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: Business Discipline, Geopolitical Awareness, Sustainable Profits”
MORNING KEYNOTE: Jeff Lawson, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development & Chief Sustainability Officer, Cenovus Energy
PROGRAM
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CVE Look at the Future
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Jeff Lawson, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development & Chief Sustainability Officer
As Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development, Jeff is responsible for
contributing to the company’s long-term strategy through strategic acquisitions and
divestitures. In his role as Chief Sustainability Officer, Jeff ensures environmental,
social and governance considerations are embedded in the company’s business plans.
This includes overseeing stakeholder engagement with Indigenous communities,
governments and community partners.
Jeff has extensive experience in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions,
investments and corporate restructurings. Prior to joining Cenovus in 2023, Jeff spent
15 years at Peters & Co. Limited in senior finance roles including Managing Director
of the Corporate Finance group and as a member of the Executive Committee.
Before Peters & Co., Jeff spent 14 years as a securities lawyer at the law firm of
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (BD&P), where he was co-head of the Securities
Group and a member of the Executive Committee. During his tenure at BD&P, Jeff
was recognized as one of Canada’s most creative lawyers as well as a top crossborder corporate lawyer.
Jeff has served on the board of directors at a number of public and private companies,
and charitable organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of
Alberta
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Macro Outlook, Economics and Capital Markets - Executive Panel with:
Jeff Lawson, EVP and CSO, Cenovus Energy
Steve Buytels, President, Tamarack Valley Energy
Jared Wynveen, Executive Vice President, McDaniel and Associates
TBC
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Technology & Innovation Driving Business Results - presentations and panel discussions
Joy Romero, Executive Advisor, Innovation at Canadian Natural Resources Limited
TBC
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Kendall Dilling, President, Oil Sands Alliance
As President, Kendall is responsible for overseeing the organization’s strategic direction, the overall coordination of technology, development and external relations on behalf of the members. Prior to joining Oil Sands Alliance, Kendall was Cenovus’s Vice President, Environment & Regulatory. With 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Kendall has expertise in environment, regulatory, project development, health and safety, and Indigenous and government relations.
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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
Kevin Birn, Head of Carbon Research, S&P Global Energy
The view from outside (TBA)
More …
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Greenfield Growth: The Business Case, the Results, and What Comes Next
Several of the industry's first greenfield developments in over ten years are now taking shape. Some operators are approaching their initial sanction decision, others are in their first year of production, and some are already moving toward a second phase. This session brings together operators at each of those stages to discuss the business case behind their investment decisions, how capital is being allocated, and what early results are showing. The conversation will close with a look at what comes next; the conditions each company needs to see before committing to more, what continued expansion looks like, and whether the results so far are building the confidence to do it.
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.
THANK YOU, CHOA CONNECTS 2026 SPONSORS!
THANK YOU, PAST CHOA CONNECTS SPONSORS!
