians across the country.

Strater J. Crowfoot was recently appointed to the National Energy Board for a period of 7 years. Mr. Crowfoot is former Chief of the Blackfoot/Siksika Nation in Alberta. He first served as chief from 1988 to 1995 was re-elected in November 2003 and served until December 2005.

In 1989 he was appointed to the Indian Taxation Advisory Board (ITAB) and served both as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Rates Committee for 14 years. Mr. Crowfoot served as Chairman of the Board from 2003 to 2005. He has been instrumental in ITAB's success as an accomplished and recognized First Nation organization. ITAB was established in 1989 to advise the Minister on bylaw approval and property taxation matters in support of the "Kamloops Amendment" to the Indian Act enhancing First Nation property taxation jurisdiction on-reserve. Today, more than 100 First Nations are exercising their property taxation jurisdiction, raising some $44 million in much needed revenue annually to increase investment in local infrastructure providing enhanced economic prospects and offering better services to on-reserve taxpayers.

From 1996-2003, Mr. Crowfoot served as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC), a federal government agency responsible for management of oil and gas resources on First Nation Reserve lands. Mr. Crowfoot's work at IOGC has been highlighted by significant achievements in modernizing IOGC and ensuring it is on sound operational footing for the future. His pragmatic approach has transformed IOGC into a genuine partner with First Nations in the management of their petroleum resources.

Mr. Crowfoot holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Brigham Young University. He believes in fostering economic strength through joint efforts among First Nations and joint ventures with all viable partners. He was a key First Nation leader of the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act, which was passed by Parliament in March 2005. He was also one of three Chiefs leading an initiative which resulted in the passage of the First Nations Oil and Gas and Moneys Management Act by Parliament December 2005.