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In 2022 the Bennett Jones Business Forum celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff National Park. We welcomed George Friedman to present his views on Global Tectonics: Our New Reality. Panel presentations with leading executives on geopolitical insights, industry perspectives, capital formation and energy transformation followed throughout the day.
Perry Spitznagel is Vice Chair of Bennett Jones, a former longstanding Managing Partner of the Calgary office and a senior corporate lawyer with extensive national and cross-border experience in a broad range of matters. Perry has acted for clients in some of the largest transactions in Canada, including many of Canada’s and North America’s largest national and cross-border financings and mergers. He has been recognized by Financial Post Magazine as one of the 25 most influential people in corporate Canada. He is also widely recognized as a leading lawyer in his areas of expertise.
Perry is a director of a large private holding company and is a director and past Chair of WinSport which manages the legacy assets and programs of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. He is also a director of the Calgary Zoological Society and a member of the Advisory Board of the Samara Centre for Democracy, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening Canada’s democracy. He is a past member of the Alberta Securities Commission Advisory Committee, a past Co-Chair of the Pipestone Securities Law Conference and a past director of Alpine Canada, the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada.
A former international ski racer, Perry remains active in skiing.
Perry is a graduate of McGill University, BA (Economics), 1979, with great distinction, and Osgoode Hall Law School, LLB, 1982.
He is a frequent speaker and has chaired national and international conferences on a variety of topics. Perry speaks French and German.
John is currently a Principal with The CFO Centre which is Canadaís leading provider of part time CFO services. The CFO Centre is a global organization with highly skilled individuals providing financial expertise and guidance to small and medium sized public and private corporations.
John was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishopís University in Quebec and moved to Calgary in 1972 where he became a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young (then Clarkson Gordon).
As a volunteer in ski racing, John served on the board of the Alberta Alpine Ski Association from 1984 to 1990, volunteered at the 1988 Calgary OWG at the alpine venue at Nakiska and became Race Chairman of the Lake Louise World Cup ROC in 1994.
John is now Chairman of the Board of Directors of Winterstart Events Ltd., the company responsible for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Lake Louise.
Wayne Henuset epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit that permeates Western Canada’s economy. His enterprise of private companies encompasses a broad spectrum of industries and disciplines. Wayne brings his fearless attitude, thirst for knowledge and relentless work ethic to all of his business initiatives.
As an avid water-skier, race car driver and downhill skier Wayne enjoys the thrill of pushing boundaries and the road to success. Wayne is a trailblazer whose leadership, business acumen and passion have been critical to the success of his companies. He founded private companies which spans oil & gas, nuclear energy, land & commercial development and the retail sector.
An astute investor and keen business entrepreneur, he has been in the beverage alcohol industry for the past 23 years. In 1994, he opened Willow Park Wines & Spirits, which has become the largest privately-owned retail liquor store in Canada garnering world attention.
Wayne has been recognized as one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, a “liquor store mogul”, the “Nuclear Cowboy” and the “philanthropic owner of Willow Park Wines & Spirits”. Today, Wayne is the President and CEO of Paradise Spirits, a newly formed company with strategic partners who are leveraging their worldwide industry network and business experience to produce and distribute high-quality spirits globally. In 2017, Paradise Spirits acquired El Tequileño, a 60-year-old tequila distillery and brand. Since acquisition, El Tequileno has grown five-fold and is now distributed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and soon in Italy and Spain.
Wes Jardine is the Managing Director, Corporate Banking and Head of Diversified Industries and Oilfield Services with ATB Capital Markets. He is responsible for the strategy, direction and leadership of ATB’s market presence in the commercial and corporate sectors. Under his leadership, a team of industry specialists and financial service experts utilize a relationship-centric model to transform how mid-market businesses and large enterprises operating throughout Alberta and across Canada are served.
