BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bernie Robitaille - Secretary
Bernie Robitaille is Managing Partner of Worldwide Precious Metals (Canada) Ltd. Previously President and CEO of The Press Gallery and director of the Alberta Textile Care Association, he was often asked to give presentations on behalf of the industry. He relocated to Edmonton in 1976 and entered the dry-cleaning business in 1987. He was awarded Drycleaner of the Year (2011) and recognized with the Shining Star Award (2012) for his work with the Certified Restoration Dry-cleaning Network of Detroit. The Press Gallery sponsored Edmonton Opera from 1999 to 2019. Bernie also served in the military from 1979 to 1984.
Laura Fitzgerald - Board Member
Laura Fitzgerald is honoured to return to the Board of Edmonton Opera for the 2020/21 season. She believes in service to her community and that art enriches lives and unlocks creativity which is sorely needed these days.
Laura is excited to work with other committed Edmonton business leaders who are using their expertise, business networks and skills to ensure that great companies, such as Edmonton Opera, prosper and grow.
Laura is currently employed with a world leading pharmaceutical and vaccines company in External Affairs and holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a professional designation, in good standing, as a Chartered Professional Accountant in Alberta. She also serves as a Director on the Canadian Association for Healthcare Reimbursement and is Co-Chair of the Community Engagement and Partnerships Sub-Committee reporting to the Executive Committee of the Lois Hole Hospital Womens’ Society.
Ross Wilson - Board Member
Russ Farmer - Board Member
Irv Kipnes - Chair Emeritus
Irving Kipnes founded Liquor Depot in 1993 and served as its managing director and chief executive officer throughout its first 11 years. Irving is also the president and managing director of Delcon Development Group, which he founded in 1962. He is active in many charitable endeavours and has served on the board of directors for several charitable and community organizations, including the University Hospital Foundation, co-chair of the University Hospital Foundation Campaign for Prostate Health, the Campaign Cabinet of the Alberta Heart Institute and the Campaign Cabinet of the Capital Care Foundation. Irving was inducted into the Alberta Business Hall of Fame on May 13, 2009. He was also granted an honourary doctorate of law by the University of Alberta on June 8, 2009.
Mary Clonfero - Treasurer
Mary Clonfero is a chartered accountant with experience in industry, public accounting and teaching. She has worked at Stantec Inc. for the past 12 years where she has previously held the positions of Director of External Reporting and Regional Controller of Western Canada West. Mary graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of commerce degree and received her chartered accountancy shortly thereafter. In her spare time, Mary has assisted with various volunteer positions with the Alberta Institutions of Chartered Accountants and Junior Achievement, and has had held positions on the board of directors of L’Arche. She enjoys running, singing, ballroom dancing and golf.
Enzo Barichello - Board Member
Enzo Barichello is Managing Partner of Bennett Jones’s Edmonton office, co-head of the Government Affairs and Public Policy practice and has served on the firm’s national Board of Directors. For the last 36 years he has built a diverse practice acting for entities in the following sectors: utilities, pharmaceuticals, airports, logistics, commercial real estate, forestry, telecommunications, oil and gas, debt financing, and pension funds, both locally and overseas. For his work, he has been recognized as a Leading Energy Lawyer in Canada, and is Consistently Recommended for Corporate Commercial Law by Lexpert Canada; he has also received a BV Distinguished Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell.
In addition to his work as Managing Partner, Enzo lectures on drafting and negotiating commercial agreements. He is on the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Opera, a past Vice Chair and Director of the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, a past board member of the Forestry Industry Suppliers Association and recently served as Governor, Vice Chair and Acting Chair of MacEwan University. Enzo is a member of the Canadian Who's Who. He is fluent in English, French, and Italian.
Titilope Sonuga - Board Member
Julia Necheff - Board Member
Maryann Battiston - Vice Chair
After pursuing degrees in economics and political science, Maryann served her country as a Naval Logistics Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. She is also the proud mother of three sons and through her career and service has lived all through Canada, USA, and Europe. Maryann is a passionate interior design and renovation project consultant, in addition to being a Director for multiple companies. A life-long volunteer, Maryann dedicates a great deal of her spare time to making a difference in the lives of others. Maryann also enjoys music, art, skiing and biking.
Frank Calder - Board Member
Garner Beggs - Board Member
Garner is an enthusiastic young entrepreneur with an extremely diverse background that includes living in Japan and teaching there, as well as a degree in Japanese History from UBC. He is also an enthusiastic fan of our shows, and has been attending for the past five or six years.
Christy Holtby - Board Member
Olympia Trencevski - Board Member