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One of the key success factors for any organization is good corporate governance. The conduct of efficient and effective meetings of the board of directors is a critical component of good governance. 
 
In this session, Robert Patzelt and Stephen Aftanas will examine the fundamental underpinnings that contribute to high-performance board meetings. They will discuss best practices in the preparation for, running of and recording the business outcomes of board meetings, including what works well and what doesn’t.

Presenters

Stephen Aftanas Headshot

Stephen Aftanas

LLB, ICD.D

Stephen Aftanas

LLB, ICD.D

Stephen Aftanas, is Corporate Secretary of Emera Inc. a position he has held since 2008. Previously, Stephen held the position of Associate Corporate Secretary, and prior to that, he served as Associate General Counsel for Nova Scotia Power and Senior Solicitor, Emera.

Before joining Emera in 2002, Stephen practiced corporate and commercial law as a partner with a Halifax law firm. Stephen practiced law in Winnipeg for several years prior to relocating to Halifax.

An active member of the community, Stephen is past Chair of the ICD’s Maritime Chapter and the Board of Governors of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Emera is a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with approximately $34 billion in assets and 2021 revenues of more than $5.7 billion. The company primarily invests in regulated electricity generation and electricity and gas transmission and distribution with a strategic focus on transformation from high carbon to low carbon energy sources. Emera has investments in Canada, the United States and in four Caribbean countries. Emera’s common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In 2021, Emera tied with The Bank of Nova Scotia, TD Bank and TransAlta Corp. for a 6th place ranking out of 220 companies and trusts in the Globe and Mail Board Games which rates Canada’s corporate boards using a rigorous set of governance criteria designed to go beyond minimum mandatory rules imposed by regulators.
Stephen Aftanas Headshot
Robert Patzelt Headshot

Robert Patzelt

Q.C., ICD.D

Robert Patzelt

Q.C., ICD.D

Robert Patzelt is an executive and former business lawyer with over 35 years of experience in organizational leadership, operations, mergers and acquisitions and business development.

He is also a respected board director for multiple organizations and a leader of a number of major initiatives in corporate, not-for-profit and non-governmental agencies including some undergoing major transformational change.  He is an award-winning business leader who has levered his degrees in business, economics and his Master of Laws to serve many organizations including a large family enterprise and recently as CEO of a publicly traded resource company leading it through the latest severe commodity cycle downturn and a proxy battle.  He is a sought-after consultant assisting businesses navigate through challenging transitions as well as assisting organizations with their governance.

He is Chair of the Northwood Foundation and he is a member of the Board of Governors of Northwood which is a $100 million not for profit.  He is also Chair of the Friends of Hope Cottage, a soup kitchen for the less fortunate. He has been awarded both the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals for his tremendous service to Canada.  In 2010, he was named co-chair of the Premier’s Council on the Economy.  Also, he is the Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors for Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia and was also the Chair of the Board’s Investment Committee and overseeing its $2.2 billion portfolio.  He is also a member of an advisory board of a large private business and Chair of PACE Atlantic, a community interest corporation that provides low-carbon programs for Canadian municipalities that help homeowners invest in energy efficiency and solar.
Robert Patzelt Headshot
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