Ms. Ryder has a wealth of diverse business experience and has been actively involved in the community. She has extensive experience working in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors over the past 35 years. Her areas of expertise include retail, publishing, marketing, communications and public relations, fund development, leasing, film and video production and project management.

Ms. Ryder is currently the Director of Business Development for the White Iron Group of Companies based in Calgary, Alberta. Her past professional experience includes six years as Executive Director for Calgary 2000 for spearheading and developing the City of Calgary’s major Millennium projects such as Shaw Millennium Park a major parks and recreation facility that anchors the west end of Downtown Calgary.

Ms Ryder served as a public member of the Council of the Alberta College of Optometrists during their period of going under the new HPA status and re-branding. She is a past Board member and three term Chair of the Uptown 17 Revitalization Zone that represented over 200 businesses. Community organizations that have benefited from Ms. Ryder’s expertise include The Calgary Foundation, Community Kitchen Programs of Calgary, Wings of Hope founding Board Member, Rideau Roxboro Community Association, and the Canadian Women’s Foundation. She also sat as a director on the executive for seven years of the Calgary Jewish Community Council and chaired the Women’s United Jewish Appeal Campaign for two terms. She presently sits on the National Executive of the Canada Israel Committee and the Board of the Canadian Jewish Congress. As well, she chairs the Art Acquisition Committee for Bow Valley College and the sits on the Campus Development Committee as a Public member. She has also been a Campaign Cabinet Member for the past two year’s on Calgary’s United Way Campaign.

Ms. Ryder’s has been very involved in provincial and municipal politics. She has actively managed political campaign’s for the former Deputy Premier Dave Russell, Election Day Chair for Ralph Klein, Mayor Al Duerr’s aldermanic campaigns and a member of his executive during his mayoralty campaigns. She is a lifetime honorary member of Calgary Elbow PC Association after have served two terms as President and thirty as a director. As well, she has chaired a PC AGM Convention, acted as a facilitator at Annual Provincial Policy Conferences and has sat on the Calgary Premier’s Dinner Committee as chair of Day of Event Committee for the past 5 years. She also is on the Executive Board of the Premier’s Council for Alberta’s Promise.

Her Honor Recognitions include two Premier’s Leadership Awards for outstanding volunteer service, a 2005 Alberta Order of Rank Centennial Medal, The Lighthouse Award from the Calgary Board of Education for outstanding community service, and most recently the recipient of Bow Valley College’s prestigious Distinguished Citizens Award in Fall 2009.

An avid reader, calligrapher and contemporary art collector who’s love is gardening…She is married, the mother of one daughter and is proud “young” grandmother of three granddaughters.