Client: Grant MacEwan University |
School of Business |
| Services: Teaching and Leadership (1999 to Present) |
Michael Henry currently serves as Associate Dean, School of Business at Grant MacEwan University. He has been Chair of the Bachelor of Commerce and Management, University Transfer Program. Michael’s teaching has focused on Canadian Business and Organizational Behaviour.
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Client: Alberta Centre for Child, Family & Community Research (ACCFCR) |
Provincial Protocol Framework for a Common Approach to Providing Programs and Specialized Services for Preschool Children with Severe Disabilities |
| Services: Capacity Building and Adaptive Management (2011 to 2012) |
This common approach coordinates programs and services that are currently funded separately by Alberta Education, which provides public and private schools with funding for Early Childhood Services (ECS) programs through Program Unit Funding (PUF); and Human Services, which provides families with specialized services through Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD).This Provincial Protocol Framework presented a guide for the development and delivery of a common approach to provide families with a single, coordinated plan implemented by a single service team to ensure continuity and consistency of approach across all settings (home, ECS program, and community).
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Client: Alberta Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils , North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance |
Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the North Saskatchewan River Watershed |
| Services: Stakeholder Engagement, Capacity Building, Legislative and Policy Analysis, Writing (2009 to 2011) |
Susan Abells and Michael Henry have worked with NSWA staff and Board of Directors since 2009 to design and implement a cross-sectoral collaborative planning and engagement strategy, based on IAP2 values and approach, to support the development of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) for the North Saskatchewan River watershed. Susan Abells worked with the IWMP editorial committee to develop and write the IWMP Discussion Paper and online Workbook Survey (2011), and prepared a structured content analysis of survey responses. Our firm continues to work with the NSWA, providing strategic advice and support for stakeholder and community engagement as well as writing and communications services.
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Client: United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, Success by Six® |
Project Charter: Early Years Continuum Project: |
| Services: Capacity Building and Adaptive Management (2011) |
This project charter provided a detailed overview of project management. It defined the scope of the project and identified critical factors for success as well as constraints. It also described the governance structure, including key stakeholders, their roles and responsibilities and reporting requirements, including risk factors and mitigation strategies, as well as change management processes.
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Client: Government of Alberta, Alberta Education |
Action on Inclusion: Literature Review Supporting a Continuum of Supports and Services. |
| Services: Capacity Building and Adaptive Management (2011) |
The Government of Alberta is developing a plan for Action on Inclusion, creating a continuum of supports and services to meet the individual and unique learning needs of all students in Grades 1 though 12. Susan Abells examined the theory of inclusion and identified key elements that should be included to support its implementation, and then analyzed the legislative, policy and planning context in Alberta that would support the development and implementation of such a continuum in Alberta.
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Client: United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, Success by Six® |
Literature Review: Early Years Continuum Project |
| Services: Capacity Building and Adaptive Management (2011) |
This paper supported the work of four pilot sites in Alberta that were examining how they can address gaps in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in their communities and improve the experiences of families through increased cooperation, coordination and collaboration. The paper analyzed and defined key ECEC terms based on leading international theory and practice. It then examined the Canadian government's current approach to funding ECEC, and presented three case studies of delivery models, analyzing how ECEC services are currently provided in Ontario (through Best Start Child and Family Centres), British Columbia (through StrongStart BC) and Australia (through Early Childhood Schools). The paper concluded by presenting the implications of this investigation, and how these findings may inform the delivery of ECEC services in Alberta.
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Client: Government of Alberta, Alberta Environment |
Governance Framework for a Cumulative Effects Management System |
| Services: Governance, Policy Analysis, Organizational Learning, Adaptive Management (2009 to 2010) |
| Susan Abells and Michael Henry designed a governance framework to describe how the Government of Alberta is to work with stakeholders to achieve environmental outcomes within a Cumulative Effects Management System. It was designed to support the implementation of regional plans under the government's Land-use Framework as enacted under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act. The framework was developed in three phases: • Phase One (June 2009) reported on lessons learned within Alberta Environment on achieving outcomes by working with partnerships, especially those established under the government's Water for Life Strategy, and included interviews and workshops with Alberta Environment senior executives and staff. • Phase Two (October 2009) proposed a governance framework for cumulative effects management that went beyond traditional understandings of governance as roles, responsibilities and accountabilities to identify challenges of integration and collaboration, including a methodology to address these challenges. • Phase Three (March 2010) reported on different models used to manage different types of government functions, focusing on a new approach where public servants are responsible for serving citizens (as opposed to clients or customers) by helping them articulate their shared interests, building a collective notion of the public good and a sense of shared responsibility. Cumulative Effects Management functions that require the alignment of efforts across jurisdictions (vertically between scales and horizontally between sectors) are examples of functions where this new management model applies.
