Gord Winkel, Leduc County, Member

Three-year term.  Former Board Member, Northern Lights Health Region

Gord Winkel is no stranger to the health and business environments.

Recently retired as a Vice President of Syncrude Canada Ltd., Mr. Winkel teaches at the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Engineering.

Mr. Winkel has extensive experience in the oil sands. He was Vice President, Aurora Bitumen Production at Syncrude Canada Ltd. for five years, served as General Manager of Extraction also for five years with Syncrude, and was Manager of Extraction Operations and formerly Manager of Mine Maintenance/Operations again with Syncrude.

Mr. Winkel graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and also has a Masters of Science degree in the same field.

His work to improve workplace safety led to a Distinguished Lecturer Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining in 2002. His work to advance the Surface Mining Industry through sharing knowledge, technology, best practices and innovation has led to a second Distinguished Lecturer Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining in 2008.

Mr. Winkel's past community efforts have included membership on a local church board and leading associated children's and adult classes; serving as chair of the board for the local YMCA; and participating as a school board member. Mr. Winkel also served as a board member for the Northern Lights Health Region, where he also participated on four standing committees including: chairing the Board Resource Committee, co-chairing the Board Physicians Liaison Committee, and serving on the Board Executive Committee and Board Safety Committee.

Mr. Winkel is supporting mining research and technology development in Canada as Vice President of the Canadian Mining Innovation Council. He additionally chairs the Surface Mining Association for Research and Technology (SMART). He has also accepted a board position on Careers, The Next Generation Foundation and chairs the J.T. Ryan Safety Committee for the Canadian Institute of Mining.