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Feature Article
Shell leads by example in Wood Buffalo
12 Nov 2009
Shell renews its sponsorship commitment to Leadership Wood Buffalo.
Shell Canada is leading by example in Wood Buffalo by renewing its sponsorship commitment to Leadership Wood Buffalo (LWB) for another three years, investing a total of $150K.
“We’re thrilled that Shell has once again chosen to support our leadership program,” says Noha El-Banna, LWB Executive Director. “This investment shows their commitment to shaping the future of Wood Buffalo by helping develop our leaders of tomorrow.”
Leadership Wood Buffalo is an eight-month program for community-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference. The program recruits future leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to ensure it has a strong cross-section of experiences and ideas.
“Leadership Wood Buffalo helps equip the community, and our own workforce, to respond to current and future challenges,” explains John Rhind, General Manager at Shell Albian Sands. “These challenges include established community leaders retiring and leaving the community, the changing cultural make-up of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and significant social and economic change.”
Through 12 learning days, LWB offers a combination of theoretical, practical and experiential learning opportunities for approximately 18 participants annually so they can learn how to affect positive change and growth for a healthy and sustainable region. Organizations sponsor employees to give them opportunities to establish valuable connections in the community and build their personal leadership skills.
Over 50 community leaders have graduated from LWB since the program’s inception in 2006. Of those, six have been Shell employees, with two currently enrolled in the program.
“Shell’s employees who have gone through the program are actively involved in our community and have grown their leadership skills within our company, for example by acting as Chairs of our United Way Campaign,” says Rhind. “They are role models for and now motivate and inspire other employees to make a difference.
Adds Mildred Ralph, a past Shell participant in the program: “I believe that Leadership Wood Buffalo is of great value to our community, our workplace and our home life. It is a program that highlights and builds on the abilities of individual participants, and it builds on the opportunities and the needs of the community itself. That's what makes it so special.”