Brian Heidecker
Vice-chair, University of Alberta Board of Governors

A self-described "retired rancher" who rarely appears in the spotlight, Brian Heidecker's ability to negotiate the corridors of power at the Alberta Legislature proved valuable for the province's post-secondary institutions and students. Heidecker, a key lobbyist on Bill 1 and member of the government's Alberta Financial Management Commission in 2002, helped rope a $4.5-billion commitment to higher learning from the provincial government as part of its March throne speech. Heidecker, the vice-chair of the University of Alberta Board of Governors, also helped secure an additional 6% annual increase in funding over the next three years for the post-secondary institution. The Edmonton resident - who started and still owns the 16,000-acre Drylander Ranch near Coronation - also has connections to banking, sitting on the board of ATB Financial for nine years after previously serving as a representative on the Bank of Canada's board. In June 2005, Heidecker retired from the board of the Agriculture and Food Council, an industry group aimed at increasing the global competitiveness of the province's farms, ranches and agribusinesses. - WG

What is the best way to get results when lobbying the provincial government?
It's really back to Marketing 101. You need to know what kind of products and services you can offer. The government is a de facto customer. You need to understand what their needs are and work for a win-win situation. Don't oversell, don't undersell. And do it quietly. Getting into these temper-tantrum negotiations through the media is a waste of everybody's time. You also need a great team, which we had. Everybody sang from the same song sheet.

Who do you think is the greatest Albertan ever?
Peter Lougheed, without a doubt.

In 100 years, will you warrant your own chapter in the history books, a footnote to great events or a single Google hit?
One single Google hit that will say that I successfully facilitated a long-range plan to improve living conditions and more efficient business management practices.