Awards
2008 summit award® recipients
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
MR. ROGER D. THOMAS
The Council may confer Honorary Membership in APEGGA upon any person, who through initiative and leadership, has rendered eminent service allied with the professions. The nominee’s work will have contributed to the betterment of society through the development of new material, equipment, techniques, philosophy or management related to engineering, geology or geophysics.
Mr. Roger Thomas is a recognized business leader, strong community supporter, advocate of best-in-class engineering, confidant to the highest levels of government and industry and a mentor to employees and aspiring professionals at all levels. His vision and ability to facilitate effective partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders who impact the Alberta Advantage are beacons to others.
Mr. Thomas attended both the University of Toronto and York University, graduating
in 1974 with a BA in economics and history. He is also a graduate of the Executive
Program at the University of Michigan. He is currently Executive Vice-President,
North America at Nexen Inc.
As President of the Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) and as a current Governor
and Past Chair of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Mr. Thomas
is known for his strategic and proactive efforts to address key issues facing
the petroleum industry including reputation, climate change and labour shortages.
One noteworthy accomplishment is championing the ACR’s workforce development
strategy. Mr. Thomas took the lead in bringing an industry and government working
group together to address the issue and to formulate an action plan, which resulted
in the province’s Energy Sub-Sector Labour Strategy, released in 2007.
He has also focused the organization’s attention on federal and provincial
government relations and shaped the ACR’s response to Alberta’s recent
royalty review process. Mr. Thomas has been an ambassador for the resource industries
at events across North America and helped lead the Alberta delegation at the
Smithsonian Institute’s Alberta Days celebrations in Washington D.C. in
2006.
In addition to his many professional contributions, Mr. Thomas has more than
a decade of community service, where he takes a strong leadership role in both
local and national organizations. Currently, he is First Vice-Chair of the Canadian
Chamber of Commerce, serves as Division Co-Chair for the Calgary United Way Engineering,
Energy Services Supply Division and as a Director of CAREERS: The Next Generation.
Professional Affiliations and Activities
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President, Alberta Chamber of Resources (2006-2007)
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Director, CAREERS: The Next Generation (2005-present)
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Director, Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame Society (2005-2007)
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Division Co-Chair, Calgary United Way Engineering, Energy Services Supply Division (2004-2007)
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Director, Calgary Science Centre (2002-2006)
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Governor, Chair, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (2001-present; Chair 2004-2005)
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Member, First Vice-Chair, Chair, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (2000-present; First Vice-Chair 2007-2008; Chair 2008-present)
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Director, Petroleum Technology Research Centre (1998-2002)
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Director, Ranch Ehrlo Foundation (1998-2002)
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Director, The Adult Learning Centre (1998-2002)
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Director, The Nature Conservancy of Canada (1998-2002)