Hearing commissioners perform adjudicative functions under the Responsible Energy Development Act and its regulations. Reporting to a chief hearing commissioner, hearing commissioners
- serve as independent decision-makers on applications, regulatory appeals and reconsiderations referred by the AER for a hearing;
- facilitate alternative dispute resolution; and
- develop the AER’s hearing procedures and rules.
Hearing commissioners are appointed by the Government of Alberta’s Orders in Council. Their decisions may only be reviewed by the Court of Appeal of Alberta. They adhere to the Hearing Commissioner Code of Conduct.
Jillian Campbell, M.Sc., P. Biol., R.P.Biol., DABT. Hearing Commissioner (Part-time)
Jillian Campbell is a senior risk assessor and toxicologist with over 19 years of experience in the environmental industry. She is a board-certified toxicologist (American Board of Toxicology), a professional biologist (AB, BC) and holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Calgary. Ms. Campbell has completed hundreds of risk assessments for technically challenging contaminated sites that span various industries including upstream oil and gas, oilsands, metal mines, harbours, industrial facilities and land development. She has provided expert advice to legal teams and various regulatory bodies, including Alberta Environment and Parks during an update of the Tier 1 dioxins and furans guidelines, and B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change during preparation of a regional risk assessment that evaluated risks to human health of the 2021 Atmospheric River Event.
Shaunna Cartwright, B.Sc., M.Sc., P. Ag., Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Shaunna Cartwright is professional agrologist with an environmental technology diploma from Mount Royal University, a bachelor of science in environmental and conservation sciences from the University of Alberta, and a master of science in environment and management from Royal Roads University. Shaunna’s professional career and experience spans three decades, covering all phases of energy and mineral resource development, and includes time in industry, with the Government of Alberta, and the AER. Ms. Cartwright has worked at the AER since 2001 in a variety of technical and leadership roles. She has extensive experience in providing regulatory oversight for energy and mineral resource development, contributing to policy implementation, technical guidance development, resource conservation, environmental management, and regulatory and statutory decision-making. Shaunna held Director roles in a number of teams at the AER, and her experience includes statutory decision-making roles under various acts, such as the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Cindy Chiasson, LL.B., Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Cindy Chiasson is a lawyer with extensive experience in environmental and natural resource regulatory matters, as well as experience in administrative law, including natural justice. Prior to being appointed a hearing commissioner for the AER in July 2016, she served as a board member of the Subdivision and Development Appeals Board for the City of Edmonton. Ms. Chiasson had a distinguished 17-year career with the Environmental Law Centre, where she began as staff counsel and served as the executive director for 12 years. As well as being an independent consultant on environmental law and policy for many years, Ms. Chiasson consulted with Alberta Environment on its development and implementation of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Ms. Chiasson articled and practiced law with Duncan & Craig, Barristers & Solicitors.
Shona Mackenzie, MEng, P.Eng., Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Shona Mackenzie is a professional engineer with a master’s in petroleum engineering from Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom. Ms. Mackenzie has more than 25 years of diverse energy industry experience, both in Canada and internationally. She has held a variety of senior management and executive positions in both private and public upstream companies focused on hydrocarbon resource development in Alberta and British Columbia. She has also established a consultancy providing petroleum engineering advisory services to mid-cap exploration and production companies and their investors. Ms. Mackenzie brings a strong technical background in reservoir engineering and diverse management experience in the energy sector to the role of hearing commissioner.
