About the Policy and Government Affairs Department

Our Policy & Advocacy Approach

• Engage Chamber members and committees
• Focus on priority issues
• Build strategic relationships with key opinion and community leaders
• Create an inclusive forum for debate
• Be pro-active and agenda-setting as an incubator of new thought
• Advocate constructive policy solutions
• Communicate policy positions, advocacy activities, and outcomes to members
• Be an effective and credible source for media commentary
• Enhance the Chamber's profile

Our Values

• Committed to the business community
• Non-partisan
• Visible, credible, principled and informed
• Accountable and measurable
• Efficient and cost effective
  

Our Staff

Ben Brunnen, Director of Policy and Government Affairs and Chief Economist

Leads and is responsible for the development, implementation, direction and management of the Chamber's economic and public policy and advocacy efforts, including the conduct and direction of research, policy formulation, and strategy. In advocacy and engagement, he also leads efforts to build and maintain key stakeholder relationships, to further enhance the profile and effectiveness of the Chamber, and our credibility and recognition as a leading edge advocate of economic and public policy solutions that improve the business climate for our members.

Ben has extensive experience in economic and public policy research. Ben has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria, and a BA in Economics from the University of Calgary and has held policy positions with the B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Canada West Foundation. Ben has published and consulted in the fields of regional economic development, municipal finance and governance, skilled labour shortages, and Aboriginal education and employment.

Tom Kmiec, Manager of Research and Policy

In his capacity as Manager of Policy and Research, Tom will have primary responsibility for leading the policy and research agenda of the Department, including oversight and planning for committee programming and policy work, and managing major policy projects.

In his most recent role, Tom was an advisor to the federal Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and led the regional communications outreach. Tom has also served as a political aide to the Minister of National Defence. At the provincial level, Tom served as the policy advisor to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development and the Minister of Finance and Enterprise. Tom has a BA from Concordia University in Montreal, a Certificate of Graduate Studies from Regent University in Terrorism and Homeland Defence, and is currently completing an MA in Government Studies at Regent.

Thomas Palak, Policy & Communications Strategist

Supports the Chamber's policy committees and initiatives through research and the development of policy positions and programs, the identification of priority issues, guest speaker and event opportunities, internal and external policy surveys and communications strategies that serve to engage members' interest, and enhance the profile and effectiveness of the Chamber's policy program.

Thomas holds two degrees, a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, from the University of Calgary. His communication training includes a Journalism Certificate obtained from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and a Public Relations Certificate at Mount Royal University. In addition to his seven years of experience in the Chamber's Public & Government Affairs Department, Tom has previously worked as a freelance writer and an assistant in a small accounting company.

Priyanka Karuvelil, Policy Analyst & Committee Administrator

As a Policy Analyst & Committee Administrator, Priyanka seeks to actively engage members and steward committee input into the development of policy and advocacy initiatives. In addition, she will also provide policy research, support and strategic advice to the Chamber and its committees, relating to their policy initiatives and priorities.

Priyanka received her masters degree in Politics from New York University and did her undergraduate work in Economics and Political Science at McGill University. A recent graduate, she has served on the Board of Directors for IRSAM, Inc. (an UN-accredited NGO) as well as on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Political Inquiry as the Editor-in-Chief. Her research interests include economic and municipal policy.

Tyson Vandament, Policy Analyst

Engages with membership and conducts research to develop policy and advocacy efforts that enhance the Chamber's profile.

Tyson holds a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) degree from Queens University and an undergraduate BA (First Class Honours) in Political Science from the University of Calgary. Prior to attending graduate school Tyson worked in the commercial real estate industry, where he was Research Manager at DTZ Barnicke’s Calgary office, and was responsible for the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the firm’s market statistics. Tyson’s research interests include economic and energy policy, intergovernmental affairs and Aboriginal governance.