QC, Beyond Polarity
Donna Kennedy Glans
Over the course of her 35-year career, Donna has served in leadership roles in the private, non-profit & public sectors. Crossing sectoral boundaries is her ‘thing’, geographic boundaries too. Donna has worked on projects in over 35 countries…35 in 35.
Donna was raised on a farm in rural southwestern Ontario where her siblings and extended family continue to farm today. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1984.
Donna is curious about all things energy, leadership, citizen voice, creativity and integrity. Currently, she sits on the board of governors at the Banff Centre and is a member of the Alberta government’s Fair Deal Panel, mentors young leaders and shares Alberta’s stories via mainstream and social media in written, audio and television mediums.
Critical Thinking Questions
More on Donna
As an elected politician, Donna was the Member of the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-Varsity in 2012 and served in that
role until April 2015. During her tenure as MLA, she championed citizen voice
in provincial decision-making and acted in several capacities, including: Associate
Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Chair of the Standing Committee
on Resource Stewardship; Member of Treasury Board; Chair of the government’s
Results Based Budgeting review of all economic diversification programs; Government
founder of First Nations and Métis Women’s Councils; Member of the government’s
Ministerial Working Group on Natural Resources and Environment; and Member of
Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. In the private
sector, Donna has hands-on experience solving integrity dilemmas across the
globe, largely in the energy sector, including as:
In the
non-profit sector, Donna founded Bridges Social Development (canadabridges.com)
in 2002 as a voluntary organization training female leaders in the country of
Yemen. In 2009, a youth social entrepreneurship initiative was launched, in
partnership with young leaders in Alberta (including youth from Diaspora, First
Nations and Métis communities) and continues to operate in the province.