Leadership

Barry Palmer

President & Chief Executive Officer

Barry Palmer joined NACG in 1982 as a heavy equipment operator. In the years that have passed since, Mr. Palmer has moved up through the Company serving as Operations Foreman, General Foreman, Superintendent, Project Manager, Operations Manager and General Manager of HC&M, prior to being promoted into the role of Vice President, Oil Sands Operations in December of 2011. In June of 2013, Mr. Palmer was named Vice President, Heavy Construction & Mining, and in November of 2018, the title was escalated to Senior Vice President Operations. In January of 2021, Mr. Palmer climbed another step up the ladder, taking on the title of Chief Operating Officer. In January of 2024, Mr. Palmer was named Chief Operating Officer and the Regional President of the MacKellar Group in Australia. Following his return to Canada, Mr. Palmer was named President & CEO of North American Construction Group in January of 2026.

Jason Veenstra

Chief Financial Officer

Jason Veenstra serves as the Chief Financial Officer for NACG, after joining the company in 2018. Previously, Mr. Veenstra worked for Finning International Inc., where he led sales and marketing efforts for Caterpillar equipment in their Canadian mining division. Prior to Finning, Mr. Veenstra spent 10 years at the publicly traded Westmoreland Coal Company in various roles, including CFO and Treasurer. Mr. Veenstra also has experience in the nickel industry with Sherritt International, and the insurance industry with Forensic Investigations. Mr. Veenstra articled to become a Chartered Accountant at Ernst & Young. He holds an accounting designation from CPA Alberta and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

Jordan Slator

Chief Legal Officer

Jordan Slator was named Chief Legal Officer in January of 2024, after serving as NACG’s Vice President and General Counsel since November 28, 2018. Mr. Slator first joined the Corporation as General Counsel on August 30, 2010, and has also served as Corporate Secretary since June 2, 2011. Mr. Slator began his career in law with Miller Thomson LLP in Edmonton after being called to the Alberta bar in 1996.  He practiced in the firm’s corporate commercial department, advising a wide range of clients, from owner-operated businesses to large multi-national corporations, financial institutions and governments.  Mr. Slator has extensive experience in corporate and commercial matters including mergers and acquisitions, banking and financing, commercial real estate and leasing, intellectual property, director liability, securities regulation and construction law.  Mr. Slator holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

David Kallay

Chief People Officer

David Kallay was named Chief People Officer in January of 2024, after serving as Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment and Human Resources since November 28, 2018. Mr. Kallay originally joined the Corporation as Health and Safety Manager on December 1, 2008. He was promoted to General Manager of Health, Safety, Environment and Training on October 1, 2011, and General Manager of Human Resources on July 21, 2016. Mr. Kallay brings over 20 years of progressive leadership in human resources and safety management in both the private and public sector. He has worked in other industries outside of heavy construction and mining, which include forestry, insurance, oil and gas, and health care. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kallay was employed as an Organizational Health consultant with Sun Life Financial, helping companies in various sectors align people strategy to business strategy. Mr. Kallay was a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta in the Occupational Health and Safety program from 2003 until 2014. Mr. Kallay is skilled in all aspects of human resources, occupational health, safety and training. In his current role, he leads a team in reinforcing strong company culture, creating and leading employee engagement, development programs, talent management strategies and organizational performance improvement that support the achievement of business goals and objectives. Mr. Kallay graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor degree from the University of Alberta.

Craig Nauta

Vice President, Operations

Craig Nauta was appointed Vice President, Operations at NACG in January 2024, following more than 20 years of progressively senior roles within the company. He brings extensive experience across multiple disciplines, having served in key positions including Field Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager, and General Manager of Regional Services. In his current role, Mr. Nauta oversees all construction and mining operations across North America. Before joining NACG, Mr. Nauta began his career with EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. (now Tetra Tech), working on various infrastructure projects. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta and is a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Alberta.

Melanie Leitch

Vice President, Infrastructure and Growth

Melanie Leitch was hired as Vice President, Infrastructure and Growth at North American in 2025, bringing more than 20 years of experience in engineering, construction, and project management. She has held progressively senior roles in infrastructure delivery with both international general contractors and specialized trade contractors, including positions such as Project Engineer, Project Manager, and senior operational and development leadership roles. In her current role, Ms. Leitch is responsible for advancing North American’s infrastructure strategy and supporting growth through regional and market diversification.

Before joining North American, Ms. Leitch began her career in foundation engineering design in Ontario after earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering – Structural from Queen’s University. She transitioned into construction with Deep Foundation Contractors, gaining hands-on experience in temporary works design, production oversight, and contract management. Her career continued to evolve through increasingly complex infrastructure projects and leadership roles on projects across Canada. She holds an MBA from the University of Alberta and is a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in both Alberta and British Columbia.