88th Annual Conference Speakers and Panelists

Wednesday, April 22

  • Speaker

    April 22 – 1:00 pm 

    Enforcement in Motion: Trends, Challenges, and Compliance in Alberta's Commercial Transportation Landscape 

    Inspector McCormack (Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol) began his career in law enforcement with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in 1998, building on a lifelong connection with the trucking industry. Growing up with a father who drove trucks for a living, he developed an early appreciation for the profession and the people who keep goods moving across the country.

    Holding a Class 1 licence since 1991, Inspector McCormack spent several years hauling fuel throughout Northern Alberta and British Columbia before transitioning into law enforcement. His background in both trucking and enforcement has given him a well-rounded perspective and a deep respect for the industry’s challenges and contributions.

    Currently serving at the rank of Inspector with the Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol, he remains dedicated to bridging the gap between enforcement and industry, fostering collaboration, understanding, and mutual respect. Inspector McCormack is particularly interested in the technological advancements shaping modern trucking and how these innovations influence safety, compliance, and enforcement practices.

    A CVSA-certified inspector for over 16 years, he brings extensive experience and insight to his role. He takes great pride in engaging with members of the trucking community—especially newcomers—to share knowledge, promote safety, and support the continued growth and professionalism of the industry.

Thursday, April 23

  • Speaker

    April 23 – 9:30 am

    Moments of Impact

    In 2008, I was the sole survivor of an extremely violent plane crash off the Canadian coast of British Columbia that instantly claimed the lives of seven other passengers and pilot. Severely burned and alone on an uninhabited island, I was in for the fight of my life. In the following months of physical rehabilitation, I began to confront the profound mental and emotional haunting of ‘what-ifs’ reflections. 

    The moments leading to the crash weigh heavy on my mind to this very day. I can’t shake one thought: if only I had spoken up, they would still be here. This burden has shaped my journey ever since. What followed was a battle through the darkest depths of grief, guilt, and self-doubt. I resolved that some good had to come from this tragedy and from that pain came transformation. Over the years I’ve learned to channel the lessons from that tragedy into a powerful message of resilience, courage, and intentional living. 

    Today I share my story to inspire others to navigate their own Moments of Impact. My presentation goes beyond the emotional narrative – it is a call to action. I equip audience members with actionable takeaways that empower them to respond to challenges with courage, to live with intention, and make decisions that create meaningful change in their own lives and the lives of others. 

  • Panelist

    April 22 – 11:15 am

    Panel: Leading with Safety: How Top Carriers Build Cultures That Prevent Claims and Drive Results 

  • Closing Keynote

    April 23 - 1:00 pm

    Jim Harris was named the Speaker of the Year in 2024 by the largest CEO peer mentoring organization in Canada. He was selected from 500 speakers.  

    Jim is a one of North America’s foremost thinkers on AI and disruptiveinnovation. He is one of the world’s leading keynote speakers, presenting internationally at more than 50 in-person and virtual conferences and events a year. Association magazine ranked him as one of North America’s top ten speakers. Jim also leads strategic planning sessions with executive teams, and his firm also provides AI advisory and AI training and bootcamps to organizations.  

    His clients include American Express, Barclays Bank, IBM, Munich Re, Novartis, the Top 200 CIOs of India, the UK Cabinet Office, Swiss Re, Walmart, Zurich Insurance, and most importantly Alberta Motor Transport Association!   

  • Panelist

    April 22 – 11:15 am

    Panel: Leading with Safety: How Top Carriers Build Cultures That Prevent Claims and Drive Results 

  • Opening Keynote 

    April 22 – 10:15 am 

    Imagine what it would be like to live undercover for months at a time, and your success depends on building trust and detecting deception with some of the most dangerous people imaginable. That’s precisely what Pamela Barnum did for years as the only woman working undercover in a Drug Enforcement Unit of over ninety specialized police officers. As a result, she learned real-world techniques for building trust and interpreting body language. 

    When Pamela graduated from law school, she left policing and accepted a position as a federal prosecuting attorney. She spent countless hours in the courtroom, perfecting her trust strategies and body language expertise. Following a successful 20-year career in the criminal justice system, Pamela studied corporate negotiations in graduate school. Now, she shares her expertise with others, teaching them how to improve their communication skills to increase trust within their organizations. 

