The Board

Mr. Stelmach was most recently a senior vice president and portfolio manager at Franklin Bissett Investment Management where he spent 19 years managing equity portfolios with various dividend and energy mandates under a variety of platforms (mutual funds, institutional accounts, and separately managed accounts). Mr. Stelmach's analyst responsibilities included coverage of the energy sector, as well as companies within the healthcare, industrial, real estate, and utility sectors. Prior to joining Franklin Bissett, Mr. Stelmach was employed by BMO Nesbitt Burns (now BMO Capital Markets) for six years, last as a vice president and research analyst specializing in the royalty and income trust sector.

Les served as a board member of the Calgary Homeless Foundation from 2011-2017, and currently serves as a director and chair of The Ed Stelmach Community Foundation.

Mr. Stelmach holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance, With Distinction, from the University of Alberta. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.

Mr. Stelmach was appointed to the Management Employees Pension Board as an Employer nominee. His current term expires on March 28, 2026.

Mr. Beesley is Assistant Deputy Minister of the Public Safety Division in Alberta Municipal Affairs. He has over 20 years in government in various roles, including Executive Director of Pension Policy in Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. In that role Mr. Beesley led the development of policy and provided advice on public sector pension plans in Alberta, including the Management Employees Pension Plan. He is a chartered management accountant and has led numerous large-scale projects in government.

Mr. Beesley was appointed to the Management Employees Pension Board as an employee nominee, effective March 17, 2020. His term expires on March 28, 2026.

Ms. Patershuk is an actuarial consultant in Edmonton with extensive professional experience in financial risk management, communications, calculating pension plan valuations, and appeal consultations (including as a witness) in various fields. Her financial risk management experience includes many senior management positions with a major insurance company, working with major consulting firms in pension and benefits specialities, consultation and communications with benefits committees and boards, and organizing industry conferences. She has worked with a diverse clientele spanning many industries, including non-profit organizations and associations.

As an active member of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA), she is recognized for her active participation on volunteer committees. In addition to her professional qualifications as a Fellow of the CIA and Society of Actuaries (SOA), she qualified for the actuarial designation in Enterprise Risk Management (Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst) from the SOA.

She is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce Hons. Degree, majoring in Actuarial Science and Marketing. More recently, she achieved her MBA in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University. Shannon has resided in Edmonton with her family for over 30 years.

Ms. Patershuk was appointed to the Management Employees Pension Board as an Employer nominee, effective January 1, 2018. Her current term expires on December 31, 2025.

Adam Battistessa has over 30 years of commercial business development and operational leadership, specializing in fiscal and economic reforms, policy advocacy, and strategic negotiations within the energy sector. He currently serves as Executive Director, Business Relations & Implementation at the Alberta Department of Energy, where he leads cross-governmental and industry collaborations on energy transition, fiscal frameworks, and commercial arrangements.

Adam’s expertise spans senior roles in both government and the private sector, including more than a decade in Shell Canada’s leadership, where he managed government relations, royalty and tax policy, and finance for major heavy oil and in-situ projects. His work has focused on shaping responsible energy development, with a recent emphasis on ESG and sustainable finance policy, as well as extensive advocacy for royalty and fiscal policy reforms.

Adam is recognized for his ability to influence regulatory and commercial initiatives, having led high-stakes negotiations, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of large-scale projects and portfolio changes. He has also contributed 15 years as a board director (5 years as Chair) and governance leader within Alberta’s credit union network.

He holds an MBA in Financial Management, a BA in Economics, and multiple professional designations, including CPA, CGA, FCCA (UK), and Accredited Canadian Credit Union Director (ACCUD).

Mr. MacLeod is a Portfolio Manager, Investment Advisor, and Branch Manager at Richardson Wealth Limited's Edmonton office.

In addition to his management role, he is actively involved in working with clients as a partner in an investment practice. He has worked in the investment industry for 24 years, primarily focusing on wealth management, portfolio management, and financial planning.

Mr. MacLeod holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance, with distinction, from the University of Alberta. He is also a CFA® charterholder, which he earned from the CFA Institute in 2003. He also holds supervisor, portfolio management, securities, and options licenses.

He is an active supporter of the Centre for Family Literacy, hosting their signature An Evening of Wine & Words fundraising event, in concert with title sponsor Richardson Wealth.

He was appointed to the Management Employees Pension Board as an employer nominee on June 30, 2024. His current term expires on June 30, 2027.

Shaun Peddie has over 25 years of experience within the public service, both at the provincial and federal level. His career spans numerous roles ranging from expenditure management and fiscal policy to capital planning, economic development and social services. Shaun has significant experience in developing policy as well as delivering programs. Shaun is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Services for Assisted Living. Prior to this role, he was Assistant Deputy Minister of Social and Economic Policy, at the Policy Coordination Office in Executive Council. Shaun holds a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta.

Nathaniel Smith is Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Services and the Public Agency Secretariat with the Public Service Commission. He has worked in the Alberta Public Service in policy and program development roles with the departments of Municipal Affairs, Arts, Culture and Status of Women and the Policy Coordination Office of Executive Council. Prior to coming to Alberta, he worked with the Government of Nova Scotia.

During his 16 years of working in government he has led a number of significant initiatives including the establishment of Arts Nova Scotia, legislative amendments to Nova Scotia’s Human Rights Act to include gender identity and gender express, the repatriation of the Manitou Aisinîy to Alberta’s first nation communities, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal Program and Alberta’s contributions to the City of Edmonton’s bid for the FIFA 2026 World Cup and the Alberta 2026 Commonwealth Games bid.

He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) as well as a Certificate in Municipal Government Administration from Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. and a B.A. (Hons) from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, N.S.