Karen Graham has taken the role of Chair of the Resource Works Advisory Council at a time of uncertainty and opportunity for Canada, and British Columbia is no exception.
The world economy has been upended, and Graham’s wealth of experience in public policy, issues management, and stakeholder relations has prepared her to lead at this critical time.
Graham has spent years navigating the world of business and the natural resource sector in B.C., having held senior roles including Senior Policy Analyst at the Business Council of British Columbia, Senior Advisor for Issues Management at Spectra Energy’s Canadian LNG project subsidiary, and Director of Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
In addition to her professional record, she possesses a strong academic background, with a Master of Arts in International Relations from York University and a Master of Public Policy from Simon Fraser University.
This is far from Graham’s first role in the resource sector; her work as an analyst and advocate has made an impact in the Canadian wine industry, in part from her role as Board Vice Chair of the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society.
As Economic and Political Affairs Advisor to the U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver, Graham gained even more essential insights into the workings of the continental economy. Graham says her new role with Resource Works could not be better timed for this moment.
“Canada’s urgent need to build economic resilience demands the accelerated advancement of nation-building natural resource projects and enabling infrastructure,” says Graham. “To achieve this with maximum public support, projects will need to incorporate innovations in efficiency, impact mitigation, and other societal benefits.”
One of Graham’s top goals is to clear up the misconceptions that continue to plague the resource industry. She identifies two areas in particular where needless confusion about natural resources has spread.
“One, around domestic consumption of goods, and some services, that are derived from the production of natural resources in British Columbia and Canada,” says Graham. “Helpfully, the Buy Canadian movement is connecting the dots for consumers between Canadian-origin inputs and the final good.”
“The other is about the real and measurable displacement of higher-emitting fuel sources, including greenhouse gases and local air pollutants, from the export of British Columbian and Canadian energy products.”
She says the environmental and economic benefits extend to the countries Canada trades with, bringing new income directly to Canadian workers in the resource sectors and boosting the economic well-being of British Columbians and Canadians more generally.
There has been a positive shift in the public discourse on resource development as Graham settles into her new role at Resource Works, but she notes that political expressions of support and clearer communication from levels of government would be beneficial.
As Chair, Graham plans to emphasize working together with Indigenous communities and says it is critical that new projects deliver clear, measurable benefits to them.
“I believe the discussion is on the right track but needs continued reinforcement by political leaders on priorities including Indigenous partnerships and leadership,” says Graham, adding, “responsible resource development has been and will remain the standard, reflected in an effective, reasonable regulatory framework.”
Although Graham has just begun her time as Chair of the Advisory Council, she has given thought to what she hopes will be the legacy of the Advisory Council: to have positively changed how people and governments think about the role of natural resources in British Columbia and Canada.
She shares the vision expressed by senior governments of Canada becoming an energy and resource superpower committed to the highest standards in development, use, and export. Graham says there is great potential for collaboration among government, industry, rights holders and advocates on major projects.
“Given the tariff-related disruptions faced by many industrial sectors, the economic uncertainty experienced by families, and the resulting plunge in public revenues, there is real urgency for governments to walk the talk to enable nation-building infrastructure and resource projects to get underway,” says Graham.
She thinks the groundwork laid by recent provincial and federal legislation must be acted upon quickly and effectively to eliminate unnecessary regulatory delays, so projects can move forward on schedule.
Graham’s goal is to help grow Resource Works’ role as an influential voice that balances the needs of the economy with the needs of society. With an approach that combines data-driven analysis with real-world solutions to enable long-term growth, Graham anticipates the Advisory Council’s impact will be felt in B.C.’s resource sector for many years to come.
