Announcing Dentons as the 2024 Sponsor of the Women+Power IPPSA Networking Reception

Please join Women+Power on Sunday, March 10 for our annual IPPSA Conference Cocktail Reception

Women+Power relies on the generous support of our financial sponsors and we are thrilled and grateful to Dentons for sponsoring our annual IPPSA Conference Networking reception this year. All conference attendees are invited to join us for this cocktail reception on Sunday, March 10 from 7-9 p.m. in the Riverview Lounge at the Fairmont Banff Springs, immediately following the IPPSA Welcome Reception.

Dentons is designed to be different. As the world’s largest global law firm with over 160 locations in more than 80 countries, Dentons helps its clients grow, protect, operate and finance their businesses. Dentons has a purpose-driven approach, a strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and ESG, and challenges the status quo to stay focused on what matters most to its clients and community.

Thank you Dentons for your generous sponsorship of the 2024 Women+Power IPPSA Conference networking reception!

Powering change: A conversation with ENMAX Power’s Sarah Stevens

ACCESS ONLINE EVENT HERE

Thursday Feb 15, 12:00PM – 1:00PM

As customers continue to electrify their lives, ENMAX is adapting to their changing needs and leading the way as enablers of the energy transition with an ongoing commitment to ensure Calgary’s transmission and distribution system is safe, reliable and cost-effective.

Sarah Stevens is Vice President, Customer Relations and System Development with ENMAX Power and is at the forefront of this transition. Sarah leads a dynamic and committed team that develops plans for the transmission and distribution system in Calgary and creates innovative solutions for customers to facilitate the future of electricity. Sarah also leads customer experience and commercial management for ENMAX Power with a focus on driving value and enhancing the customer experience.

On February 15, Sarah will moderate a panel discussion with colleagues from ENMAX who lead in various disciplines. Let’s get to know Sarah in advance of our upcoming event.

Tell us a little bit about how ENMAX is approaching the energy transition. What are you focused on right now?

Over the last several years we’ve seen a growing demand from our customers for different solutions, whether it’s increased usage of electric vehicles or interest in distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar panel installations. Based on the trends we see in requests coming to ENMAX Power, customers are electrifying their lives.

To address that, we’re taking a customer-focused approach to the energy transition to determine how we can make electrification easier for those we serve and increase utilization of our existing system. It is important for us to find options to support customers while keeping affordability in mind.

What projects are you most excited about?

We have a lot of really exciting projects happening at ENMAX Power. We have started the rollout of Advanced Metering technology (AMI) which will simplify the way we read meters and provide customers with more convenience, reliability and control over managing their electricity use.

We are also looking at improvements in the way we communicate with customers. Whether it’s initiating a new DER project with us or being notified about power outages, we know being a trusted advisor through this transition period will be key and I’m excited for the initiatives we have coming.

What are some key milestones that have shaped your career? What advice would you give to other women in the energy industry?

My key career milestones all centre around taking on challenges, being bold in asking for opportunities and pushing myself into new spaces. I have had the privilege of working with amazing teams where I can contribute and drive long-term value. My career highlights are the things that I would not have “mapped out” in advance.

I have also benefited from having a strong support and development network, including those that challenge and stretch my thinking.

Tell us more about the panel you’re hosting, what can we expect to hear more about?

I am really excited to showcase the talent and leadership of these women from ENMAX. They all bring a unique perspective on the industry and how the energy transition will change our business.

Stacy Mercer is the Director of Affordability at ENMAX Energy, ENMAX’s generation and retail business, and can provide insights into how we support customers. She is at the centre of key programs launched to support affordability for customers struggling with costs and works with a skilled team on new product offerings.

Alyssa Howland is project manager for ENMAX Power’s largest infrastructure project to date, the replacement of Calgary’s Substation No. 1, originally built in 1912. Construction of this project has a great customer impact and will serve Calgarians with safe, reliable power for decades to come.

Ravi Parhar is Vice President, Legal and Compliance with ENMAX and has a great understanding of what our company will need in terms of skills and capabilities to move us through the transition smoothly. Technology will be the answer to many of our needs as we prepare the grid through the transition.

Audrey Arnal with our information technology/operational technology project management office will be able to shed light on what that looks like and how we can accelerate and amplify impact through technology. I’m looking forward to this discussion and connecting with the Women + Power community.

Please join us for the online virtual panel discussion happening February 15, 2024 at 12:00pm MST. Hear from Sarah and other industry-leading women who will share how they’ve navigated their careers, and learn about the paths they are carving through the energy transition. Click HERE to register.