Andrew MacPherson, P.Eng., Chief Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Andrew MacPherson is a professional engineer with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Dalhousie University. Mr. MacPherson brings 27 years of industry, regulatory, and leadership experience to his role as Hearing Commissioner. He has worked with the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) for 19 years, beginning as a senior reservoir engineer in 2005. By 2009, he assumed leadership roles, including serving as a technical manager for five years. From 2015 to 2024, Mr. MacPherson held Director roles in various teams at the AER. Here he developed and updated various AER directives. He also represented the AER on the Oil Sands Monitoring Program and contributed to the Science and Indigenous Knowledge Integration Committee. His extensive experience includes statutory decision-making roles under various acts, such as the Oil Sands Conservation Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Elizabeth (Bea) McNaughtan, B.Sc. MBA, P.Ag. Hearing Commissioner (Part-time)
Elizabeth (Bea) McNaughtan is a professional agrologist with over 30 years of experience. Bea was raised on a farm in central Alberta. She holds a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Alberta and a master of business administration from the University of Calgary. Her diverse experience crosses a range of regulatory requirements in the Alberta energy sector, from project development to end of life reclamation. While working for a few years at an oilsands focused corporation, Bea contributed to a major oil sands construction project as well as internal business processes. For most of her career she has been a consultant providing environmental and socio-economic assessments within the environmental regulatory framework in Alberta, for a diverse client base that includes industry, government, and stakeholders. Ms. McNaughtan also led business development initiatives with Indigenous businesses and communities in western Canada, creating the opportunity for community members to develop environmental monitoring skills.
Parand Meysami, M.Sc., P.Eng., LL.B., Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Parand Meysami is a professional engineer with APEGA. She holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Iran, a master’s of science in environmental engineering from the University of Calgary, and a bachelor of laws (LL.B.) in international law and legal studies in environmental law from the University of London. Ms. Meysami has more than 25 years of experience working as an adjudicator as well as in a broad range of disciplines within the energy industry, including environmental assessment, oil and gas field development, economic evaluations, facility design and operations, safety engineering, joint venture negotiations, and financial management. Ms. Meysami is a member of the board of directors at the Canadian Council of Administrative Tribunals, a member of APEGA discipline committee, and has served the Canadian Judicial Council as a public member.
Harold Robinson, LL.B., Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Harold Robinson is a lawyer with a bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta. Mr. Robinson is an experienced adjudicator and mediator with more than 20 years of experience in government. He is Métis and has worked as a federal adjudicator in the Indian Residential School Independent Assessment Process and as the Director of the Métis Settlements Appeal Tribunal. He previously served as a member of Alberta’s Citizen’s Appeal Panel and a commissioner with the Fair Practices Office. Prior to that Mr. Robinson was Executive Director of the Métis Settlements General Council and worked for a time as a director with Alberta Intergovernmental Affairs - Indigenous Relations. Mr. Robinson brings extensive experience as an adjudicator and mediator and unique insights into the perspectives and interests of Indigenous communities to the role of hearing commissioner.
Tracey Stock, K.C., P.Eng., Ph.D., Hearing Commissioner (Part-time)
Tracey Stock is a professional engineer, landman, and lawyer. He has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto, a law degree from the University of Calgary, and holds both an MBA and a Ph.D. in management. As an engineer and lawyer, he brings both technical and legal expertise as well as significant knowledge of the energy industry to the role. Mr. Stock also has significant experience as a negotiator, facilitator, arbitrator, and mediator.
Brian Zaitlin, Ph.D., P.Geo., C.P.G., Hearing Commissioner (Full-time)
Brian Zaitlin was appointed a hearing commissioner for the AER in July 2016. Dr. Zaitlin is an accomplished geologist who has spent over 35 years in industry and academia. Dr. Zaitlin has significant experience in the technical evaluation of exploration and production opportunities throughout western Canada and the United States. He has worked with a wide variety of stakeholders, including landowners, federal and provincial agencies and regulatory bodies, and various public and private companies, including private equity and financial institutions. He has significant experience working with First Nations, including being chief geologist and board director for two First Nation energy companies. Dr. Zaitlin has authored or delivered over 100 peer-reviewed technical papers and oral presentations and is the recipient of many awards, including the Canadian Society of Unconventional Resources’ Sproule Innovation and Achievement Award, and the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists’ Medal of Merit, and was an American Association of Petroleum Geologists distinguished lecturer.
