Alumni Spotlight - MSc SEDV’02

Michael Benson is making an immense impact as a Sustainability Practitioner in Calgary. After completing the MSc in SEDV program in 2002, he went on to work as a research associate for the Pembina Institute, involved in advocacy and consulting. His educational background and experience then led him to secure a role with the National Energy Board, where he has been making positive contribution towards sustainable development for the last 14 years.

Progressing from a socioeconomics specialist, to a program manager and most recently, a member of the technical leadership team, Michael has gained extensive experience in the areas of engagement, assessment and dispute resolution within the Rights and Interests program of the National Energy Board. He is involved in direct engagement with Indigenous people, landowners, and municipalities. On the assessment side, he reviews environmental and social economic assessments submitted on behalf of project proponents and is responsible for producing recommendations and assessments under Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Finally, he engages in more localized dispute resolution, hearing concerns from various stakeholders who are not able to reach agreement with the company.

Michael was also fortunate enough to travel to Sweden to pursue a Sustainability Science degree from Lund University, and gain further insight into sustainable development and its application in the context of Scandinavian countries. Though many commonalities with the SEDV program structure, this degree provided an enhanced emphasis on the theoretical side of sustainable development, which he believes can provide insights with respect to implementation.

Michael is an active member of the sustainable development community in Calgary. He is a member of the Alberta-focused Energy Futures Lab, which is comprised of 50 fellows with a common goal of driving technical and social innovation to create the energy system that the future requires of us. He remains extremely involved within the SEDV program, including participation in the SEDV mentorship program and delivering a full-day lecture each year on Sustainable Development and Alberta’s Energy Sector, leveraging some of the theory and knowledge he gained as a practitioner and from studying abroad.

He finds passion in his work through creative problem solving, exploring different approaches and analyzing complex issues to determine resolutions that work for all parties involved. His sense of reward comes from being able to help the parties find common ground and move forward together. Thinking big picture, as we incorporate sustainability into our energy system, he believes advocacy for change needs to exist both within and outside the system.

Michael Benson attributes much of his professional success to the solid foundation provided by the SEDV program. This interdisciplinary program gives you the leadership skills to become successful problem solvers, change agents, and transition managers. One piece of advice for current and prospective students, “be mindful about your research project and don’t view it merely as a transactional exercise”. He recommends maximizing your value by choosing an area or issue you are passionate about and matching your topic accordingly. Have discussions, network in industry and within the community and use your research to “make the bridge from where you are to where you want to be”.

What’s next for Michael? He remains devoted to the field of sustainable development and as long as the organization he is working for aligns with his values and exhibits a direction of positive change, he is happy. He has witnessed a lot of progress over the past 14 years in the energy system, and is excited to see what the future holds. He believes in continuous learning, and makes a concerted effort to stay active within the community, keeping up-to-date on all things sustainable development related and believes there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Michael challenges all sustainability practitioners to do the same, as the transition needs well-informed, knowledgeable individuals to act as change agents in shaping our future.