Cybera’s Barb Carra is one of 16 Albertans selected to form the province’s Talent Advisory Council on Technology. Together, they will provide advice and input to the Government of Alberta on strategies, investments and outcomes on tech-related training programs.
The council – a mix of leaders from the tech industry and post-secondary institutions, along with student and labour representatives – will share ideas, help inform policy decisions, and identify current and future opportunities to expand Alberta’s tech economy.
“The Talent Advisory Council on Technology will provide timely and vital support to Albertans looking to grow their careers and businesses in the changing world of technology, and I’m excited to lend my skills and knowledge to a very worthy cause,” says Carra.
As Cybera’s COO, Carra spearheads the development of the organization’s policy and strategic initiatives, as well as the blueprint for how it advances information and communications technologies in Alberta. She frequently meets with provincial and federal government leaders to discuss the digital needs of Canadians, focusing on accessibility and growing computational capabilities. She also led the development of Alberta’s State of Digital Infrastructure report, which included recommendations for ways to grow STEM education and training in the province, as well as attract more ICT workers and students.
She will be bringing this tech advocacy experience and digital expertise to her role on the new council.
The Talent Advisory Council on Technology was created as part of the Government of Alberta’s Growth and Diversification Act, which looks to prepare Albertans for a more diversified and tech-savvy economic future. This act includes a $50 million investment over three years to add an additional 3,000 tech learning spaces to the province’s post-secondary system and provide scholarships to students.
For more information, visit the Government of Alberta’s website.
Council Members
The 16 members who were selected to serve on the Talent Advisory Council on Technology will begin their work in August and continue to meet until February 2019.
Co-chairs:
- Brad Zumwalt, venture capitalist, Zinc Ventures
- Rod Skura, Deputy Minister of Advanced Education
Industry representatives:
- Myrna Bittner, co-founder, RUNWITHIT Synthetics
- Barb Carra, chief operating officer, Cybera
- Aaryn Flynn, independent consultant
- Evan Hu, chair, Calgary Technologies Inc.
- Tara Kelly, president and CEO, Splice Software
- Stephen Kenny, founder and president, Above and Beyond
- Sharon McIntyre, co-founder and process lead, New Cottage Industries
- Mashhood Qazi, senior project manager, City of Calgary
- Robert Saik, founder, Agri-Trend group of Companies
Post-secondary representatives:
- Robert Andruchow, chair, department of art and design and assistant professor, MacEwan University
- Dru Marshall, provost and vice president academic, University of Calgary
Student representatives:
- Nadia Ady, PhD student in computing science, University of Alberta
- Stefan Radeta, undergraduate student in computer information systems, Mount Royal University
Labour organization representative:
- Anthony (Tony) LeBel, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1944