Our Team

Is a founding partner of InterGroup Consultants. He has over forty-five years of experience consulting on resource and regional economics project challenges across Canada, including: expert testimony before rate and environmental review regulatory authorities in several jurisdictions, including Manitoba, Yukon, Newfoundland, Ontario and Saskatchewan; strategic planning counsel to the Yukon Energy Corporation since 1987 on resource planning, development of specific major generation and transmission projects (LNG displacement of diesel generation, Mayo B Hydro Enhancement, and Carmacks-Stewart Transmission), and ongoing rate regulation reviews; socio-economic team leadership on multidisciplinary management teams working for Manitoba Hydro and its partnerships with First Nations to complete environmental assessment and planning for hydroelectric generating stations in northern Manitoba (Wuskwatim, Keeyask, and Conawapa).

Other experience includes socio-economic and environmental assessment and related public consultation for several uranium mining projects in northern Saskatchewan, economic and strategic planning for downtown redevelopment projects in Winnipeg (The Forks; North Portage development), strategic planning and assessment of liquid fuels development opportunities from biomass (methanol), and participation in negotiation of compensation agreements for First Nations impacted by past hydro developments (Tsay Keh Dene First Nation and Kwadacha First Nation). Mr. Osler holds a Master's degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University.

When he is not on the job, Mr. Osler enjoys attending theatre and the symphony, reading, and family vacations traveling abroad. Mr. Osler and his wife were recently featured in an article in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra newsletter as they participated in a tour of Russia promoted by the Symphony.

Has worked at InterGroup Consultants for over 20 years. Mr. Osler has experience coordinating environmental assessment processes, including socio-economic assessments and public participation programs and undertaking financial and economic analysis for public and private sector ventures in western and northern Canada. He has been the Principal on recent socio-economic impact assessments for projects in northern Saskatchewan. Mr. Osler holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Sheffield.

Mr. Osler is a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment as well as the International Association for Public Participation. He recently retired as from the board of St John Brebeuf School where he had acted as co-chair since 2008 and is currently a director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He enjoys spending time with his family and is active in recreational soccer, both as a player and youth/senior coach.

Has over ten years of experience in utility regulation and socio-economic effects assessment. Mr. McLaren’s utility regulation experience includes preparing utility revenue requirement applications, cost-of-service and rate design studies and economic analysis in support of capital project planning.

Mr. McLaren has prepared numerous regulatory filings before utility tribunals, including providing expert testimony before the Manitoba Public Utilities Board. Mr. McLaren’s socio-economic effects assessment projects have included designing and implementing field research programs and preparing environmental assessment reports for a variety of public and private sector clients. Mr. McLaren has also provided expert advice related to costing models and rate proposals for recycling and stewardship programs across Canada. He holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Manitoba.

Since 2004, Mr. McLaren has served on the Board of Directors of Film Training Manitoba, a non-profit organization providing training services to the film and television industry in Manitoba. He has served terms as Board Chair, Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee. He completes his term as Past Chair with the organization in 2014. Andrew also enjoys running and cross-country skiing.

Joined InterGroup in 2005 and has experience in regulatory processes related to rate regulation, environmental assessment and permitting and development activities.

Ms. Pollitt-Smith has helped to prepare and defend a number of rate applications for Yukon Energy Corporation, as well as intervenor filings in utility-related hearings in Manitoba and other jurisdictions. She has also assisted with preparation of environmental assessments and other regulatory filings for Yukon Energy Corporation (including preparation of Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board Project Proposals, and Yukon Territorial Water Board Licence Applications), and has been involved in three major Manitoba Hydro environmental proceedings before the Clean Environment Commission (Wuskwatim, Bipole III, and Keeyask).

Ms. Pollitt-Smith has assisted Yukon Energy Corporation in a range of resource planning activities, including preparation of its latest 20-Year Resource Plan, regulatory filings for three separate Yukon Part 3 review processes to review the need for and justification of major energy projects (transmission, hydro, and LNG) designated as regulated projects under the Yukon Public Utilities Act, and negotiations related to Purchase Power Agreements with major industrial customers, Project Agreements with First Nations and other contracts and agreements related to projects.

Ms. Pollitt-Smith holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Manitoba.

