Dean’s Advisory Council

John Bailey is President & Chief Executive Officer of Economic Development Regina, leading the organization’s mandate to advance sustainable economic growth, investment attraction, and business competitiveness across the Greater Regina Area.

John brings senior leadership experience across the non-profit and private sectors, with a focus on organizational strategy, financial stewardship, and governance. Prior to the current role, John served as Chief Executive Officer of the Regina Food Bank, overseeing significant organizational growth, strengthening operational capacity, and advancing long-term sustainability initiatives. Leadership during this period included the development and siting of an innovative food hub model, enhancing service delivery and supporting broader community impact.. Earlier career experience includes leadership roles with YMCA Regina and work in the private sector supporting development and community-focused projects.

John holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Regina and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. John’s work reflects a strong commitment to applied business leadership, community impact, and the development of resilient regional economies.

Wura Dasylva is a corporate lawyer and partner in the Regina office of Miller Thomson LLP, a national business law firm. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, corporate governance, and complex commercial transactions. She advises clients on structuring and negotiating purchase and sale transactions and provides strategic counsel on navigating sophisticated commercial and financial arrangements.

 Wura regularly acts for financial institutions, private lenders, and corporate borrowers on regulatory compliance, loan documentation, and financing solutions for acquisitions, expansions, and major projects. Her experience spans a broad range of industries, including banking and financial services, real estate, agribusiness, automotive, retail, and hospitality.

Originally from Nigeria, Wura holds an LL.B. from the University of Ibadan and an LL.M. from the University of Manitoba, bringing an international and cross‑jurisdictional perspective to Canadian business law. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2014 and the Saskatchewan Bar in 2018, and in 2023, she was named Partner at Miller Thomson LLP.

Beyond her legal practice, Wura is deeply committed to community leadership and governance. She has served on several non‑profit and community boards, including the YWCA Regina. She currently sits on the Board of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, where she served as its 139th Chair in 2025.

Passionate about mentorship and representation, Wura actively supports the next generation of professionals through formal and informal mentorship as well as speaking engagements. She has called Regina home for over a decade. In her spare time, she loves to read and travel.

Deidre provides strategic leadership of Digital and Information Services and the Data Office at SGI. She oversees the day-to-day activities of the division as well as the implementations of new systems and practices. Her focus is on modernizing Systems’ processes, governance, and operating models as well as maturing SGI’s data office. For Deidre, ensuring technology and data enable a great employee, customer and partner experience is central to all that she does.

 Before joining the executive leadership team, Deidre served as the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer where she led system operations and accelerated maturation of modern governance and technology delivery. Prior to joining SGI in 2021, Deidre taught change management at the University of Regina’s Executive MBA program and worked with SGI as a business consultant refining IT strategy, the technology roadmap, and governance design.

Previously, Deidre was at a local software development start-up as Vice President, Customer Experience & Delivery, later serving as its CEO until it was sold in December 2020. Between 2011 and 2018, Deidre worked in various leadership roles at Bayhurst Gas, the competitive arm of SaskEnergy and before that she spent 18 years with Nortel where she managed the relationships of that company’s largest enterprise accounts in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

 Deidre has both a graduate degree and an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Regina.

 Deidre and her husband are parents to 2 daughters. They enjoy travelling, snowshoeing, e-biking, boating, and camping whenever they get the chance. And gardening takes up a lot of time as well! 

Pam Klein, B.A., M.Ed., Pro.Dir, SOM was elected to serve as Chancellor of the University of Regina from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2025. She has served as the University of Regina's ninth Chancellor. She has been associated with the University of Regina for many years, and most recently served as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors. 

Pam Klein was the Past President of the Phoenix Group, with 16 years as president and 10 years as a director of technology. Saskatchewan's leading advertising and communications firm. She has won many awards across the agency.

Pam’s achievement has role from a Bachelor’s at the University of Regina and her M.Ed from the University of Manitoba. Learning matters.

