Board of Directors

A Chartered Accountant by training, David Drybrough is a Winnipeg native and until January of 2004, was Vice-President, Finance of Gendis Inc., following his retirement in 1997 as a partner of Coopers and Lybrand (now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP). Prior to that, David served as an auditor with the firm of Deloitte Plender Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte & Touche).

John Feick holds bachelor and doctorate degrees in Chemical Engineering. Presently, John is Chairman of Matrix Solutions Inc., a provider of environmental remediation and reclamation services. John is also Chairman and a partner of Kemex Engineering Ltd., which offers engineering and design services to the petrochemical, refining and gas processing industries. John previously served as a Senior Vice President of NOVA Corporation and President and Chief Operating Officer of Novacor Chemicals, a subsidiary of NOVA Corporation from 1984 to 1994.

Bob Iverach has been in practice as a tax lawyer in Calgary for more than 35 years. Bob practiced with Felesky Flynn LLP from May, 1978 until December, 2005. Bob has extensive experience dealing with financial statements, financial planning and tax matters pertaining to a large array of public and private corporations, partnerships, income trusts and individuals. Bob has been a member of the Law Society of Alberta since 1972. Bob graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts degree, from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Laws degree and from the London School of Economics with a Masters of Laws degree in 1971. Bob has completed the program offered by the Institute of Corporate Directors, including sessions devoted to Audit Committee functions, and is entitled to use the designation ICD.D.

Verne Johnson has enjoyed a long a varied career as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, beginning with roles with major players like Imperial Oil and moving later to the independent sector of the industry in various senior capacities including President & CEO of ELAN Energy Inc. from 1989 – 1997. In recent years Verne has been engaged in advisory and restructuring roles, and has served as a director of a number of energy, and other companies. As well, Verne has served on many community and industry organizations, including the Board of Calgary Opera, the Board of the Independent Petroleum Association of Canada (IPAC) and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). In 1995 Verne was chosen for the Gold Medal by The Wall Street Transcript and in 1996 was the instigator and a member of the Zimmerman Committee of the Investment Dealers Association which developed the current regulations for corporate takeovers in Canada.

Rebecca McDonald has served as Chief Executive Officer of Laurus Energy Inc. since December, 2008. Laurus Energy Inc. is involved in underground coal gasification project development. Rebecca has more than 25 years experience in the energy industry. Rebecca has been responsible for the development, construction and operation of natural gas and liquids pipelines, gas and electricity distribution companies, as well as power plant and gas processing facilities in North America, Asia, Africa and South America. Rebecca previously served as President, Gas and Power, BHP Billiton from March 2004 to September 2007, and, from October 2001 to January 2004, she served as President of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Steve Mulherin joined Polar Capital partnership in 1997 and opened the Polar office in Calgary. He has experience as both an operator and private equity investor. Steve was the CEO and Chairman of Wittke Inc. prior to its sale in 2002. In addition, he has acted as CEO of an international construction company with over $700 million in revenues and 3500 employees before it was successfully sold. He has participated on numerous boards and is a Governor and Vice Chair of Strathcona Tweedsmuir School. Prior to joining Polar, Steve was Chief Financial Officer and VP Corporate Development of a major a Canadian diversified operating company in transportation and energy services and prior to that, with a major Canadian bank in Corporate Banking. Steve received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University and is a graduate of the Executive Management Program at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.

Bob Reid has more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry. Before his retirement in 2008, Bob served as the Chair and a Director of the British Columbia Transmission Corporation from 2003 to 2008 and as the President of Duke Energy's Canadian operations from 2002 to 2003. Before Duke Energy's acquisition of Westcoast Energy Inc. in 2002, Bob served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Westcoast. Prior to his term as Executive Vice President of Westcoast Energy, Bob served in a number of senior positions in the Canadian energy industry and in government service, including: President and CEO of Union Gas Ltd., President of Westcoast Energy International Ltd., President and CEO of Pan Alberta Gas Ltd., President of Foothills Pipelines, Executive-Director of the Independent Petroleum Association, and Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines for Saskatchewan, his home Province. Bob is an honorary Life Member of the Canadian Gas Association and has been inducted into the Saskatchewan Oilmen's Hall of Fame. Bob is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan.

Bert Valdman is Executive Vice President and COO of Washington-based Puget Sound Energy. Named COO in May, 2007, Bert is responsible for management of PSE’s regulated electric and natural gas distribution operations. Bert also oversees the Customer Service, Information technology and Corporate Affair’s functions of PSE, Washington’s oldest and largest utility. Bert joined Puget Sound Energy in 2003 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, he was a managing director in JP Morgan’s utility group. Bert joined JP Morgan in 1987 and held a variety of positions in the investment bank in New York and Paris. Bert taught courses in financial analysis and corporate finance at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris and is currently a faculty member of the University of Idaho College of Business and Finance Utility Executive Program. Bert is the board chair of the Puget Sound Blood Center and is a trustee of the Overlake Hospital Medical Center. Bert is also a trustee of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Bert has a Bachelor’s degree in history form Northwester University in Evanston, Illinois, and master’s and doctoral degrees in medieval studies from Stanford University in California.

Stephen White was born in Matamata, New Zealand in 1957 and immigrated to Canada in 1980. His Post Secondary education was conducted at the Waikato Technical Institute, which he completed in 1978. Stephen received his accounting designation (A.C.A.) from the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1981. Stephen worked from 1980 to 1983 with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) in the audit practice with an emphasis on small business and oil and gas. Stephen started working with Chauvco Resources Ltd. in 1983 where he served as Controller. From 1983 to 1997, Stephen held numerous positions within Chauvco until it was sold to Pioneer Natural Resources in late 1997, for approximately $1.2 Billion. He was involved in co-creating Fort Chicago in September, 1997, raising a total of $380 Million. Mr. White was also involved in co-creating Western Oil Sands Inc. in 1999, raising nearly $1 Billion in equity and debt financing.