Farewell & Thank You to Outgoing Women+Power Board Chair, Jana Mosley, & Announcing Incoming Board Chair, Johanne Picard-Thompson


Women+Power (W+P) was founded in 2020 by Sharleen Gatcha, four founding sponsors and a small, dedicated volunteer board of directors, including Jana Mosley, President at ENMAX Power.

Jana stepped into the role as W+P Board Chair in November 2022 and at the 2023 W+P AGM stepped down as board chair and member of the board to dedicate her volunteer contributions to other organizations she is involved with and to allow for a renewal of the board.

“I am honoured to have been a part of the W+P board and to have worked alongside such a talented and dedicated group of volunteers over the years,” says Mosley. “I believe that W+P is leading a positive shift in the power industry and that the current board and incoming board chair, Johanne Picard-Thompson, will continue the evolution of the organization and ultimately lead to greater opportunities for women, of all ages and stages in this dynamic industry.”

Johanne Picard-Thompson, Executive Vice President, Customer and Corporate Services at AltaLink, joined the W+P board in March of 2023 and served on the sponsorship committee before accepting the role as board chair in November 2023. Johanne is a graduate from the University of Toronto’s Engineering Science Program and Queen’s University Master of Business Administration program and prior to joining AltaLink, held multiple senior executive roles in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors.

“I am thrilled to be serving as the W+P Board Chair and I sincerely thank Jana for her leadership, as well as my fellow board members for their ongoing commitment and expertise,” says Picard-Thompson. “2024 will be an exciting year for W+P as we expand our events and programs, sponsor the University of Calgary Winter Career Fair, host our first in-person event in Edmonton, revive the Peer-to-Peer Mentorship program, and more. I am confident that with the leadership of our board and the commitment from our generous sponsors that we will be able to provide even more meaningful opportunities for women of all levels working in Alberta’s power industry to connect, support and inspire each other to achieve their full potential both professionally and personally.”

Catch the Replay of Women Leading “The Charge,” -Presented by AltaLink and Women+Power on November 8, 2023.

Thank you to the 65+ Women+Power members who joined us for this insightful and enlightening conversation with 5 diverse female leaders from AltaLink.

Our powerful panelists shared their professional and personal experience in their fields, working at AltaLink. If you want to be inspired and informed, watch Women Leading “The Charge” replay, HERE.

Panelists:

  • Zora Lazic – Senior Vice President, Law and Regulatory, General Counsel
  • Cayla Saby – Vice President, Government Relations and Commercial
  • Kathy Leew – Director, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Finance
  • Danyell Rice – Director, Security and Information Services Business Office, Security and Information Services Management
  • Marie-France Labrie – Business Transformation and Wildfire Program Manager, System Operations Management

Moderator:

Johanne Picard-Thompson, AltaLink Executive Vice President, Customer and Corporate Services, and Women + Power Board Chair.

Congratulations to our Board Chair Jana Mosley!

2023 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100

Our very own Board Chair, and President of ENMAX Power, Jana Mosley, was just named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the WXN (Women’s Executive Network).

Jana was recognized for her accomplishments in the Executive Leaders category which recognizes women, who not only exemplify what it means to be a great leader, but also build confidence and champion others.

WXN and their partners recognize outstanding women across Canada who make a transformational difference in their fields and actively shape a more inclusive future, especially in underrepresented areas. Every year, they have a challenge: to select just 100 women to receive our Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards.

These are women who personify what it means to be powerful through the way they empower and champion others, influence change and stand up for all of us. And as Top 100 winners, they stand among more than 1,500 powerful leaders across Canada who share that honour… and our thanks.

Congratulations Jana! 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Thank You for Participating in Our 2nd Annual Women+Power Luncheon.

Thank you for joining us for our 2nd Annual Women+Power Luncheon featuring Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas and Lisa Baiton, President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), moderated by Jana Mosley, W+P Board Chair & President of ENMAX Power Corporation on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. 

It was a full house and an important & timely conversation about Alberta’s power & energy sectors. Stay tuned for details on our 2024 event, and please take 2 minutes and give us your feedback by clicking on the button below. 

Energizing The Industry. Capital Power recently expanded its Executive Team. Meet May Wong and Pauline McLean.

Capital Power recently expanded its Executive Team to support its journey to create clean, reliable, and affordable power generation across North America for communities to prosper and thrive. May Wong and Pauline McLean are two of the leading women now bringing their dynamic energy to Capital Power’s C-suite as the company powers towards net zero by 2045.

May Wong leads the development and execution of Capital Power’s corporate strategy and direction, including the long-term planning process, as Senior Vice President of Strategy, Planning & Sustainability. She’s built a reputation for excellence at Capital Power, with leadership roles in strategy, forecasting and sustainability.

