The Athabasca River stretches 1,500 km from the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park to the northeastern corner of Alberta and into western Saskatchewan. Characterized by diverse regions, the Athabasca River Basin (ARB) is unique in natural resources, ecology, climate, and development. The Athabasca River connects these regions as it flows through the river network, creating the ARB.
The Natural Regions in the ARB include the Rocky Mountains, Foothills, Boreal Forest, and Canadian Shield. Over half of the ARB is part of the Boreal Forest region, while only <1% is part of the Canadian Shield region.
Potential changes in future climate poses a challenge for water management in the ARB as snowmelt timing is expected to shift substantially in the future, resulting in longer snow-free periods. Other possible outcomes could include:
Overall, the hydrological regime of the ARB is likely to be very different from the last several decades. However, thoughtful water management planning can help ensure environmental, social, cultural, and economic effects of changes in climate are not exacerbated by human influence.
The ARB has historically attracted settlement and development and represents a rich and diverse ecological heritage. The natural attributes are important to the region’s identity, which has driven the development of policy and legislation to provide the broader context and necessary frameworks for water management in the basin.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.