Has worked at InterGroup Consultants since 2005. Ms. Drewes has experience assessing the potential socio-economic impacts of resource development projects, including designing, implementing, and coordinating research programs, identifying potential impacts, mitigation and enhancement measures for affected communities, consideration of Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge throughout the process, and with regulatory submissions. She also has experience developing, coordinating, and participating in public involvement programs for a range of projects. She has worked on projects for a number of clients, including the Community Vitality Monitoring Partnership Process, Manitoba Hydro, Cameco Corporation, KGHM Ajax, the City of Winnipeg, Yukon Energy, among others. She holds a Master's degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Manitoba.

Ms. Drewes is an active member of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Canada, and sat on the national Board of Directors from 2013-2015. In addition to having competed nationally and internationally in dragon boating, she is a yoga practitioner and instructor. She enjoys spending weekends with her young family, along with their two retired racing greyhounds.

Joined InterGroup Consultants in 2006 and after a few years of consulting took on the role of General Manager in 2008. She is responsible for a wide range of activates including internal resourcing, budget control, contracting, IT, office management, and strategic planning. Most recently she has also taken on the Finance Manager responsibilities.

Prior to entering into her administrative role Ms. Connon was a Research Consultant focused on utility regulation including the preparation of regulatory filings for Yukon Energy Corporation’s 20-Year Resource Plan (2006) and Power Purchase Agreement Hearing for Carmacks-Stewart Transmission Project (2007). She was also involved in providing support and analysis for two Northern British Columbia First Nations related to the effects from major hydroelectric development. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Manitoba.

Ms. Connon’s time away from work is busy as she has two young children. She enjoys cross-country skiing, running, swimming, travel, and spending time at the family cottage.

Joined InterGroup Consultants in 2009. He has experience performing technical and economic analysis, preparing evidence for utility regulatory filings, such as General Rate Applications, in multiple jurisdictions. As well, Mr. Mahmudov has experience in development projects support, where the process requires working with environmental regulatory agencies for the implementation of a project. He has worked on projects for Yukon Energy Corporation, Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and Qulliq Energy Corporation. Before joining InterGroup Consultants, Mr. Mahmudov worked at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Manitoba.

Mr. Mahmudov currently represents InterGroup at the Energy Services Alliance of Manitoba. He enjoys spending time with his family and is the proud father of three boys.

Has over 15 years of working experience in the Administrative Department. Ms. Gordon attained an Administrative Assistant Diploma with Honours. She has advanced training in Adobe Acrobat Pro, Word, Excel, Endnote, InDesign, Effective Supervision, and has attended management and supervisor conferences.

Ms. Gordon specializes in document management, including tracking matrices, formatting documents such as Environmental Impact Assessments, community working papers, Requests for Proposals, General Rate Applications and Interrogatory Responses for hearing processes.

Ms. Gordon is also involved in InterGroup's month-end invoicing processes and supervises InterGroup's Administrative Team.

Ms. Gordon played a key role in the production of the Bipole III Transmission Project, as well as the Keeyask and Conawapa Generating Station Projects.

In her spare time, Ms. Gordon enjoys kickboxing, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Has been with InterGroup Consultants since 1998. Mr. Bowman provides expert advice and support for utility project development and economic assessment, rate regulation and cost of service in a number of jurisdictions across Canada. Major clients include the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Yukon Energy Corporation, Yukon Development Corporation, Utilities Consumer Advocate of Alberta, the Manitoba Industrial Power Users Group, and the Industrial Customers of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Mr. Bowman has also provided support in preparing resource plans and managing project environmental assessment and licensing processes. He holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Manitoba.

Has been at InterGroup Consultants since 2005. Ms. LeBlond has experience in socio-economic impact assessment (including heritage resources) and project management related to a range of projects and clients. Key projects include the Keeyask Generation Project for Manitoba Hydro, where she was the Team Leader for the socio-economic impact assessment; and the Mayo Hydro Enhancement Project (Mayo B) and Carmacks-Stewart Transmission Line Project for Yukon Energy Corporation. Project management experience has focused on developing and managing multi-million dollar budgets and work plans related to resource development projects. Before joining InterGroup Consultants, Ms. LeBlond worked as a Coordinator and Environmental Research Manager for other companies. She holds an MA in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate in Environmental Management from Lakehead University.

Ms. LeBlond is a Provisional Member of the Manitoba Professional Planners Institute and the Canadian Institute of Planners and a Member of both the International Association for Impact Assessment and the International Association for Public Participation. She is a long-time member of the St. Andrews River Heights United Church hand bell choir, as well as a local book club. She also enjoys cross-country skiing, scrapbooking and travel to various parts of the world.