The CHOA CONNECTS is a business-oriented conference that brings together subject matter experts, upper management, and influential industry professionals with a common goal – to seize the opportunities present in the heavy oil and oil sands space and develop fluid strategies to build stability in dynamic times. The full-day event will explore business drivers and growth strategies, operations efficiency, producer-supplier dynamics, leading technologies, future industry talent, Indigenous relationships, geopolitical circumstances, market directions, trade influences, and more.

This year’s theme is “Resilient by Design: Operational Discipline, Geopolitical Awareness, Sustainable Profits”

MORNING KEYNOTE: Jeff Lawson, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development & Chief Sustainability Officer, Cenovus Energy

PROGRAM

• Morning Keynote

  CVE Look at the Future - Jeff Lawson

• Executive Panel

  • Jeff Lawson, EVP and CSO, Cenovus Energy

  • Steve Buytels, President, Tamarack Valley Energy

  • Jared Wynveen, Executive Vice President, McDaniel and Associates

• Session 1

  Macro Outlook, Economics and Capital Markets

• Session 2

  Technology & Innovation Driving Business Results

• Midday Keynote

  TBA

• Session 3

  Geopolitics, Trade and World Oil Markets

  - selected presentations and panel discussion -

  Success in heavy oil is shaped by forces far outside our basin. Geopolitical shocks, policy turns and shifting trade flows transform the profitability of our business as decisively as anything we can do in the field. Join our all-star presenters and panel for insightful, forward-looking conversations on the themes redefining the heavy oil world—and what Canada’s heavy oil and oil sands sector should prepare for next.

  • Presenter and moderator: Gitane da Silva – former energy CEO, government representative and trade negotiator

  • Oil markets prognosticator (TBA)

  • The view from outside (TBA)

  • More …

• Session 4

  Greenfield Projects and Growth – Where’s Capital Going?

  Selected updates on projects of particular interest, including:

  • Athabasca Oil Corporation – Corner greenfield project Phase 1 and beyond

  • Grizzly Oil Sands – Algar Phase 1 restart, and beyond

  • Cardinal Energy – Reford 1 and beyond

  • More …

REGISTRATION

For group registration, email office@choa.ab.ca.

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THANK YOU, CHOA CONNECTS 2026 SPONSORS!

THANK YOU, PAST CHOA CONNECTS SPONSORS!