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Client: Alberta Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils |
Visioning Workshop |
| Services: Facilitation, writing (2010) |
| Susan Abells and Michael Henry facilitated a visioning session at the Annual Summit that focused on identifying common challenges, and where Alberta’s WPACs may be able to improve how they work together to more effectively and efficiently achieve their individual goals and priorities. Susan Abells then wrote their paper entitled "A Focus on Collaboration: Conclusions from the 2010 WPAC Summit."
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Client: Alberta Ecotrust Foundation |
Understanding the Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Process |
| Services: Presentation (2010) |
Susan Abells and Michael Henry gave a presentation at the "Maximizing Engagement 2010" workshops held in Edmonton and Calgary that focused on understanding the multi-stakeholder engagement process and the challenges facing environmental non-profit organizations in Alberta that participate in these types of processes.
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Client: Alberta Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils , SEAWA: South East Alberta Watershed Alliance |
Strategic Planning |
| Services: Facilitator (2010) |
Susan Abells facilitated a strategic planning session of the Board of Directors.
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Client: Government of Alberta, Alberta Environment |
East Central Alberta Cumulative Effects Project (ECACEP) |
| Services: Stakeholder Relations, Scenario Planning, Capacity Building, Organizational Learning, Website Development (2007 to 2009) |
| Susan Abells and Michael Henry engaged community leaders from three east central Alberta counties (Beaver, Camrose and Flagstaff) to identify desired environmental, social and economic outcomes that formed the foundation of a cumulative effects management system. Using scenario planning, community leaders identified four “stories of possible futures” (scenarios) specific to the study area. These scenarios were developed using systems-thinking methodology, which was then applied to the identification of a desired future, with accompanying desired environmental, economic and social outcomes. Also reported to Alberta Environment on lessons learned from the project. Susan Abells developed the website documenting the project, which is currently hosted by the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities: http://www.augustana.ualberta.ca/research/centres/acsrc/projects/ECACEP/
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Client: Government of Alberta, Alberta Environment |
Upstream Oil and Gas Policy Integration (UOGPI) Project |
| Services: Organizatinal Learning, Adaptive Management (2008) |
This was a cross-ministry project involving three Government of Alberta departments (Environment, Energy and Sustainable Resource Development) and one regulator (Energy Resources Conservation Board). Susan Abells and Michael Henry conducted a series of interviews with senior executives and managers, including Deputy Ministers, project managers and participating stakeholders to identify lessons learned from the project to date. Strategic and project lessons were identified to move the project forward, and shared with others in the department to support future policy integration efforts.
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Client: Government of Alberta, Alberta Environment |
Upstream Oil and Gas Policy Integration (UOGPI) Project |
| Services: Organizational Learning, Adaptive Management (2008) |
This was a cross-ministry project involving three Government of Alberta departments (Environment, Energy and Sustainable Resource Development) and one regulator (Energy Resources Conservation Board). Susan Abells and Michael Henry conducted a series of interviews with senior executives and managers, including Deputy Ministers, project managers and participating stakeholders to identify lessons learned from the project to date. Strategic and project lessons were identified to move the project forward, and shared with others in the department to support future policy integration efforts.
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Client: City of Victoria |
Summer Festival Programming |
| Services: Program Evaluation, Funding Recommendations (2006) |
Susan Abells worked with the Cultural Services Division and Global Arts Inc. and to evaluated nine years of summer festival programming in Victoria's Centennial Square and provided recommendations regarding future direction and funding. Research included interviews with stakeholders from the arts and cultural community, meetings with city employees and councillors, and the design, implementation and evaluation of two questionnaires developed for local businesses and residents.
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Client: Government of Alberta, Alberta Environment |
Battle River Basin Water Management Strategy |
| Services: Program Development, Communications (2004) |
Susan Abells designed and conducted a survey of stakeholders regarding the contents of a proposed public education program to support water management and conservation in the region.
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Client: Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists |
Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists |
| Services: Executive Direction, Advocacy (2000 to 2004) |
Michael Henry developed and implemented advocacy strategies to change government classification systems to improve research funding opportunities.
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