Key Influencer – Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure
Born in India, Panda has lived within his Calgary constituency for nearly two decades. First elected as a Wildrose MLA in Calgary-Edgemont in 2015, he has made his way up the ranks from the Official Opposition Critic for Energy and Economic Trade and Development to becoming the UCP’s Minister of Infrastructure.
Prior to his time in the legislature, Panda worked as a professional engineer, holding a bachelor’s degree in technology in mechanical engineering and is a member of APEGA. For nearly three decades, he worked in the energy sector with Suncor Energy Inc. and Reliance Industries Ltd. as a key member of billion-dollar projects. These included petroleum, petrochemical, power, pipelines, marine infrastructure, and oil sands projects. Outside of his career, Prasad is an active member of his community, having volunteered as the President of the Telugu Association of Calgary, the Vice-President of the India-Canada Association of Calgary, and organizes an annual food drive for the Veteran’s Association Food Bank. During late 2020, Panda raised $65, 000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation through a moustache shave. He is a passionate ally in the fight against cancer, having lost both his mother and sister to cancer, as well as sponsors early cancer screenings for people in his home village in India.
As Minister of Infrastructure, Panda oversees delivering the UCP platform promise of bringing back P3s as well as managing infrastructure spending in the wake of the economic devastation brought on by the pandemic. To help relieve the economic impacts of the pandemic, Panda has led increasing funding for shovel ready projects in order to create jobs and revitalize infrastructure like the Calgary Remand Centre. Thanks to Panda’s initiatives, many current and former Legislature politicians and staffers are pleased to see the demolition of the eyesore that is the Legislature Annex building.