Family Enterprise Advisor Awards

This award will be given to an Alberta based Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) designate who has exemplified outstanding skill in advising business families through multi-generational transitions and has demonstrated unfaltering commitment to the key ABFI value of “family first”.

Criteria

Exclusive to Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) designates;
Advisor must operate in Alberta, Canada; with
Exemplary commitment to transformational multi-generation continuity for family enterprise clients;
Demonstrated collaboration within a multi-disciplinary team;
Exhibition of the core values and principles of the Alberta Business Family Institute (ABFI) and the Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) designation.

Nomination Forms

Process

Nominated by peers or self-nominated;
All applications must be submitted to: abfi@ualberta.ca, no later than midnight MST, July 31 2023;
Any employees, consultants or contractors of either the Alberta Business Institute (ABFI) or the Family Enterprise Exchange (FEX) are not eligible to participate.

2022 FEA Winner

FEA 2022 Award

Allison Maher is the co-founder of Family Wealth Coach Planning Services, based in Calgary, Alberta. Over the past 20 years, she has become the “Chief Legacy Officer” for many Canadian families and their businesses. She specializes in working with multigenerational family offices, family businesses and high net worth individuals, with a focus on estate, insurance and succession planning.

Allison is passionate about helping families make enduring decisions that take into account the perspectives of all stakeholders – family, shareholders and management. Her work includes articulating a family’s core values and identifying “What Matters Most” to each stakeholder. Her goal is to identify each family’s “Place of Most Potential” and ensure they thrive for generations to come.

Her current governance work includes acting as a Director of Surge Energy Inc. (SGY) and Chair of its Audit Committee, a Director and Audit Committee member of The Calgary Health Foundation, a Trustee for Cidel’s Donor Advised Fund, Chair of numerous family council meetings, and the Chair of Calgary’s TIGER 21 Chapter. She also volunteers on the University of Calgary’s Haskayne Schools of Business’ Finance Advisory Committee. She is the past Chair of The Alberta Business Families Institute’s Advisory Board (a centre within the University of Alberta’s School of Business), past Director of The Famous 5 Foundation and past Director of the Heritage Park Foundation.

She has been recognized as one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40 in Avenue Magazine (2009), is a frequent speaker for The Executive Committee (TEC), the Business Transition Forum, Family Office Forums, FEA and the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She has also co-authored a book entitled: “The Future of You: Where Wealth Intersects Life”.

She is the mother of two thriving, active boys – Joshua (17) and Jacob (15). They are at the heart and soul of her work.