Josh Bowen Email & Phone Number

As Vice President of Organizational Excellence, I lead a multidisciplinary team across People Operations, Finance, and Technology to drive resilience, operational efficiency, and mission alignment within Team Rubicon Canada. My focus has been on creating frameworks that sustain our organization’s stability while empowering our teams to excel, especially during times of crisis and financial challenge.In this role, I spearheaded transformative initiatives to strengthen our financial practices and establish a robust operational foundation. By implementing a comprehensive risk management framework and strategic budgeting processes, I enhanced our cash flow stability, aligning resources with mission priorities and ensuring readiness for rapid-response scenarios. Through these efforts, we achieved sustainable growth and secured critical funding for ongoing and future disaster response initiatives.One of my proudest achievements has been our work in People Operations, where I developed a people-centered framework inclusive of salaried staff, contractors, and volunteers. This framework, which emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B), has fostered a culture of purpose-driven performance and significantly improved team engagement and retention. In addition, I led the creation of the Culture Committee to ensure that our core values resonate throughout our organization, aligning our workforce with our mission to serve communities in need.My role at Team Rubicon Canada has been an opportunity to blend strategic vision with operational leadership, building a resilient, high-performance organization equipped to face the evolving challenges of humanitarian work.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

As a Lecturer in the Alberta School of Business, I teach SEM 686 - Leading Through Crisis, an intensive course within the MBA program offered by the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Management. The course is designed to equip future leaders with the strategic skills and decision-making frameworks essential for navigating complex crises. I developed and deliver this course using a blend of theoretical frameworks and hands-on crisis simulations, providing students with practical insights into crisis management, resilience-building, and high-stakes leadership.The curriculum covers critical topics such as crisis communication, decision-making under pressure, and the role of leadership in organizational resilience, incorporating case studies that span public, private, and nonprofit sectors. I also engage students in interactive exercises and discussions, encouraging them to analyze real-world crises, anticipate emerging threats, and build frameworks that align with ethical and inclusive leadership.This role enables me to leverage my background in organizational leadership and crisis management, fostering a dynamic learning environment that prepares MBA candidates to lead confidently through uncertainty and complexity.

At the Canadian Red Cross, I led a specialized team focused on hazard and risk forecasting, strategic crisis planning, and continuous improvement in emergency response. My role was to develop and implement forward-looking strategies that strengthened our preparedness and responsiveness, positioning the organization to effectively meet complex and evolving challenges.I spearheaded comprehensive risk forecasting initiatives, leveraging data and analytics to anticipate potential threats and align resources for rapid, effective response. Through robust strategic plans and crisis scenarios, I enabled our teams to act proactively, reducing response times and improving outcomes for affected communities.One key accomplishment was refining a flexible workforce structure that optimized our response capabilities and generated cost savings by reducing reliance on full-time staff for short-term needs. This model has since become integral to our strategy, enhancing the Canadian Red Cross’s agility in meeting the demands of humanitarian work.Through this role, I strengthened our risk mitigation capabilities, fostered a culture of preparedness, and enhanced the Canadian Red Cross’s capacity to support communities during critical times. My experience reinforced my commitment to building resilient, mission-driven teams and highlighted the importance of strategic workforce design in maximizing organizational impact.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

As Faculty in Disaster and Emergency Management at NAIT, I taught and developed advanced courses focused on leadership, human behavior in disasters, resilience, training design, and disaster response and recovery. My approach emphasized both theoretical knowledge and practical applications, preparing students to effectively navigate the complexities of emergency management.I designed and developed five credentialed 45-hour courses that integrated critical frameworks like Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) and mental resilience into the core curriculum. Additionally, I collaborated with industry experts to develop 17 other courses, ensuring our curriculum reflected the latest practices and trends in disaster management. My efforts resulted in a robust, inclusive curriculum that prepared students to understand diverse perspectives and respond thoughtfully and effectively to real-world emergencies.In addition to curriculum development, I established and maintained key partnerships with government agencies, industry representatives, professional bodies, and other stakeholders, enhancing our program’s industry relevance. Through these partnerships, I created opportunities for students to engage directly with practitioners, further enriching their learning experience and broadening their career prospects. My role allowed me to foster a learning environment where students could gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become leaders in disaster and emergency management.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

