Core Team

Dan serves the University of Calgary and School of Public Policy as Director of the Extractive Resource Governance Program, Centre for Regulatory Governance Policy,  and as Scientific Director of the Financial Markets Regulation Program.  Dan also is an Assistant Professor in the School of Business at MacEwan University, teaching courses on the law of corporate finance, business transaction law and international business law. 

He recently returned to academia after an extensive career as a corporate lawyer, senior business executive and serial entrepreneur.  Dan previously served as a law clerk to G.V. La Forest in the Supreme Court of Canada, an associate in a national law firm, a partner in a Calgary-based corporate law boutique, President of two junior public technology companies, an executive in a variety of multinational businesses, and co-founder of several start-up business ventures. 

Dan has traveled more than 2.5 million miles to over 80 countries, and though now focused primarily on his teaching, research, and administrative obligations within academia, he continues to advise select start-up and growth-stage companies on business and legal issues.  He is also the author of a variety of peer-reviewed articles in the area of financial regulation and of the annual reference text Alberta Annotated Securities Legislation published by Lexis/Nexis.

Freddy Cáceres (Bsc. Biological Sciences, Bachelor of Applied Technology in GIS, a MSc Energy and Environment, a Master’s in Safety and Work Risk Prevention, a Certificate in Integrated Management: Quality, Environment and Social Responsibility; and an Engineering degree in Environmental Management)  is a biologist and professional engineer with over 20 years of experience working on environmental and social sustainability through the integration of environmental sciences, social responsibility, health & safety and cultural aspects in project and business management systems. He has been the founder and CEO of an Ecuador-based consulting firm and has 15 years of experience in ESIAs for energy, mining, infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, agriculture, urban and rural development, education and health sectors, including environmental impact assessment, management plans, OH&S, emergency preparedness, hazardous waste, and environmental monitoring and audit. He has relevant related experience in Ecuador and Peru. He has extensive work experience with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, particularly with Environmental and Social standards, based on the IFC ES Performance Standards.

Alem Cherinet (BAs University of Calgary; MA University of Calgary) is the ERGP Projects Coordinator, responsible for domestic and international project management across the center’s programming spectrum. 

Alem's background is highly interdisciplinary. Initially a paralegal, she went on to work in public, private, NGO, and academic sectors. Her portfolio reflects more than fifteen years in project building, management, strategic advising, capacity building, and policy development. She is also an organizational consultant. Alem’s academic expertise is in the field of complex governance, specializing in dynamics of conflict, violence, and security. A Political Scientist with undergraduate degrees in International Relations and Latin American Studies, she is recognized for specialties in brokering, negotiation, and identifying crucial mechanisms in problem solving.

Alem is a former resident of the University of Calgary Latin American Research Centre, and an Affiliate of the Rethinking Latin American Studies from the South (RLASS) working group.

John P. Hayes (BA Hons.University of British Columbia; MA York University) is the ERGP Research Coordinator. He is currently a PhD candidate (ABD) in Political Science at McMaster University, specializing in comparative public policy and international relations. He is also a research affiliate of the Development Studies Department at the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México. John is a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholar (2019-2022) and a recipient of the International Development Research Centre’s doctoral award (2020), which has supported his research on the Mexican mining industry. His doctoral thesis examines the multistakeholder dynamics of Mexican federal policy implementation related to natural resource governance in the democratic era (2000-present). His main policy areas of focus are fiscal governance, land and subsoil rights, and environmental regulation.

Erika McNeill (Social Work Diploma, Selkirk College) is the ERGP Operations Coordinator. Drawing from her background she works to ensure team members are well equipped with the resources and knowledge required to tackle their work.  Erika provides guidance with the navigation of complex institutional systems and has lent administrative support for safety, human resources, finance, quality assurance, process development, project coordination, facilitation, and training activities in construction, oil and gas, adult education, and in various groups within the University of Calgary prior to joining the ERGP and the School of Public Policy.