Skip to content 
Most people searching for Todd McRae already know one thing: he’s Tate McRae’s dad. But once you look closer, you find someone whose own story is genuinely worth reading. Todd McRae is a senior legal executive with over 25 years in international oil and gas, a man who moved his family across the globe, and a father who quietly helped shape two high-achieving kids without ever chasing a single headline.
Quick facts: Todd McRae
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Todd McRae |
| Birthplace | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Scottish descent |
| Age | Mid-to-late 50s (estimated, based on 1993 graduation) |
| Education | BA Economics (1993) + Juris Doctor (1996), University of Saskatchewan |
| Current role | Vice President of Legal, Pacific Energy (Pacific Oil & Gas) |
| Experience | 25+ years in international energy law |
| Past employers | Oxy Oman, TAQA North, AltaGas, Encana, Blakes, McCarthy Tetrault |
| Specialties | Corporate governance, M&A, risk management, energy contracts |
| Spouse | Tanja Rosner (dance educator, YYC Dance Project founder) |
| Children | Tate McRae (singer), Tucker McRae (hockey player) |
| Residence | Calgary, Alberta |
| Net worth (estimated) | $2M-$4M |
Early life in Saskatchewan
Todd McRae grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, a province known for its wide skies and strong work culture. He comes from Scottish roots, and that practical, no-fuss approach to life shows up clearly in how he has built his career.
After finishing high school, he enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1993, then stayed on to earn his Juris Doctor in 1996. That combination of business thinking and legal training is exactly what energy law demands, and Todd used it well.
Building a legal career from the ground up
Todd did not arrive at the top overnight. His early years were spent at law firms in Calgary, including Ballem MacInnes LLP, Donahue Ernst & Young LLP, and eventually McCarthy Tetrault, one of Canada’s top firms. At these firms, he handled corporate and energy law matters, both in Canada and internationally.
Two secondments early in his career helped set the direction:
- Enbridge – giving him exposure to pipeline and infrastructure law
- Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company – his first real taste of international energy work
These placements taught him how legal work differs when you cross borders. Different governments, different contracts, different expectations. He learned to adapt.
Encana and the shift to global energy
His move to Encana’s International New Ventures Exploration Division took things further. He worked on oil and gas projects in Brazil and Offshore East Coast Canada, dealing with seismic agreements, farming deals, and semi-submersible drilling contracts. These are complex, high-stakes deals where the margins for legal error are very small.
He also helped structure joint ventures and strategic partnerships, work that required both deep legal knowledge and genuine business judgment. This was where Todd McRae stopped being just a lawyer and started becoming a legal strategist.
The Oman years: VP of Legal at Oxy
In 2005, Todd accepted one of the biggest roles of his career: Vice President of Legal Affairs at Occidental Petroleum’s Oman operations, based in Muscat. The whole family went with him.
His responsibilities in Oman covered a lot of ground:
- Overseeing legal work on drilling, pipelines, oil processing, and water treatment
- Managing joint venture agreements with the Government of Oman
- Leading the local legal team
- Designing Foreign Corrupt Practices compliance programs
This was not just corporate law done overseas. It was high-stakes work at the intersection of government, infrastructure, and international business. The complexity of it required someone who could handle legal detail and political nuance at the same time.
How Oman shaped the McRae children
The family’s time in Muscat turned out to matter far beyond Todd’s career. Tate McRae was only two years old when the family relocated, and Tucker was just four. The children grew up traveling to places like Egypt, the UAE, and Vietnam. That kind of early exposure to the world tends to build flexibility, curiosity, and confidence in kids.
Tate has said in interviews that living overseas shaped how she sees things. It made her more open. Her ability to connect with audiences across different cultures may have roots in those early years abroad. Todd’s work brought the whole family to a global stage before Tate ever set foot on a real one.
Todd also bought Tate her first piano when she was six years old. That detail is small, but it matters. He saw something worth encouraging and acted on it.
