Join Us

Confluence: Where Leaders in International Cooperation Meet

Welcome to the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation’s (ACGC) Confluence, Where Leaders in
International Cooperation Meet, a leadership program for executive directors and senior leaders working
within Alberta’s international development sector. Confluence is designed by leaders, for leaders. Applications for the 2024 gathering are now closed, but stay tuned for future renditions of this program!

The following are details on the 2024 gathering of the Confluence, Where Leaders in International Cooperation Meet leadership program, including the location, facilitators, guest speakers, and participants.

The 2024 in-person gathering of the Confluence program was held from October 15 – 18 at the Juniper Hotel in Banff.

Facilitators

Jenn Hoffman (Facilitator), Principal at Highwatermark Strategy and Communications
Jenn specializes in helping organizations, academia, and government to advance efforts that reduce risk, tackle the impacts of a changing climate, and build resiliency. She has extensive experience as a facilitator, trainer, and program director. Areas of expertise include adult education, capacity building, climate resiliency, and disaster risk reduction, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions (NbS)...

Kathy Arney (Facilitator), Founder & CEO of KEA Canada Ltd.
Kathy has spent her career growing organizational capacity, improving results and enabling people to reach their full potential.  Kathy’s business degree and CPA designation combined with her executive background and two decades of working in philanthropy support her work helping clients strengthen their organizations and improve their impact. Through KEA Canada, her team provides services in a variety of areas including resource development, capacity-building, strategic planning, board development, campaign planning and management, coaching and interim leadership...

Guest Speakers

Karri-Lynn Paul, Lead on Indigenous Programs
Karri-Lynn Paul is a Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) woman and a member of Woodstock First Nation in New Brunswick. Karri-Lynn Paul, a specialist in Indigenous Adult Education, brings 20 years of experience empowering leaders and fostering community growth. A passionate advocate for culturally responsive learning, her approach to education is transformative, infusing storytelling and an abundance-based approach into leadership training...

Veronica Torres, Program Teaching Staff
Veronica Torres has over 20 years of experience working with various
organizations with a focus on strategies that shift paradigms and power dynamics on behalf of girls and women in over 40 countries. She codeveloped the Youth Livelihoods Development Index (YLDI), a tool to
capture the varied cognitive and non-cognitive asset changes a young
person can experience by participating in an effective program. This
open-source tool is currently used in many countries and supported by
donors such as the MasterCard Foundation and USAID...

Ronna Schneberer, Forest Wellness Walks
Forest Wellness walks are inspired by Shinrin Yoku or Forest
Bathing, which is used extensively in the Japanese wellness
system. Research shows that time in nature helps reduce stress,
anxiety, overwhelm and will increase focus, creativity, and overall
wellbeing. This gentle model is ideal for all types of people and
abilities. Ronna has been a professional guide and naturalist in Banff National Park for over 30 years. She became a forest therapy guide in 2016 and is now a Trainer with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy...

Stephen Legault, Author of Taking A Break from Saving the World
Stephen Legault is an award-winning, and best-selling author,
photographer, writing and photography instructor, political
strategist, and outdoor enthusiast who lives in Canmore,
Alberta. He is the author of sixteen books, including Taking a
Break from Saving the World, a book about how to recognize the
signs and symptoms of burnout, and how to prevent, manage
and recover from them. A talented public speaker, Stephen is eager to share his enthusiasm for leadership, writing, photography, and nature with in-person and online audiences…

Barhet Woldermariam, Executive Director of Centre for Race and Culture
Barhet Woldemariam (she/her) brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to community advocacy, particularly in promoting the health and well-being of equitydeserving groups. Originally from Eritrea, Barhet has spent most of her life as a settler in what is now known as Canada. With over a decade of experience, Barhet has worked within various organizations and held roles focused on addressing inequities at both individual and structural levels. She prioritizes meaningful community engagement, facilitating complex dialogues with stakeholders, and influencing policy and program changes.

Participants

  • HOPEthiopia – Dr. Andrea Theriau, Director
  • Development and Peace Caritas Canada, Alberta/NWT Regional Office – Carmen Michaud, Animator
  • Hands Lifting Hearts – Clare Jaguna, Founder and Executive Director
  • One Step Learning Opportunities Centre – John Hagan, President
  • Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Alberta – Jose Luis Moraga, Program Director
  • Expand Hope – Lindsey Machona, Expand Hope
  • International Women of Purpose Cultural Association – Love Nwabudo Nwigwe, Founder
  • CAUSE Canada – Maria Cristancho, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Director
  • Foundation of Life Ministries (FOLAH) – Prince Nwigwe, Senior Pastor and Board President
  • Real Humanitarian – Rachel Austin, Executive Director
  • Sombrilla International Development Society – Suzzanne Gross, Program Director
  • Foundation for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Initiatives (FIIDI) – Shaka Ceesay, Founder and Executive Director
  • Learn Peace Canada – Tamara Larson, CEO and Founder
  • One! International Poverty Relief – Tania Spilchen, Founder
  • Pamir Canadian Multiculturalism Council Canada – Umair Ahad, Executive Director
  • Pamir Canadian Multiculturalism Council – Dewangi Kode, SDG Advisor
  • Sinkunia Community Development Organization – Issa Kamara, Executive Director
  • Sihle-Sizwe Vineyard Foundation – Mdududzi Gumbo, Account Manager
  • Islamic Relief Canada – Nabeel Hameed, Alberta Regional Manager

ACGC was pleased to host the past Confluence, Where Leaders in International Cooperation Meet, in June 2022, a leadership program designed for executive directors and senior leaders working within Alberta’s international development sector.