As Director of NAIT’s Relaunch Coordination Team, I led the institution’s strategic and operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic, directly advising the President and CEO and serving as Director of the Emergency Operations Centre. The team I led was instrumental in orchestrating NAIT’s swift transition from in-person to online education and coordinating the phased closure of all five campuses to ensure the health and safety of more than 34,000 NAIT staff, students, and industry partners. This work earned me the Ernest Manning Leadership Medallion—a recognition I’m honoured to have received for what we did to safeguard our community during such an unprecedented time.I developed and implemented a comprehensive pandemic response strategy that balanced academic continuity with safety. This included overseeing the operational response to all active COVID-19 cases impacting the campus community, with stringent protocols that prevented on-campus transmission throughout my tenure. My leadership extended to advising NAIT’s Executive Management Committee on critical issues, updating the Board of Governors, and providing insights into the evolving COVID-19 impacts on institutional strategy, operations, and resource allocation.Externally, I represented NAIT’s interests in engagements with federal and provincial health authorities, emergency management agencies, and post-secondary institutions, ensuring our approach aligned with public health and sector-wide standards. Our team enabled NAIT to remain adaptable, informed, and proactive amid constantly changing circumstances, reinforcing our commitment to community health and resilience.

Edmonton, Canada Area

As Manager of the Centre for Applied Disaster & Emergency Management (CADEM) at NAIT, I established and led a premier professional training and research center dedicated to advancing disaster preparedness and response through immersive training and applied research. My responsibilities included strategic planning, program development, budget oversight, and workforce planning, alongside business development efforts to expand CADEM’s impact.I led the design and delivery of the largest Incident Command System (ICS) training event in Canadian history, bringing together over 200 emergency management professionals from across the country for a week-long intensive training. This event enhanced national capabilities in disaster response and fostered collaborative networks among emergency responders. Additionally, I led the development of CADEM’s state-of-the-art Emergency Coordination Centre Simulation Lab, the only facility of its kind in Canada, which provides an immersive environment for hands-on training and research, enhancing both learning and operational readiness for disaster situations.My role also involved driving program quality and instructor excellence, working closely with industry partners and government stakeholders to ensure CADEM remained a leader in applied disaster and emergency management education. From program design to learner experience, my leadership helped CADEM establish itself as a critical resource for disaster readiness, empowering practitioners with the tools and confidence to lead effectively in high-stakes situations.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

As Deputy Director of Disaster and Emergency Response Plans at the 3rd Canadian Division Headquarters, I was responsible for managing business continuity and contingency planning for a division of 10,000 personnel across a vast geographic area. I developed and maintained disaster and critical incident response plans for the Canadian Army from Thunder Bay, ON, to Victoria, BC, and north to Yellowknife, NWT, ensuring that response measures were ready to activate for any potential crisis.One of my key projects was leading the design and execution of a national symposium with a $250,000 budget, bringing together all Canadian Armed Forces elements, seven federal departments, and provincial representatives from Alberta and British Columbia. This four-day event focused on refining the national response plan for a catastrophic earthquake in BC, resulting in critical updates to CAF, BC provincial, and Public Safety Canada’s logistical support plans. My role also involved extensive collaboration with provincial and federal stakeholders to foster inter-agency coordination, creating new processes that improved the collective disaster response capability across multiple agencies.

Edmonton, Canada Area

In my role as Senior Military Liaison Officer, I led a four-person liaison and planning team at the Provincial Operations Centre, coordinating Canadian Armed Forces support during the 2016 wildfire response in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). My team’s efforts were critical in aligning CAF capabilities with provincial needs, ensuring efficient deployment of resources and personnel to support affected communities.I provided daily briefings to senior military commanders on ongoing operations and delivered strategic assessments to senior Alberta officials, including the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Managing Director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Through close coordination, I contributed to the development of a CAF strategic communications plan that effectively conveyed the role and impact of military support during the wildfire crisis. This experience reinforced my skills in stakeholder engagement and multi-agency coordination, helping me to serve as an effective bridge between military and civilian authorities in a high-stakes environment.