Pam Klein also has a long history of community service with a number of organizations and agencies, including: the Paul J. and Hill School of Business; Camp Circle O’ Friends; MacKenzie Art Gallery; Saskatchewan Film; Hospitals of Regina Foundation; North Central Family Centre; Heritage Regina and Greenwave Innovation. She is a founding member of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation.

 Her contributions have been recognized. She has been awarded the Junior Business for Business Hall of Leaders, the ABEX Awards for Philanthropic Contributions, the Philanthropic Outstanding Leader, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Excellence in the Community, Queen Elizabeth II Del Gratia, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. the University of Manitoba Award of Distinction, the Regina 25 Award of Merit, and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Community involvement matters.

 She has spoken at many events. Through University classes, board positions, Chancellor events, local events and many more events. Speaking matters.

Pam has been a driving force in our community for a number of years. She has a role model for women as an entrepreneur and a community leader. Pam has lived and worked across Canada and around the world. 

Craig is a  Partner with MNP’s Consulting team in Saskatchewan based out of the Regina office. He provides strategic and operational support to executive teams and boards of directors in executive government, Crown corporations, private companies, non-profit corporations and Indigenous organizations.

 In addition he is the firm's Vice-President, Clients & Services and the National Leader, Public Sector Services. Craig is involved in leading and supporting a series of growth initiatives nationally. He is co-leading an initiative in the firm that is re-defining MNP's client service model based on AI and other tools to transform how client value is delivered and measured.

 Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Queen’s University.

Jeph Maystruck is a Regina-based marketing strategist, speaker, and co-founder of StratLab, a marketing firm dedicated to helping organizations grow through storytelling, strategy, and community-driven ideas. With over a decade of experience working alongside businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations across Canada, Jeph has built a reputation for turning complex marketing challenges into clear, actionable plans.

A former marketing instructor at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina, Jeph combines practical experience with a passion for teaching. His work focuses on the evolving role of marketing in a digital and AI-driven world, helping organizations move beyond traditional advertising toward purpose-driven communication and authentic engagement.

 Jeph is a frequent keynote speaker, known for his energetic and interactive presentations on topics such as artificial intelligence, storytelling, and the future of work. He is also the co-founder of Big Idea Camp, an initiative designed to empower the next generation of innovators through technology, creativity, and community impact. He also co-founded The Caring Conference, a one-day event that brings together marketing and nonprofit professionals for inspiration and professional development. 

At his core, Jeph believes that the future of marketing belongs to those who care more, tell better stories, and build meaningful connections.

Jordan McFarlen is a venture capital leader focused on scaling high‑growth technology companies and building strong innovation ecosystems. As Managing Director of Conexus Venture Capital, Saskatchewan’s premier early-stage VC fund, he oversees $60 million in assets across two funds, supported by a broad group of Limited Partners. 

 In his role at Conexus Venture Capital, Jordan serves as a Board Director and Observer for many of Saskatchewan’s fastest growing tech companies including Vendasta, Coconut Software, Offstreet, HomeTeam Network and many more. 

 Jordan joined Conexus in 2018 to build and lead Cultivator, Canada’s first credit union‑led tech incubator, helping establish it as a nationally and internationally recognized platform for early‑stage innovation. Through this work, he has supported more than 100 technology companies in raising over $100 million in private capital. In 2021, Jordan was named CCUA National Young Leader of the Year. 

Jordan has completed executive education at the Ivey School of Business and Smith School of Business as well as undergrad education at the University of Regina. He is currently completing the ICD Director Education Program at the Rotman School of Management at U of T. He was recognized as the 2021 Canadian Credit Union Young Leader of the Year, the 2017 SYPE Young Professional of the Year and a 2017 recipient of the SK Future 40 under 40 award. He lives in Regina, Saskatchewan with his wife and two children. 

Annette has been a part of Conexus Credit Union since 2016, in her role as Chief Strategy and Governance Officer. She currently shapes and directs strategy, governance, integration initiatives, communications, back office loan and deposit administration, and community investment.