Leaders are experts. Together, they have a wealth of knowledge and information that drives the international development sector forward. Through a co-creative process, the facilitators of the Confluence leadership program guide leaders to strategize on topics and issues most pressing for them in these uncertain times.

A highly interactive and participatory program, Confluence uses a range of approaches, including small group/cohort sharing, large-group discussions, structured activities, and subject matter expert presentations, to create a rich and meaningful experience.  Specifically, Confluence aims to:

Leaders will come together:

The first Confluence program took place in September 15-17, 2021 with 8 senior leaders. 
The second program took place June 14-17 2022 at the Banff Centre 

Meet the facilitators

ACGC is pleased the welcome back the duo consulting team from Highwatermark Strategy and Communications and KEA Canada, Jenn Hoffman and Kathy Arney to facilitate Confluence 2022.

Based on the co-design of leaders in the 2021 pilot program, the team has prepared a highly interactive and participatory program, using a range of approaches, including small group/cohort sharing, large-group discussions, structured activities, and subject matter expert presentations.  

Jenn Hoffman
Highwatermark Strategy and Communications

With twenty five years experience as a strategist, development and communications specialist, and instructor in the education, community resiliency and environmental sustainability sectors, Jenn is well positioned to help groups deliver on their mission-driven work.

Read more

Jenn holds an MA in Education (curriculum and instruction) and an MA in Disaster and Emergency Management (community resiliency and risk reduction) and has extensive experience in project management and as a facilitator, trainer and coach. She has completed formal training in facilitating online learning and holds extensive experience in developing and delivering learning experiences, presenting at professional workshops, and creating resources on a wide range of topics including organizational risk and resiliency, fundraising and advocacy.

Jenn has held senior positions with leading conservation and climate-resiliency organizations, including the Sierra Club, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and the Academy for Sustainable Innovation. Through her current work at Highwatermark Strategy and Communications, Jenn helps non-profits and social values-driven businesses build their capacity to create positive change. Her areas of expertise include capacity strengthening, communications and strategic planning, fundraising, risk reduction and non-profit management.

Since 2005 Highwatermark Strategy and Communications has helped clients build their capacity, engage their community more effectively and share their learnings with the broader community, The company is passionate about social justice, environmental sustainability, and community resiliency- and about working with those who share that passion.

They bring to their work a deep understanding of the various dimensions that both build and erode community resiliency, particularly for woen and girls.

With a strong working understanding of the humanitarian and development landscape, the enabling philanthropic sector, and key national and international frameworks and policies that serve to guide programs and projects dedicated to eradicating poverty, championing gender equality, and globally empowering women and girls, the Highwatermark team is well aware of the challenges and opportunities that Canada’s sustainable development SMOs face as they strive to advance their mission-driven work.

Kathy Arney
President, KEA Canada Ltd

Kathy Arney has spent her career growing organizational capacity, improving results and enabling people to reach their full potential.

Kathy’s business degree and CPA designation combined with her executive background and two decades working in philanthropy support her work helping clients strengthen their organizations and improve their impact.

Read more

Kathy’s experience includes Chief Development Officer and Executive Director of the Banff Centre Foundation, Director, Faculty Development and Major Gifts at Carleton University and various leadership positions at UBC and Queen’s University. She has consulted with other leading universities, arts organizations, community and social service organizations, on advancement structuring, strategic and operational planning, and campaigns. She has presented at regional, national and international conferences and has a commerce degree from Queen’s University (1989), obtained her ARCT in piano performance in 1985 and obtained her CA in 1981.

Through KEA Canada her team provides services in a variety of areas including resource development, capacity building, strategic planning, board development, campaign planning and management, coaching and interim leadership.

KEA Canada’s mission is to contribute to a better world through nurturing generosity and philanthropy. The team provides clients with access to senior level professionals to help to build organizational capacity.

KEA Canada also provides support in a variety of areas including resource development, strategic planning, board development, coaching, and services for families and organizations looking for advice in strategic philanthropy.

Kea Canada’s area of expertise is helping organizations build sustainable capacity.We all know that to be as effective as possible organizations must have capacity. But what does it mean to have sustainable capacity and why is this a game-changing approach that the top non-profits are adopting?

So many non-profits focus on survival or the pressing challenge in front of them. This is important but its short-term approach can trip them up, possibly preventing mission fulfillment.

Sustainable capacity combines meeting near-term goals while mapping long-term tactics and strategies to ensure a healthy, strong, and impactful future. Sustainable impact focuses on leadership development, financial and fundraising systems design, social media and web strategies and critical tools to create manageable growth and expansion.

This is Kea Canada’s area of expertise.