Arlene Dickinson is a judge on CBC's Dragons' Den, the television phenomenon that has ignited a national conversation about entrepreneurs in Canada. Dickinson -- aggressive but fair, kind but practical, serious but fun -- is the show's marketing expert, its lone female judge, and one of its breakout stars. Ranked as one of Profit magazine's Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs for seven years running, she is considered one of the most powerful female business leaders in Canada today.

Dickinson is the owner and CEO of Venture Communications, a company whose guiding principle is that marketing be held accountable to business objectives. A 20-year marketing veteran, she grew Venture from a small, local firm to one of the largest independent agencies in Canada. (It's repeatedly recognized as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.) A mother of four, Dickinson is the recipient of the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneur Excellence, and has been named one of Chatelaine's TOP 100 Women Business Owners. She has also been inducted into Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame.

Manjit Minhas launched Mountain Crest Liquors Inc. at 19 years of age in Alberta. Her company produces, develops and markets 90 brands of spirits and cordials in Alberta. These products are manufactured for the company in Kentucky, Mexico as well as in Holland and Germany. In late 2002, she entered the beer market in Alberta with her brother, and gave the ‘big boys’ a run for their money with Mountain Crest Classic Lager. The organization became the first successful beer company to enter Canada in decades.

In late 2004, Manjit founded Minhas Creek Brewing Company in Manitoba and now produces and markets 7 different brands in that province including her flagship beer, Minhas Creek Classic Lager.

Last year Manjit’s companies had revenues in excess of $60 million.

Named as one of the Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs in Canada by PROFIT Magazine, one of the “Up and Coming CEO” list by the National Post, and one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40, this ambitious young entrepreneur is just getting started.

Dr. Arlene Ponting is Chief Executive Officer of Science Alberta Foundation (SAF). Throughout her career she has been a trailblazer and trendsetter.

When Dr. Ponting joined SAF eleven years ago, she broke new ground by re-engineering the organization and its programs. She transformed the organization into a high-performance, not-for-profit organization with a strong mission, a solid balance sheet, a prestigious and capable Board of Directors, talented and committed staff, and an excellent reputation in the education and corporate sectors.

Dr. Ponting has a B.Sc. (Hon) in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Alberta.

Dr. Ponting serves on the National Science and Engineering Research Council, the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, and the Advocacy Committee of the Science and Technology Awareness Network of Canada.

Dr. Ponting received the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 in recognition of outstanding service to the people and the province of Alberta. She was selected by Alberta Venture as one of the top 50 influential people in Alberta in 2008 and was selected as one of the WXN 100 Most Powerful Women in 2009.

Cathy Williams, an (honorary) LL.D recipient from the University of Western Ontario and MBA from Queen's University, is a Director on the Boards of Enbridge Inc. and Alberta Investment Management Corp (AIMCO). She chairs the Human Resources and Compensation Committee at Enbridge and chairs the Audit Committee at AIMCO. She is also on the Audit committee at Enbridge. Cathy retired as Chief Financial Officer of Shell Canada Limited in June 2007. She worked for Shell for 22 years, in a variety of financial roles.

Cathy is currently co-chair of the Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative, sponsored by the City of Calgary and the United Way of Calgary and area. The former Chair of Mount Royal University has also served on several Advisory Panels and boards including the Canadian Government and Queen’s University. Cathy was named to the WXN Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ms. McNeill is a dynamic speaker who has built a solid reputation as a business expert through her speaking engagements for audiences globally. She also provides insight to numerous industry publications. She was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women and was nominated as Entrepreneur of The Year. Jennifer serves as CEO of Planetary Growth Ltd., a company with expertise in helping companies grow their business internationally. Ms. McNeilll utilizes her expertise in the Information Technology industry, which includes an emphasis on management consulting, legacy modernization, business management and project planning.

Susan Gallacher is the co-founder of the DirectCash Income Fund (a publicly traded Income trust trading under the symbol DCI.UN) and the President & C.E.O. of the DirectCash Bank (a Schedule 1 Canadian Chartered Bank). Susan’s entrepreneurial experience and major business accomplishments have taken place during the past 13 years as she has led DirectCash from a small private company with two staff members to the 6th most successful IPO in 2004 on the TSX and the largest ATM Company in Canada with over 6200 ATMs and over $96 Million in revenue and $28 Million in EBITDA (as at December 31, 2009). Susan also led the team which made application and established the DirectCash Bank as one of Canada’s chartered banks.

Susan Gallacher graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (with Distinction) from the University of Calgary in 1984 and after a year of traveling continued her studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta (1988). .

Susan was a founding member and the inaugural President of the Canadian ATM Industry Association from 2000 to 2001. As well, Susan Gallacher has participated in a number of groups within the Interac Association including the Interchange Study Group. Susan was on the Board of Directors of Mount Royal College (now University) Foundation from 2006 to 2008 and was a member of the Major Gifts Committee. .

Susan was a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2005 in the Business to Business category for the Prairie Region. As well, Susan has been a Prairies and National Judge in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2009. .

In 2010, Susan received an Alumni Honor Award from the University of Alberta. .

Susan is an active hockey mother to two sons (now aged 22 and 18). Susan and her family also donate to many charities in Calgary and Alberta including the establishment of bursaries for single parents attending the University of Alberta law school.

Shannon Bowen-Smed is an accomplished business woman, dedicated philanthropist, inspirational speaker and proud mother of two young girls.

Since joining the company in 1984 at the age of 19, Shannon has held many different roles before becoming President and CEO in 1996. Shannon successfully diversified BOWEN's business lines, achieving an increase in corporate revenue from $6.7 million to over $35 million in the last ten years. Today, BOWEN is considered an industry-leading workforce solutions company in Western Canada.

In her role as President and CEO, Shannon implements, directs and coordinates activities to achieve profit and return on capital. She also stewards the growth and development strategies of the company and champions an inclusive internal culture that welcomes staff input on key decisions, is committed to service excellence and prioritizes giving back to the community. The success of this approach is reflected in the many awards BOWEN receives including:

Calgary Herald Reader’s Choice (Silver) Award (consistent favourite over past 10 years), #47 on Alberta Venture magazine’s PWC Private 50, 2009 as one of Calgary’s Best Places to Work by Avenue Magazine, Volunteer Calgary’s 2009 Leadership Award for medium-sized businesses, ACSESS’s Canadian Community Service Award and #46 on the PWC Private 50 for top private corporations in Alberta

Additionally, Shannon’s keen business sense and dedicated, generous spirit has resulted in several community and achievement awards, including her most recent accomplishments:

2010 Women of Influence Local Hero Award, Calgary 2010 Top 50 Mompreneur for Community Service, 2010 #40 on Profit W100 list, 2009 “Leaders of Tomorrow” by Business in Calgary magazine, The Women Executive’s Network Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Hall Of Fame for being included in their top 100 list three times and and Finalist in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2009 and 2010

Shannon’s personal mission is to enrich lives reaches far beyond the world of business and into our community. As the co-founder of the Scott Smed Foundation, she has been instrumental in raising over $615,000 in the last ten years to support both the Calgary Region Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program, the United Way of Calgary and Area with a specific focus on families in crisis, and abandoned babies orphanages in Uganda. Additional community involvement includes her current role as Chair of the Adult Immigrant Initiative for the United Way and she sits on SAIT"s corporate advisory board.

A sought-after speaker and experienced media spokesperson, she enjoys sharing her perspective on balancing work and family, as well as pursuing your goals and dreams, with career women across the country. Shannon lives in Calgary, Alberta where she and husband Peter Smed are raising two beautiful daughters: Elacy and Kira.