Presenters

John Baird

John Baird is a Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones LLP and a former Senior Cabinet Minister in the Government of Canada.

An instrumental figure in bilateral trade and investment relationships, Mr. Baird has played a leading role in the Canada-China dialogue and worked to build ties with ASEAN countries. In addition, Mr. Baird has worked closely with international leaders to strengthen security and economic ties with the United States and Middle Eastern countries.

A native of Ottawa, Baird spent three terms as a Member of Parliament and four years as Foreign Minister. He also served as President of the Treasury Board, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. In 2010, he was selected by Members of Parliament from all parties as Parliamentarian of the Year. Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Baird spent ten years in the Ontario Legislature where he served as Minister of Community and Social Services, Minister of Energy, and Government House Leader.

In addition to his work with Bennett Jones, Mr. Baird sits on the advisory board of Barrick Gold Corp., the corporate boards of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC), Canfor Corporation (as Chair), the FWD Group and PineBridge Investments. He also serves as a Senior Advisor at Eurasia Group, a global political risk consultancy. Mr. Baird also volunteers his time with Community Living Ontario, an organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities, and is a board member of the Friends of Israel Initiative. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and an Honourary Doctorate of Law from Queen’s University at Kingston.

Eric Nuttall

Eric Nuttall is a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager with Ninepoint Partners LP. He joined the firm in August 2017.

Prior to joining Ninepoint, Eric began his career with Sprott Asset Management LP as a Research Associate in February 2003. He progressed to roles as an Analyst, Associate Portfolio Manager, and ultimately Portfolio Manager in 2010.

Eric's views on energy are frequently sought after by BNN Bloomberg, CNBC, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and other media organizations. He graduated with High Honours from Carleton University with an Honours Bachelor of International Business.

Lisa Baiton

Lisa Baiton is the 6th CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). CAPP represents the Canadian upstream oil and natural gas industry, and CAPP’s member companies operate from coast-to-coast and are responsible for nearly three quarters of Canada’s annual oil and natural gas production and more than 400,000 jobs in nearly all regions of Canada. Since her appointment in 2022, Lisa has overseen the strategic realignment of CAPP’s priorities and advocacy efforts, re-establishing CAPP as a non-partisan evidence-based research advocacy organization and authoritative resource on energy industrial policy.

Prior to joining CAPP, Lisa spent a third of her career through three CEO tenures on the global leadership team of one of the ten largest retirement funds in the world (CPP Investments) as Managing Director & Head of Global Public Affairs where she had responsibility for strategy development and program execution covering 56 countries. Lisa has held other leadership roles including as Vice President & Practice Lead at a North American public affairs firm, and within three federal and provincial governments in Canada.

She has a BA in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan, a MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern University) and Schulich School of Business (York University), with global electives completed at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. Lisa has an Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D certification (University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management) and has served 20+ years on various boards of directors.

Martha Hall-Findlay

Martha Hall Findlay, BA (International Relations), LLB, ICD.D

Director and Palmer Chair in Public Policy, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary; member of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations.

Prior to joining the School of Public Policy, Martha was Chief Sustainability and Chief Climate Officer for Suncor Energy, and before that CEO of the Canada West Foundation. As a Member of the Canadian Parliament she served in the Official Opposition shadow cabinet for International Trade; Finance; Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; and Public Works and Government; she served on the House of Commons committees for all of those portfolios.

She has been a corporate lawyer, international trade expert and senior business executive. She was named a Canadian Climate Champion in 2021; a top global female oil and gas executive and one of the top 275 global women influencers; and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Chelsie Klassen

Chelsie, a social performance leader with experience in communications, land negotiations, and stakeholder engagement across the energy, metals, and infrastructure sectors, draws inspiration from her humble beginnings in small-town Canada. Her upbringing instilled in her a deep sense of connection to community, which she channels into her work by prioritizing active listening and integrating stakeholder feedback into major project designs. With a proactive and empathetic approach, Chelsie ensures that local cultural traditions are respected and social risks are effectively managed.

Currently serving as the Global Director of Community Engagement and Social Performance within Hatch's Environment and Sustainability consulting team, Chelsie oversees a team of consulting professionals spread across multiple countries. In this role, she spearheads initiatives to support the social performance of infrastructure, metals, and energy projects for clients worldwide. Her prior experience encompasses media relations, communications planning, external relations, and land negotiations. She serves on the Board of WPC Energy Canada (formerly World Petroleum Congress Canada).

Navigating Trade Barriers: The Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Oil & Gas