Leadership at TAQA North
After returning to Canada, Todd took on the role of Vice President of Legal and General Counsel at TAQA North, a Canadian subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company. This position expanded his responsibilities well beyond pure legal work.
At TAQA, he also oversaw Supply Chain and Government Relations, which means he was advising on how the company sourced materials, managed vendor relationships, and dealt with government bodies at the same time as running the legal department. His colleagues described him as someone with strong decision-making ability and the kind of calm leadership that holds teams together during complicated situations.
AltaGas and Blakes LLP
Before landing at Pacific Energy, Todd spent time at two more respected organizations. At AltaGas Ltd., he worked as a Senior Legal Consultant supporting natural gas and power projects. At Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s top law firms, he worked as Counsel on major LNG projects and helped global clients move into new markets, including Latin America.
At Blakes, he also mentored junior lawyers. That willingness to invest in the next generation is something that runs through his career.
Read more: Talita Long: the artist, educator, and mother who shaped Nia Long
Pacific Energy: where he is today
Since 2020, Todd McRae has served as Vice President of Legal at Pacific Energy, also known as Pacific Oil & Gas. This is his current role as of 2026. The job involves managing significant international energy contracts, running corporate governance processes, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, and leading the company’s legal risk framework.
His key areas of focus include:
- Contract review and negotiation
- Corporate governance and compliance
- M&A due diligence and deal structuring
- Risk management systems and frameworks
For a company operating in international oil and gas, these functions are not back-office tasks. They are central to how the business survives and grows.
Tanja Rosner: his partner in all of it
Todd is married to Tanja Rosner, who was born in Germany and built a career in dance education in Canada. She founded the YYC Dance Project in Calgary, a studio where she trained many young dancers, including Tate. The two of them raised their children between Calgary and Muscat, giving both kids a mix of structure, creativity, and global exposure.
They have been described by people who know them as a complementary pair. Todd brings discipline and strategic thinking. Tanja brings the artistic world. Together, those two things seem to have worked remarkably well for their children.
Final thoughts
Todd McRae is not someone who sought public attention, and that is probably part of why he is so easy to respect. He built a real career over 25 years, raised a family across continents, and supported two kids who are now thriving on their own terms. Tate McRae sells out arenas. Tucker McRae captains a Division I hockey team at Dartmouth. That does not happen by accident.
There is something quietly interesting about a man who has negotiated oil contracts in Oman, managed government relations in Abu Dhabi, and mentored young lawyers in Calgary, all while being the person who bought his daughter her first piano. That is a full life, even if most of it happens away from any spotlight.
FAQ
Who is Todd McRae?
Todd McRae is a Canadian legal executive with more than 25 years of experience in the international oil and gas industry. He currently serves as Vice President of Legal at Pacific Energy. He is also widely known as the father of pop star Tate McRae and hockey player Tucker McRae.
How old is Todd McRae?
His exact birth date is not public, but based on his graduation years from the University of Saskatchewan (BA in 1993, Juris Doctor in 1996), he is estimated to be in his mid-to-late 50s as of 2026.
What does Todd McRae do for work?
He works in energy law, currently as Vice President of Legal at Pacific Energy. His career has included senior legal roles at Oxy Oman, TAQA North, AltaGas, Encana, and major law firms including Blakes and McCarthy Tetrault.
Did Todd McRae live in Oman?
Yes. In 2005, Todd moved his family to Muscat, Oman, where he served as Vice President of Legal Affairs at Occidental Petroleum’s Oman operations. The family lived there for several years before returning to Calgary.
Who is Todd McRae’s wife?
He is married to Tanja Rosner, a German-born dance educator who founded the YYC Dance Project in Calgary. She is also the mother of Tate and Tucker McRae.
What is Todd McRae’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated at between $2 million and $4 million, built over a long career in senior legal positions within the oil and gas sector.
How did Todd McRae influence Tate McRae’s career?
He bought Tate her first piano at age six, raised the family in an internationally mobile environment that helped shape her creativity and confidence, and has been a consistent presence at her events, including the 2024 Juno Awards where she won Artist of the Year.