    As a nonverbal communication expert and trust strategist, Pamela delivers techniques once thought of as a “secret second language” that participants can begin using immediately. When you take decades of experience, including working deep undercover in narcotics, followed by a rewarding legal career, you get real-world strategies that help participants improve professional relationships using proven field-tested techniques. 

    Pamela shares her experience, research, and expertise with humor, honesty, and energy, blending actionable strategies with memorable stories. She is also a featured expert and contributor in print media, radio, and television news programs in Canada and the United States and co-hosts on the hit TV show Building Bad. Pamela has also been honored to deliver two popular TEDx talks. 

  • Panelist

    April 23 – 8:30 am

    Panel: Navigating Trade Barriers: Federal and Provincial Impacts on Commercial Carriers

  • Panelist

    April 23 – 8:30 am

    Panel: Navigating Trade Barriers: Federal and Provincial Impacts on Commercial Carriers

    Marcel Pouliot is known as a strategic leader, influential collaborator, and recognized voice in the North American trucking industry. As President and Lead Consultant of IQ Trucking Consultants, he brings a wealth of expertise in operations, safety, regulatory affairs, and fleet innovation. His active involvement with provincial, national boards, and educational institutions, reflects his commitment to fostering knowledge exchange, leadership development, and sustainable growth within the industry. 

    A former executive with Trimac Transportation and recipient of the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) Director of the Year award, Marcel has also served on the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Board of Directors contributing to the advancement of industry standards and best practices. 

    Since 2023, in his role as Western Canada Business Manager for the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC), Marcel continues to drive practical, forward-thinking initiatives that strengthen collaboration and innovation across Canada’s transportation sector.  

  • Panelist

    April 23 – 8:30 am 

    Panel: Navigating Trade Barriers: Federal and Provincial Impacts on Commercial Carriers 

    I’m the owner and operations manager of Gateway Carriers Ltd., a livestock transportation company based in Lethbridge, Alberta. With over 25 years leading Gateway and more than 35 years in agricultural transport, I’ve dedicated my career to the safe, efficient, and humane movement of livestock across Western Canada. 

    At Gateway Carriers, we’ve modernized livestock transport equipment to reflect today’s animals and emphasize low-stress, humane handling. I believe my success comes from helping my people be successful — investing in skilled, motivated drivers who share our values of safety, respect, and reliability. 

    Through my experience in both interprovincial and international trade, I’ve gained a strong understanding of the regulatory and logistical challenges that connect agriculture and transportation. Alongside my involvement in ranching and community initiatives, I remain committed to building lasting value for both the industry and the people who keep it moving. 

  • Panelist

    April 23 – 8:30 am

    Panel: Navigating Trade Barriers: Federal and Provincial Impacts on Commercial Carriers

    Lynn Varty is the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) for Traffic Safety Services, a division within Transportation and Economic Corridors, and currently holds the position of Chair of the Board for the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA). Lynn is widely recognized for her visionary leadership and strategic acumen, consistently fostering collaboration across diverse groups.

    Lynn has received numerous accolades, including the Association of Canadian Court Administrators' Award of Merit (2008) for exemplary leadership and innovation in court administration, the Outstanding Achievement Award for Women in Leadership from the Alberta Public Service (2015), and the Distinguished Service Award from the CCMTA (2024).

    She earned a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and an Executive Coaching Certificate from the same institution. Additionally, Lynn is a certified member of the Project Management Institute and holds certification in Prosci Change Management.

  • Speaker

    April 23 – 7:30 am 

    WCB Update 

  • Speaker

    April 23 – 11:00 am

    Predictive Fleet Safety: In-Cab Technologies and More

    Kambiz Asrar Haghighi is the Director of Product Management - Camera Systems at Samsara, where he leads the Safety hardware portfolio, encompassing the Samsara Dash Camera, AI Multicam, and Camera Connector product lines. He is dedicated to driving the global product roadmap, building solutions that directly address customer needs and enhance safety through a continuous feedback loop. With a foundation built over almost 25 years in the world of video, streaming, and computer vision, Kambiz's focus is on creating impactful products that make a real difference for the world of operations.