Laureates

Michael and Heather Culbert

Susan AndersonMichael & Heather Culbert are a powerhouse couple whose leadership has helped shape Canada’s energy sector, strengthened corporate governance across industries, and advanced some of Calgary’s most impactful philanthropic initiatives.

Mike brings over 40 years of experience in the energy industry. He was the co-founder, President and CEO of Progress Energy, and later served as Vice Chairman of PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd. He also played a pivotal role in advancing Canada’s LNG strategy as President of Pacific NorthWest LNG. He currently serves on the boards of TC Energy and ARC Resources and has previously held board positions with several other companies. 

As a founding member of the Energy Stream at Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Calgary, Mike has embraced the technology and innovation incubation opportunities in Canada.  He is also a Patron of the Rogers Charity Classic PGA Champions Tour, which has raised over $130 million for Alberta youth since it’s inception.  In 2019, Mike was awarded the Distinguished Business Leader - recognizing Ethical Leadership from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Heather Culbert is a respected corporate director, strategic advisor, and former energy executive with 35 years of leadership across the public and private sectors. A former Senior Vice President at Enerplus, she currently serves on several prominent boards including Export Development Canada, Catapult Environmental, and the Fraser Institute. She has chaired SAIT and ARIAC and is known for championing gender diversity through her co-founding of Board Ready Women and Axis Connects.

As Co-Chair of the OWN.CANCER Campaign, she helped raise $300 million in support of Calgary’s Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, one of Canada’s largest healthcare fundraising initiatives. Heather’s leadership has been recognized with numerous honours, including Calgary’s 2024 Citizen of the Year, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and the Governor General’s Sovereign Medal for Volunteers.

Together, Heather and Michael are deeply committed to giving back. They are founding investors in the United Way’s All In for Youth initiative and have supported transformative Calgary-based campaigns such as OWN.CANCER, the RESOLVE campaign to end homelessness, and many others.

As a couple, they bring not only professional excellence but also a profound dedication to building a better community — one initiative, one investment, and one opportunity at a time.