With 30 years of leadership experience across diverse industries in the private, public, and cooperative sectors, Annette is known for her ability to navigate complex challenges and drive organizational success.

Annette holds a Master of Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Chemistry from the University of Regina. She is also certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt, demonstrating her expertise in process improvement. Additionally, she is a Chartered Director through the Conference Board of Canada and the DeGroote School of Business, reflecting her deep commitment to governance excellence.

Since 2018, Annette has been a member of SaskCentral’s Board of Directors and currently holds the position of Chair of the Governance, Human Resources, and Conduct Review Committee. She is passionate about community service and currently contributes her expertise as Vice-Chair for Protein Industries Canada, and Chair of the Governance and Human Capital Committee for Group Medical Services.

Jake Sinclair is the CEO for Cowessess Ventures Ltd. and is a successful business owner based in Regina, SK. He is an Alumni of University of Regina with a BBA, and MBA with the Levene School of Business. Jake is from George Gordon First Nation and grew up in his home community within Treaty 4. Since leaving his community he has work experience as an entrepreneur and with the Provincial Government, dedicating 7 years with SLGA and Ministry of Trade and Export. In his spare time, he likes to stay active by participating in organized events like marathons and golf tournaments.

Cowessess First Nation and Cowessess Ventures

Cowessess First Nation is a progressive community focused on economic development to become an self-sustaining Nation. Being the largest nation in Treaty 4, Cowessess has been on this journey for many years and created numerous businesses along the way. In the 1970’s Cowessess opened Last Oak Golf Course in the community, and almost 50 years later, the beautiful 18-hole course remains a destination spot for locals and tourists.

Cowessess entered into Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) settlement agreements with the federal government in the late 90’s, which allowed the nation to purchase an estimated 100,000 acres of land. Cowessess also aims to farm grain on 10,000 acres of its own land, through its farming entity 4C Farm. Additionally, TLE has also allowed for urban development where Cowessess was able to open a second gas station while also being the first on-reserve gas station in Regina, Saskatchewan as well as a Tim Hortons.

 Cowessess Ventures Ltd (CVL) was created to serve the nation as its economic development arm that oversees large investments and projects. CVL strives to create a profitable investment portfolio that results in diversified economic success, enhanced Nation employment, and organizational self-sustainability to achieve economic independence for Cowessess First Nation.

The Honourable Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M. was appointed to the Senate of Canada on December 22, 2008. Pamela is an Officer of the Order of Canada, this country’s highest civilian honour (2007) and a member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1999). She has fourteen Honourary Doctorates and was Chancellor of the University of Guelph.

 Pamela served as Canada’s Consul General in New York from 2002-2006, in the wake of the tragic and tumultuous events of 9/11.

Among many other honours, she has been named to the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame; she received a national Visionary Award in Canada; and has been recognized, on several occasions, by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her public service and achievements. In 2024, Senator Wallin received King Charles III Coronation Medal.

 Pamela served as the first Honorary Colonel for the RCAF and has an on-going commitment to the men and women of the military. She traveled to Afghanistan on several occasions and to bases across the country and throughout the U.S.A. She was one of five eminent persons on the Special Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan who successfully recommended support and airlift for our serving men and women. She is committed to building and enhancing the military/civilian understanding and continues to work with veterans and serves as the Service Officer for her Legion Branch #62.

 In 1995, the citizens of her hometown of Wadena, Saskatchewan dedicated a street in her honour, Pamela Wallin Drive. She is the author of three books, including her best-selling autobiography Since you Asked (1998).

 The wide-ranging career of the journalist, diplomat, entrepreneur and Senator has spanned more than nearly 40 years, several continents, and always with a focus on politics and foreign policy. She worked for CBC radio, the Toronto Star and CTV, where she hosted Canada AM and went on to become the Ottawa Bureau chief, and anchor of the CTV weekend news. In 1992, she became the first Canadian woman to co-anchor the nightly national television newscast Prime Time News. In 1995, Pamela founded an independent television company, Pamela Wallin Productions. Her media background has proved invaluable in her subsequent public service.