Wes has 16 years of commercial and corporate banking experience with ATB, where his relationship-first approach has provided industry-leading advisory services to many of ATB’s choice clients across the Exploration and Production, Oilfield Services, Midstream and Diversified industries. Prior to banking, Wes’ background was in software engineering, where he worked as a developer, project lead and account manager for a global realtime IT company servicing the pipeline, utility and transportation sectors.
Wes earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Engineering from the University of Calgary. He attended and graduated from the Haskayne School of Business’ Masters of Business Administration program with honors distinction.
When outside of the office, Wes is an active volunteer in the community. He sits on the finance committee of CUPS Calgary, a charitable organization that provides education, healthcare, and various other resources to at-risk Calgarians. Wes is also the Vice-President for the Southwest Cougars Hockey Association and coaches his children’s hockey teams in the Southwest Cougars and Girls Hockey Calgary minor hockey associations.
Jeff is a senior partner at Deloitte, with over 20 years of experience serving the firms’ most strategic clients. Know for his forward-thinking leadership and building high-performance teams, he currently serves as Global Lead Client Service Partner for some of the firms most important clients.
Jeff is focused on the marketplace to develop long-term relationships, and leverages his vast expertise and deep industry knowledge to support companies resolve their most complex challenges, optimize performance, drive innovation and improve shareholder value. Leading a myriad of high-profile projects, Jeff has worked extensively with Deloitte’s global clients; providing them with timely advice on strategy, valuation, capex optimization, opex reduction, mergers, dispute resolution, and adoption of digital assets to enhance business performance.
Jeff has held several leadership roles within Deloitte, including serving as the Canadian National O&G leader, West Regional Managing partner for the Financial Advisory practice and West Regional Managing Partner M&A.
Jos Schmitt is President of NEO, a bold and disruptive capital markets fintech organization comprised of the NEO Exchange – a Tier 1 stock exchange fueling the innovation economy, and NEO Connect – a multi-asset distribution platform supporting mutual funds and private offerings. NEO was acquired in 2022 by Cboe Global Markets, one of the largest global market infrastructure providers, and Jos now also leads Cboe’s global listings strategy.
Prior to NEO, and in the role of President & CEO, Jos formed the Alpha Group of companies, including the Alpha Stock Exchange. This followed his role as EVP Head of the Americas and Global Head of Capital Markets for a global professional services company focused on the financial services industry, where he acted as strategic advisor and Director of Operational and Technology Programs for some of the largest stock and derivatives exchanges, clearing houses, alternative markets, data vendors, and broker-dealers around the globe.
Bob is Chairman and Director of Brownstone Asset Management, a Calgary based investment management firm he founded in 2003. The firm conducts independent research and develops portfolios for investors across Canada, with investments spanning multiple sectors in both the Canadian and U.S. markets. Previously, Bob was Vice-President and Portfolio Manager at Bissett Investment Management for eight years, prior to the company’s sale to Franklin Templeton Inc.
Bob has held senior roles in project development and investor relations with a major publicly traded oil and gas corporation developing investments in Canada, the U.S. and worldwide. He is on the organizing Committee of the Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum, bringing executives worldwide together to share economic views each year at a summit held at Lake Louise Alberta.
Bob was President and Chairman of the Board of the Calgary Stampede over 2013 – 2014. He led the community through the “Hell or High Water” flood year. He has served on the Board of Directors since 1997 serving in a variety of capacities including participation on numerous strategic Board committees. Bob was involved in the execution of the Calgary Stampede strategic plan which includes business development activities associated with a significant planned park expansion. Bob was instrumental in the acquisition of the 6000 acre OH ranch for the Calgary Stampede.
Bob currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Calgary Stampede Foundation. The organization has an independent Board of Directors consisting of successful community citizens, and works towards the advancement of youth programs at the Calgary Stampede.
Bob earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University in 1982, a Masters of Business Administration from European University, Geneva Switzerland in 1989, and the Canadian Investment Manager designation in 1997. Bob earned the Institute of Corporate Director (ICD) designation in 2011, and received the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for recognition of outstanding community service.
A special thank you to our sponsors.
Bennett Jones Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum would like to thank all of our sponsors for their generous support.
