Advisory Panel on Coal Communities

Ritu Khullar, Justice, Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta

Prior to her appointment to the Court of Queen’s Bench on March 24, 2017, Justice Khullar was managing partner at Chivers Carpenter Lawyers. After her appointment, Justice Khullar was able to continue work on the Advisory Panel on Coal Communities by the authority of Orders in Council 139/2017 and 242/2017.

While at Chivers Carpenter, Justice Khullar’s practice focused on litigation relating to public law issues including labour and employment, privacy, administrative, human rights, and constitutional law. She represented public and private sector unions, administrative tribunals, and individual clients. She has acted for the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and appeared before various boards and tribunals, all levels of court in Alberta, and the Supreme Court of Canada. She was selected for The Best Lawyers in Canada in the speciality of Labour and Employment Law and was selected as the Best Lawyers’ 2015 Edmonton Labour and Employment Law "Lawyer of the Year."

In addition to teaching at the University of Alberta faculty of law (labour arbitration, constitutional and advanced administrative law), Justice Khullar has made numerous presentations at many seminars and conferences (academic and professional) on a wide variety of topics including: labour, employment, privacy, human rights, constitutional law, appellate advocacy and running a fair hearing. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ken Delaney

Ken Delaney is a Partner at Prism Economics and Analysis, as well as the Executive Director of the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition. He also serves as Industry Liaison and Special Advisor in the Faculty of Social Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he is helping launch a policy research center that will examine the role public policy can play in ensuring a competitive and sustainable manufacturing sector.

Mr. Delaney’s diverse work history includes senior positions with United Steelworkers, managing a private equity fund, and acting as a management and public policy consultant.

From March 2007 until October 2011, Mr. Delaney was Assistant to the National Director for United Steelworkers, and as such was the National Director’s chief advisor on strategic, political, and operational matters. During this period he also negotiated collective agreements and strategic alliances, launched the Union’s initiative to explore new forms of collective representation, helped set up sector training councils, and directed the implementation of legislative and communication strategies.

In 1995, Mr. Delaney launched First Ontario Fund and served as its President until it merged with a larger fund in 2006. First Ontario raised over $100 million in a series of public offerings during this period and made private equity investments in over 30 mid-sized Ontario businesses.

Kerry A. Jothen

Kerry has 38 years of experience in various human capital roles, including the last 15 years as CEO of Human Capital Strategies (HCS) and over 4 years as CEO of the Industry Training & Apprenticeship Commission (ITAC). As a workforce advisor and strategist on more than 225 consulting projects, Kerry recognizes that in order to succeed today, organizations need a strong, innovative and flexible talent strategy to directly support and actualize their business plans.

As a recognized BC leader in global talent mobility, human capital, talent development and labour market research, Kerry has led the development and implementation of major multi-stakeholder workforce initiatives with business – including Fortune 500 companies and major business groups – government, immigrant, educational, First Nations and other organizations to address complex human resource challenges and needs.

Much of Kerry’s work has involved diversity research and developing strategies to support the training and employment of Aboriginal people, immigrants, visible minorities and persons with disabilities – from addressing employment barriers to connecting with employers.

Kerry has advised and developed and executed strategic plans and workforce strategies for several industries in B.C., including clean energy, construction, forestry, manufacturing, mining, oil and natural gas, public sector, screen-based media, technology, tourism and trucking. In doing this, he has worked closely with governing directors, executive teams and stakeholders.

Kerry has held several senior management positions within the B.C. government along with faculty and administrative positions at four B.C. post-secondary institutions. Kerry has a B.A. in Psychology from Simon Fraser University and an M.A. in Adult Education from University of British Columbia. Kerry Jothen currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.