Don Swystun

Executive Vice-President and President, Canadian Plains Division

Cenovus Energy Inc.
Calgary, Alberta

Don Swystun was born in Edmonton, Alberta and graduated with distinction from the University of Alberta in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering. Don has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry in diverse engineering and leadership roles in Canada and internationally.

Don began his career at Coles Nikiforuk Pennell, a consulting reservoir engineering firm, preparing oil and gas reserve evaluations for annual reports, bank financing, mergers and acquisitions. He later joined Alberta Energy Company Ltd. (AEC) in 1995 as a staff reservoir engineer involved in reserves evaluation, operations, and acquisitions and divestitures.

In 1999, he was appointed Vice-President, and led the company's shallow gas and heavy oil operations in southeast Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan, including growth of the core Suffield property. Don assumed the leadership as President of the Ecuador Region within AEC International in 2001. He was responsible for all business aspects and operations including doubling production following commission of the OCP pipeline in 2003. In 2006, following the divestiture of the Ecuador Region, Don became Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development at EnCana responsible for the company reserves, acquisitions and divestitures and was responsible for oversight of the creation of an integrated partnership with ConocoPhillips.

Don was appointed Executive Vice-President and President of the Canadian Plains Region in 2007 initially with EnCana but now with Cenovus Energy following the successful split of the company.

Don is based in Calgary and is a member of APEGGA and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.