With over 20 years of electricity industry experience, May is pivotal to the multi-national power producers’ decarbonization journey. She guides current and emerging technologies and assesses, explores, and develops other strategic growth initiatives that align with corporate goals.

As an acting member of the Energy Futures Lab’s Partners Council, May also shares her expertise to support the acceleration of Canada’s energy transition. As an advocate for women in energy, she proudly held a mentorship role with The Prosperity Project’s Rosie 1:1 Mentoring Program that focuses on educating, enabling, and empowering self-identifying women to advance in their careers.

As Senior Vice President of External Relations and Chief Legal Officer, Pauline McLean leads Capital Power’s legal, regulatory, corporate compliance, and external relations functions. Pauline’s team guides decisions, promotes ethics and accountability, cultivates relationships with government and industry decision-makers, fosters strong relationships within the company’s operating communities, and tells Capital Power’s story – and it’s an inspiring story to tell!

Before Capital Power, Pauline excelled for 14 years with the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), leading teams through the successful execution of greenfield initiatives, including programs to incent renewable electricity and new business models to procure and finance transmission infrastructure. Before joining the energy industry, Pauline practiced corporate and commercial law at a national firm.

Pauline is an outdoor enthusiast, former scientist, and active community member who contributes her time to the Nature Conservancy Canada and the Alberta Science Network boards.

Pauline and May’s leadership roles at Capital Power aren’t a rarity; 40% of its Board of Directors and 44% of its Executive Team are women. Capital Power is a proud advocate for workplace diversity and understands greater representation of women in energy and leadership helps power a sustainable future for people and planet.

Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy
Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy Canada Limited has been working with its customers on solutions for the evolving demands of industry and society for almost 110 years. Siemens Energy Canada offers broad expertise across the entire energy value chain, along with a comprehensive portfolio for utilities, independent power producers, transmission system operators, the oil and gas industry, and other energy-intensive industries. With its products, solutions, systems, and services, Siemens Energy Canada addresses the extraction, processing, and transport of oil and gas as well as power and heat generation in central and distributed thermal power plants, and power transmission and technologies for the energy transformation, including storage and sector-coupling solutions. With its commitment to leading the way in decarbonization of the energy system, Siemens Energy Canada is the partner of choice for companies, government, and customers who are on their path to a more sustainable future. With about 1,500 employees working together coast-to-coast, Siemens Energy Canada will shape the energy system of today and tomorrow.

To learn more about Siemens Energy, click here.

Powering the Future

Laura Pysyk
Laura Pysyk

Powering the Future: Laura Pysyk

ATCO is at the forefront of the energy industry’s transition. The company is actively adapting their energy portfolio to meet the demands of a new and sustainable future while maintaining safety, reliability, and affordability for their customers. With a strong focus on cleaner fuels, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and storage, and energy efficiency, ATCO is paving the way for a greener tomorrow.

In line with their commitment to energy transition, we recently chatted with Laura Pysyk, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Projects, ATCO Gas & Pipelines, about the work Laura and her team have been doing in the hydrogen space. Keep reading to see how their efforts are shaping the way for a sustainable future.

What are some of the most exciting projects or initiatives you’ve been involved in within the hydrogen space at ATCO?

My team is working to decarbonize the natural gas grid in Alberta to align with Canada’s net-zero by 2050 goals.  Making impactful changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for our customers is something that excites me every day!  

Our team has successfully transitioned 2,100 customers in Fort Saskatchewan to a 5 per cent hydrogen blended natural gas that will soon be increased to a 20 per cent hydrogen blend.  –Prior to this project we commissioned my Director and Vice President’s houses to run off of a temporary supply of hydrogen blended natural gas – effectively making their homes the first to receive these blend rates in North America! This allowed us to demonstrate to the public how safe and reliable a hydrogen blended natural gas fuel source can be, by using it on our own homes first. My team also commissioned the Edmonton Convention Centre to run off a 20 per cent hydrogen blended natural gas for the Canadian Hydrogen Convention this past spring – the first time the building had ever used hydrogen and the first conference in North America to be fueled by hydrogen.

Currently, we are working on commissioning North America’s first 100 per cent hydrogen building later this year, and a 100 per cent hydrogen home in 2024, along with a front-end engineering design for a 100% hydrogen community, a project to bring hydrogen blending to Edmonton, and the conversion of one of ATCO’s transmission assets to pure hydrogen. Our team is hard at work!

Laura Pysyk

What is your vision for the future of hydrogen and its potential impact on the power industry?

