Green Line Board

With unprecedented funding from The City of Calgary, Province of Alberta, and Government of Canada to deliver the largest infrastructure project in Calgary’s history, City Council established an arms-length Board of Directors to govern and oversee the project in 2021. 

Board recruitment was a rigorous, transparent, and open process that complied with City policies for procurement and board selection. Board members were selected for their knowledge and expertise in development and governance of infrastructure megaprojects. 

The Board is comprised of five members, including Chair Don Fairbairn, and reports to the Executive Committee of Council quarterly, or more frequently as needed. On September 23, 2024 the Green Line Board announced changes to its structure and membership. Read more here.

Click on a name to view the board member's biography.

Don has over 35 years of infrastructure development and financing experience. He has held leadership positions in the development, implementation, operation and governance of transportation, electricity generation and transmission, water and wastewater treatment and accommodation projects. He has led acquisitions on behalf of corporate and pension fund investors and led the creation of Streetohome, a successful non-profit initiative to develop supportive housing in the City of Vancouver. He has governance experience in public, non-profit and private sector organizations, currently chairing the Capital Regional District Wastewater Treatment Project Board, the Board of Houle Electric Ltd. and is an Advisory Board Member of Norland Ltd. Formerly, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Canada Line Inc., Advisor to Partnerships B.C. and Board Chair of the Transportation Investment Corporation and Vancouver Community College.

Governance and HR Committee Chair

Marcia is currently a Senior Strategic Advisor with PricewaterhouseCoopers, advising on public policy issues, government operations and decision-making, and government relations. She is the chair of the Alberta Blue Cross Board, and previously served on the Government of Alberta Affordable Housing Review Panel, the Institute for Health Economics and the Edmonton Region Institute of Public Administration of Canada. She is also an Executive Fellow at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary. She brings a wealth of government relations experience to the board having served as the Deputy Minister of Executive Council, Cabinet secretary and head of the Alberta Public Service. In addition, she has held several Alberta deputy minister roles in the ministries of Innovation and Advanced Education, Infrastructure, Health, and Housing and Urban Affairs.

Budget and Risk Committee Chair

Ian has served as a director and chair of many Canadian companies, including Ballard Power, Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board, Canadian Oil Sands, Hydro One, SNC Lavalin, TransAlta Power and Wajax. He is currently Chair of Teine Energy and Vice Chair of the Canadian Public Accountability Board. He served as Chief Financial Officer of TransAlta, Canada Post and GE Canada. He was chair of the Glenbow Museum and served as a director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Calgary Foundation and Discovery House. He was recognized as a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2011.

Patricia McLeod, K.C. brings expertise in strategy, capital project development, regulatory and governance oversight, human resources, compliance, risk management and corporate social responsibility.

She has been General Counsel and Vice President of regulated Alberta utilities and regulated financial corporations. Her extensive board experience includes Chair, Vice Chair and Committee Chair roles with publicly traded and private corporations, Crown agencies, regulators, large retail cooperatives and not-for-profit corporations including being the current Board Chair of Pieridae Energy Limited and of FutEra Power Corp. and a corporate director of MINDD Inc.. She previously served as Board Chair of Calgary Cooperative Association, the Calgary Film Centre, YWCA Calgary, cSPACE Projects and the Real Estate Council of Alberta. She has also served on the boards of Bradley Air Services Ltd. (operating as First Air), Alberta Innovates, the Beverage Container Management Board, Calgary Economic Development and Vibrant Communities Calgary.

She holds business and law degrees from the University of Alberta, an MBA from Queen’s University, is a formerly certified Compliance & Ethics Professional and attained the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D). She was appointed as King's Counsel in Alberta in January 2014 (formerly designated as Queen's Counsel) and has been recognized for her contributions, receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and accolades from BMO Financial and Women Get on Board. Additionally, she’s been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN and Legal Advisor of the Year by Women in Finance Canada.

David was named the City Manager in August 2019, after serving as the General Manager of Utilities and Environmental Protection. In his current role as Chief Administrative Officer, David oversees all City departments and works closely with the Mayor and Council on matters of interest to Calgarians. David brings close to 30 years of local government experience with extensive experience managing capital construction and project management, information technology, legislative services and protective services. David has held various senior leadership roles where he was responsible for large-scale and successful initiatives such as: the design, construction and maintenance of municipal infrastructure assets including transportation and facility infrastructure; design and implementation of one of B.C.’s most advanced and successful residential waste and recycling collection programs; and design and implementation of Vancouver’s multi-family recycling program.