1St Battalion Princess Patricia'S Canadian Light Infantry

As Second-In-Command of an Infantry Company, I was responsible for personnel administration, resource management, and operations for a 156-member organization. I managed a $300,000 operations and training budget and oversaw logistical support and deployment activities, including during the 2013 Alberta Floods and the 2015 Saskatchewan Wildfires. My responsibilities included ensuring the seamless provision of resupply, transportation, medical, and maintenance services, allowing our company to respond effectively to these disasters.I also played a key role in developing and implementing training programs for our company and several distinct organizations within it. Additionally, I produced directives and plans to support operational readiness and had the privilege of commanding the company during various routine operations and intensive training exercises. This role deepened my expertise in leadership, crisis management, and operational planning, preparing me for broader strategic roles within the CAF.

1St Battalion Princess Patricia'S Canadian Light Infantry

As Officer Commanding of a 38-member specialist Reconnaissance Platoon, I led a team within a 500-person infantry battalion, focusing on advanced tactical training and high-intensity operations. I designed and executed comprehensive training programs to ensure our platoon’s effectiveness in complex reconnaissance missions, including a month-long deployment to the Canadian Arctic where I managed all logistical sustainment needs under extreme conditions.In addition to leading the platoon, I served on the curriculum board for the Canadian Armed Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Patrolman course, where I contributed to the redesign of course content. I also designed and implemented professional development programs for up to 60 junior officers, enhancing their tactical knowledge and leadership skills. This role taught me the importance of strategic training design and prepared me to lead under challenging conditions.

1St Battalion Princess Patricia'S Canadian Light Infantry

As a Platoon Commander, I led a 32-member platoon in an infantry battalion, overseeing all personnel administration, training, and operational deployment. During the 2011 Assiniboine River flood response in Winnipeg, I led my platoon in providing essential support to local authorities, coordinating closely with other agencies to protect local communities.In addition to disaster response, I developed and implemented collective training exercises, as well as professional development sessions for junior leaders within the battalion. I also had the honor of leading a 30-member CAF team providing support to major public events, including the 2010 Grey Cup Festival and the 2011 Edmonton Indy, ensuring smooth operations in a public-facing role. This experience was instrumental in honing my leadership skills and ability to manage personnel in diverse operational contexts.

The Royal Regiment Of Canada

As the Training Officer with the Royal Regiment of Canada, a Primary Reserve unit in Toronto, I designed and implemented training programs for teams of up to 150 personnel, ensuring adherence to military standards and safety policies. I developed a pre-course leadership training program, resulting in four out of my candidates ranking in the top five among 48 students in the Primary Leadership Qualification course.My role required a balance of strategic planning, resource management, and hands-on training leadership, where I gained extensive experience in preparing personnel for the rigors of military operations. This position solidified my foundation in operational planning and leadership development, skills I would carry forward into progressively senior roles within the Canadian Armed Forces.

Toronto, Canada Area

As a Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant at York University, I taught both undergraduate courses (Terrorism: The New Threat, and Prospects and Perils in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Disaster Management) and graduate-level courses focused on terrorism (Terrorism Studies I and II). In this role, I developed comprehensive curriculum materials, created assignments and exams, and tailored my teaching approach to address the complexities of terrorism as a modern global threat.In addition to classroom teaching, I provided one-on-one mentoring to students, helping them refine their writing, research, and presentation skills to build a strong academic foundation. This experience deepened my understanding of inclusive leadership and effective communication, skills that continue to inform my approach to teaching, mentoring, and team management.

Executive Mba

National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Executive Education Program, Leadership

Master'S Degree, Disaster And Emergency Management

Bachelor'S Degree, Peace And Conflict Studies

Activities and Societies: Peace and Conflict Society, Varsity Blues Rugby

Executive Education, Management Essentials Program

Diploma, Police Foundations