LEGACY IN MOTION
40 Years of Pioneers, Innovators & Influencers
Award Winners
Award Winners
Join the Celebration
Friday, October 23, 2026
Westin Hotel Calgary Downtown
In 2026, CHOA marks this milestone with its inaugural Awards Gala and 40th Anniversary Celebration—a landmark evening bringing together the industry’s most influential voices.
This exclusive event will convene senior executives, policymakers, innovators, and emerging leaders to honour the pioneers who built the sector and recognize those shaping its future.
2026 CHOA Award Winners
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HARBIR CHHINA
Chief Technology Officer, Cenovus Energy Inc.___________________
AWARD CRITERIA
Purpose
Recognizes an individual whose career has made a lasting contribution to the growth, credibility, and evolution of Canada’s heavy oil industry, particularly in Alberta.Criteria Nominees must demonstrate:
Longterm impact (20+ years) on heavy oil or oil sands in-situ development in Alberta
Leadership during pivotal industry milestones (e.g., early SAGD adoption, commercialization, regulatory evolution)
Meaningful contributions to one of the following: technical excellence, industry leadership, safety, operational excellence
Active mentorship and development of industry talent
A legacy that continues to influence industry practices, culture, or policy
Evaluation Focus
Enduring influence over time
Breadth of contribution across projects, organizations, or the sector
Leadership During Pivotal Industry Moments
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BILL MCCAFFREY
President & CEO, McCaffrey Enterprises
__________________
AWARD CRITERIA
Leading People Through Industry Transformation
Purpose
Recognizes a leader who successfully guided teams and organizations through change while advancing innovation, inclusion, and community impact.Criteria Nominees must demonstrate:
Visionary leadership during periods of market, regulatory, or technological change
Ability to inspire, empower, and develop teams
Adoption of new technologies, digital tools, or novel business models
Commitment to Indigenous engagement and local community relationships
Influence beyond their organization, contributing to broader industry progress
Evaluation Focus
Leadership effectiveness and integrity
Measurable organizational or industry change
Peoplefirst leadership approach
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DR. IAN GATES
Professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary
__________________
AWARD CRITERIA
Advancing Heavy Oil Engineering Excellence
Purpose
Honours outstanding technical leadership that materially advanced heavy oil recovery, efficiency, safety, or emissions and environmental performance in Alberta.Criteria Nominees must demonstrate:
Leadership in the development or application of innovative technical solutions
Contributions to advancements such as SAGD optimization, solvents, digitalization, automation, or reservoir management
Successful translation of theory or research into operational outcomes
Knowledge sharing through publications, forums, or mentoring
Evaluation Focus
Technical originality and rigor
Realworld application and results
Industry adoption or influence
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KRISTINA PAVLOVIC
Manager, Asset Development, Cenovus Energy Inc.
___________________
AWARD CRITERIA
Shaping the Next Era of Heavy Oil
Purpose
Recognizes emerging leaders who represent the future of Alberta’s heavy oil industry. Male and Female categories.Criteria Nominees must:
Be under 40 years of age
Demonstrate earlycareer leadership and initiative
Contribute to innovation, sustainability, or operational excellence
Show commitment to collaboration, inclusion, or community engagement
Exhibit strong potential to shape the industry’s future
Evaluation Focus
Leadership potential
Early impact and influence
Alignment with the future direction of Canadian heavy oil
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WILLIAM SHEPPARD
Manager - Lloydminster Complex Asset Development, Cenovus Energy Inc.
__________________
AWARD CRITERIA
Shaping the Next Era of Heavy Oil
Purpose
Recognizes emerging leaders who represent the future of Alberta’s heavy oil industry. Male and Female categories.Criteria Nominees must:
Be under 40 years of age
Demonstrate earlycareer leadership and initiative
Contribute to innovation, sustainability, or operational excellence
Show commitment to collaboration, inclusion, or community engagement
Exhibit strong potential to shape the industry’s future
Evaluation Focus
Leadership potential
Early impact and influence
Alignment with the future direction of Canadian heavy oil
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SPARTAN CONTROLS
____________________
AWARD CRITERIA
Enabling Industry Progress Through Innovation
Purpose
Recognizes companies or teams that delivered products or services enabling safer, more efficient, or loweremissions heavy oil operations.Criteria Nominees must demonstrate:
Innovation that addressed a critical heavy oil challenge in Alberta
Measurable improvements in cost, reliability, safety, or environmental performance
Successful deployment across one or more heavy oil operations
Collaboration with operators or industry partners
Evaluation Focus
Commercial and operational impact
Scalability and industry relevance
Value delivered to the heavy oil ecosystem
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CARALYN BENNETT
Past President of the Canadian Heavy Oil Association
Recognized for exceptional volunteer contributions that have strengthened and advanced CHOA's mission over the years.
