Guiding Calgary’s Gathering Place

Kurby Court is an accomplished executive, board member, keynote speaker, and leadership facilitator with over 25 years of experience in Canada’s live events, hospitality, and convention sectors. As President and CEO of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC) since 2020, he leads with a strategic focus on operational excellence, inclusive leadership, and customer-centric transformation.

Prior to joining the CTCC, Kurby spent two decades at Spruce Meadows, helping build its global reputation as Vice President, Special Features. He is a sought-after faculty member for national and international leadership academies and was most recently appointed as the first Education Committee Chair for AIPC. Kurby regularly speaks and facilitates on topics including culture, leadership through curiosity, and building high-performing leaders and teams.

In recognition of his executive leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion, and his dedication to supporting newcomers to Canada, Kurby was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a distinguished honour reflecting his impact beyond the boardroom.

He holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and is an alumnus of Cornell University, Georgetown University, the University of Toronto, and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Kurby currently serves on the national board of Meetings Mean Business Canada and has held past board and advisory roles with the Canadian Association of Exposition Managers, Alberta Aviation Council, Tourism Calgary, and the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regimental Society, as well as the Thea Roelofsen Legacy Fund, helping steward meaningful community impact for children battling cancer.

Outside of work, Kurby is a curious cook, daily reader, amateur photographer, gardener, offshore fisher, and a very optimistic but poor golfer. He enjoys travelling with his wife of 29 years and their two adult children.

As a born-and-raised Calgarian, Chermaine is deeply passionate about building strong, collaborative teams and supporting organizations that showcase the very best of Calgary on the world stage.

She joined the CTCC as Vice President and CFO in January 2025, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting strategic planning, operational execution, and business growth. As a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chermaine brings extensive experience leading strategic financial planning, governance, and compliance. She has a proven track record managing cross-functional teams across finance, IT, HR, sales, facilities, and more.

Chermaine is skilled in securing funding, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and driving revenue growth through innovation, capital projects, and operational excellence. In her current role, she ensures organizational stability through disciplined fiduciary management, progressive business development, and strict regulatory compliance, including oversight of audits and statutory obligations. She partners closely with the executive team to deliver insights and evaluate opportunities that advance strategic goals.

In addition to providing strong oversight of IT, she also leads capital and facilities management to support timely and efficient project execution and asset management. As an active participant in board and committee meetings, including the Risk, Audit and Finance Committee, she maintains a strong commitment to financial, operational, and employment policies aligned with the organization’s mission and vision.

Chermaine currently serves on the Governance Committee at Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA). She is deeply committed to promoting diversity, integrity, and transparency to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.

Outside of work, Chermaine enjoys live music, theatre, travelling, and playing golf. She also enjoys spending time with Bailey, her 7-year-old basset hound and German Shepherd mix.

Alyson Robb is a public relations specialist with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. She has worked for various members of government at both the federal and provincial levels, providing communications support and strategic political advice. Alyson has built strong working relationships with a wide range of external partners.

She has managed local, national, and international events and announcements in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, various Ministers’ offices, and local political leaders across Canada. Alyson brings extensive experience executing successful announcements and campaigns, with a strong attention to detail that consistently results in positive media exposure.

Alyson is passionate about setting organizations up for success. She currently serves as an active board member with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, is Past President of the Federation of Calgary Communities, and a past board member of Sport Calgary.

She has deep knowledge of government relations at all levels. Her skills include strategic communications development and management, social media management, communications product creation and editing, strategic internal communications, media relations, brand management, and stakeholder relations.

Alyson and her husband have three children, and she is an active member of the Calgary community.

Robin Taylor (she/her) is the Vice President of Client Experience at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, bringing more than 13 years of expertise in designing and delivering exceptional event experiences. Known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to operational excellence, Robin drives initiatives that strengthen service quality across the entire organization.

Since joining CTCC in 2018, Robin has held progressively senior roles, including Senior Manager of Events and Director of Events, where she led complex programs, championed innovation, and built high-performing teams. Her background spans hospitality operations, event design, and learning development, supported by experience at Marriott International and Delta Hotels.

A White Hat Award recipient and graduate of George Brown College’s Special Event Planning program, Robin is recognized for her strategic thinking, people-first approach, and passion for elevating Calgary’s position as a world-class destination for business events.