Hydrogen is the future.  For Canada to meet its net zero goals, especially in Alberta’s harsh climate, all energy sectors need to work collaboratively.  Coordinated efforts of gas and electric utilities will be required to maintain energy system resiliency and reliability, to reduce negative customer impacts, and to accelerate emission reductions.   The path to reach our climate targets, while maintaining a reliable, safe, and cost-effective energy system will include utilizing hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and green electricity to meet the energy needs of consumers.

What key milestones or experiences have shaped your professional development and career progression at ATCO?

Early on in my career, my supervisor told me it’s important to branch out of your comfort zone and try new things within the organization – this is something that I took to heart.  Although I have an engineering background and currently work in an engineering role, I spent a few years in the operational side of the business supervising a team of field employees. This was one of the greatest experiences of my career to date.  Not only was this group a ton of fun, but they also taught me so many important skills such as de-escalating situations with customers, how to hold each other accountable and, perhaps most importantly, how to build successful teams. I strive to apply these learnings every day.

I am a creative thinker and am known to apply out of the box solutions to everyday problems.  I will never forget talking to my manager and proposing to make his home the first in North America to run off a 20 per cent hydrogen blended natural gas. Giving me the flexibility and freedom to express and execute my ideas is not only important and impactful to me, but it also helped put ATCO on the map as a hydrogen leader.  

What message would you like to share with other women considering a career in engineering or in the hydrogen industry?

Go for it!  I would never be where I am today without my parents and support system constantly cheering me on.  Growing up, my parents told me if I worked hard nothing could stop me and those are words I live by every day.  Without that mantra instilled in me, there may have been times I would have chosen a different route along the way, but I am so happy with where I have ended up. 

Although as women, our paths may be more challenging than our counterparts, it makes our successes even sweeter.  I work alongside a powerhouse group of women who work to encourage and empower one another each day and I believe the diverse perspective we give our groups is a benefit to the organization. 

Watch the Replay: Pathways in Power — Discover How This Female Executive Navigated Her Career Journey in Alberta’s Power Industry

June 21 2023 event

Thank you for those who joined us on June 21 for this fascinating and enlightening conversation. And for those who missed it, you can watch the replay here! 

What does it take to make it to the upper echelons of executive roles in Alberta’s power industry?

Hard work, mentorship, ingenuity, grit, courage, community…

No two career journeys are the same, and there is much we can learn from this female executive who has made it to the top in her field.

Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with Nicole LeBlanc, Vice President, Markets, at the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)  where Nicole will share her experiences and challenges and offer advice on how to successfully navigate your career path in the power industry.

“There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you stop paying attention to the job at hand, miss opportunities that might arise, and stay fixedly on one path, even when a better, newer course might have opened up.” – Indra K. Nooyi    

Thank you to our event partner, AESO and AMP It Up!

Guest Speaker:

Nicole LeBlanc, Vice President, Markets at AESO

Nicole LeBlanc is Vice President, Markets for the Alberta Electric System Operator. She is responsible for leadership of the AESO’s market design and implementation, forecasting, market analytics, commercial procurement and the ISO Tariff.

Ms. LeBlanc has nearly 20 years of experience in the energy and electricity sectors. Through her career with the AESO she has been involved in forecasting, transmission planning, electricity market analysis and design, policy development, tariff design, regulatory and strategic business planning.

Since joining the AESO in 2006 she has played leadership roles in the development of scenario planning processes and the modelling and analytics foundations used within the AESO. She has contributed to numerous government policies, spearheaded market and tariff design files, and represented the AESO at regulatory proceedings in a forecasting, markets, tariff and transmission planning capacity. Her service to Alberta’s electricity sector was recently recognized by the Alberta government with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.  Nicole is committed to making the AESO a great place to work – she’s fostered many new leaders on their development journeys and championed AESO’s first employee resource group whose vision is to amplify women’s career at the AESO through the power of connection.

Prior to joining the AESO, Ms. LeBlanc worked as an economist at the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI), where she focused on economic research and analysis of Alberta’s oilsands sector for client-funded projects.

Ms. LeBlanc holds a Masters of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Calgary.

When taking a break from the interesting challenges of decarbonizing Alberta’s electricity system Nicole enjoys time outdoors with her husband biking, hiking and skiing and going to music concerts with friends.

Thank You for Joining Us for our 2nd Annual Member-Only Networking Event at the Rooftop YYC

News June 15
Event June 7

Thank you for joining us at our 2nd Annual Women+Power networking event on June 7, and, a very special thank you to this year’s event sponsor Enfinite!


What a turn out we had with close to 100 Women+Power members coming together in celebration. We hope you had an amazing time. You can check out photos from the event here. 

Send us your pictures from the event, or tag us on LinkedInInstagram or Twitter!

If you joined us, please take 2 minutes to fill out this survey.