Why Attend
CHOA’s 40th Anniversary Gala is a premier event bringing together the people who have shaped — and continue to shape — Canada’s heavy oil industry. From the pioneers who built the foundation, to today’s leaders driving innovation, to the emerging voices defining what comes next, this is where the industry comes together. Expect an elevated gala experience with curated moments throughout the evening, meaningful connections, and a signature keynote speaker still to be announced. Join us for a night that celebrates legacy, inspires what’s ahead, and connects the energy that unites us.
300 Leaders in attendance
7 Award Winners
Award Winners
Harbir Chhina
Chief Technology Officer, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Harbir is currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Cenovus Energy in Calgary. Since 2009 he has had various roles at Cenovus including Executive Vice-President of Oil Sands, Executive Vice-President of Enhanced Oil Development & New Resource Plays, Vice-President of Upstream Operations and Vice-President of Thermal Recovery.
Harbir is a passionate advocate of technology and innovation and has an unwavering commitment to safety, environment and responsible development.
Harbir was instrumental in the initial application of steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) technology on a commercial basis. Cenovus produces almost 800,000 bbls/d from SAGD technology due to a combination of organic growth and M&A.
Harbir has over 44 years of experience in all aspects of enhanced oil recovery including technology, business and organizational development. He has a Bachelor Science degree in Petro-Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary.
Bill McCaffrey
President & CEO of McCaffrey Enterprises
Bill McCaffrey is the visionary co-founder of MEG Energy and a 44 year energy industry veteran. Under his strategic leadership, MEG grew from a start-up with no production into a major oil sands producer generating more than 90,000 barrels per day and achieving a multibillion-dollar market capitalization. He served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director from 1999 to 2018.
Bill was also instrumental in the creation and development of the Access Pipeline System; the largest pipeline project built in Alberta in 2006.
Under his leadership, MEG was named Oil Sands Company of the Year and recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Employers. Bill’s contributions have earned him numerous honours, including CEO of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and the CEEA Lifetime Achievement Award.
For the past five years, Bill has served as a valued member of Connacher’s Board of Directors, helping guide the company toward its strategic objectives. He continues to support growth across a diverse portfolio of early-stage ventures in energy, technology, environmental infrastructure, real estate, and golf course development.
William Sheppard
Manager, Lloydminster Complex Asset Development, Cenovus Energy Inc.
William Sheppard is an oil and gas engineering leader with more than a decade of experience primarily focused on Canada's heavy oil and oil sands industry. A graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, he is a registered Professional Engineer in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.
As Manager of Lloyd Complex Asset Development at Cenovus Energy, William leads integrated development planning for thermal and conventional heavy oil assets. Throughout his career, he has held progressively senior roles in project management, operations, production engineering, and asset development, supporting major assets across Western Canada. He has led teams responsible for more than 100,000 barrels per day of production while driving improvements in safety, reliability, operational performance, and cost efficiency. With a focus on collaborative leadership and commitment to mentorship, William is passionate about innovation, developing future industry leaders, and advancing the long-term success of Canada's energy industry.
Caralyn Bennett
Past President, Canadian Heavy Oil Association
Dr. Ian Gates
Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, the University of Calgary
Dr. Gates, MASc, PhD, PEng, FCAE, is Professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Associate Vice President Research (Innovation) in the VPR Office, and Director of the University of Calgary’s CFREF $75 million sustainable low-carbon unconventional resources program. He worked for seven years in industry prior to joining the university in 2004. His research spans heavy oil and oil sands technology, hydrogen, methane, and material science of energy systems. Ian has also been entrepreneurial having been a co-founder of several companies including Gushor (sold to Schlumberger 2013), Proton Technologies (hydrogen from heavy oil), Solideum (solid bitumen), and several consulting companies. His research group’s motto: ‘save money, make money, save the environment, and save life’ guides all of their research endeavors.
Spartan Controls
Spartan Controls embodies its Born Digital vision by developing and deploying innovative, in-house technologies that help Western Canada’s heavy oil producers achieve safer, more reliable, and higher-performing operations. Through Advanced Process Control solutions such as SpartanPRO™ SAGD, Blue Marvel™ Artificial Intelligence platform, and Machinery and Valve Asset Intelligence solutions, Spartan transforms operational data into actionable insights that optimize production, reduce energy intensity, and improve asset reliability. By delivering measurable gains in efficiency, safety, and performance, Spartan exemplifies the spirit of this award and underscores the vital role service providers play in enabling industry innovation and long-term success.
Kristina Pavlovic
Manager, Asset Development, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Kristina Pavlovic is Manager, Asset Development at Cenovus Energy, where she leads development engineering and decision analysis supporting the future of Alberta's thermal oil sands. A chemical engineering graduate from McGill University and Executive MBA graduate from the University of Calgary, where she graduated first in her class, Kristina has built her career across field operations, process design, and strategic asset development. She is passionate about solving complex technical challenges, mentoring emerging engineers, and driving collaborative, innovative solutions that improve operational performance while supporting the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Canada's energy industry.
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