Board

Marie-France Samaroden was appointed Vice President, Grid Reliability – Operations for the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) in February 2022. Mrs. Samaroden is responsible for leadership of the AESO’s Grid and Market Operations. She first joined the AESO in November of 2019 as Director, Engineering, Project Management & Technology.

Mrs. Samaroden has over 25 years of experience in the electricity industry. Prior to joining the AESO, she worked at AltaLink Management Limited and TransAlta Corporation. Her experience spans working with and leading system operations, disturbance analysis, asset management, projects and engineering teams.

Marie-France is passionate about empowering and enabling women in STEM and in leadership. She is excited to leverage her passion and experience to support the great work done by Women + Power.

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Paula Olexiuk is a Partner at Osler, specializing in energy and construction law, and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Construction and Infrastructure practice group. With over 25 years of experience, Paula is recognized as having leading expertise on energy projects and transactions and providing practical, results-oriented advice. She is a regular presenter and author on energy issues, and is at the forefront of industry changes and trends.

Paula is dedicated to promoting gender equity and empowering women within the legal and power industries. She holds a key position on the firm’s National Diversity Committee and plays an important role in student and associate mentorship and recruitment. Her work in the community embraces mentorship of law students and young lawyers through the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society of Alberta mentorship programs. She feels privileged to continue her dedication to mentorship and diversity and inclusion as a board member of Women + Power and to support its mission to create lasting, positive change for women in Alberta’s power industry.

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Kristjana Kellgren is an experienced regulatory lawyer and leader in the utilities sector. She is currently the Executive Director of the Rates division at the Alberta Utilities Commission, where she leads a division of multi-disciplinary professionals who support the Commission’s determination of rate and tariff-related matters. Prior to joining the AUC, Kristjana worked as a lawyer in private practice with a particular focus on municipal, regulatory and administrative law matters.

Kristjana is passionate about creating an environment that provides opportunities for everyone to excel. She joined the Board in 2023 with the goal of contributing to Women + Power’s continued momentum and success, including by assisting with the planning and executing of W+P’s networking and educational events. 

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Katrina Edgerton McGhan is a lawyer at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, with extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters, including court appearances, administrative tribunals, and regulatory compliance. She has been recognized nationally as a leading lawyer in Canada and she regularly publishes on legal topics, with contributions to Advocates Quarterly and Fortuity Magazine.

As a Founding Board Member of Women+Power, Katrina has supported the organization from its inception, including incorporating Women+Power, establishing its structure, and serving as the first Chair of the Board. She continues to contribute her expertise in governance, risk management, and events planning to advance the organization’s mission of fostering mentorship and gender equity in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Katrina is a committed equity advocate and co-founder of Lawyers for Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD) Alberta, supporting initiatives such as the Alberta Bencher Equity Survey and the Iris Barry Yake Robe Bank project. She also mentors emerging leaders and volunteers to advance systemic equity. A single parent to two daughters, Katrina is passionate about creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all young women.

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Yining Yuan has developed multi-disciplinary skill sets in the energy sector over the past decade, from an engineer to a Finance professional. She is currently an Associate at Macquarie, where she develops and capitalizes on insights across power and carbon markets. 

As the Treasurer and a Board member of Women + Power, Yining is committed to bringing together female talents and their allies within the Alberta power industry. She contributes her industry knowledge and finance experience to advance Women + Power’s mission.

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Shanelle is responsible for implementing Heartland’s strategic vision for the Alberta wholesale electricity market and managing the company’s portfolio of regulatory applications. She has considerable experience in competition law relating to electricity markets, compliance, and the regulatory aspects of project development. Shanelle finds it energizing to collaborate with likeminded women through Women+Power.

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Georgina Newell has over 25 years of experience in the energy and electricity sectors in North America. She has extensive knowledge in transmission, generation, distribution, compliance and regulatory environments. She is currently an Associate Director at Guidehouse.

As the Vice Chair of Women+Power and founding member, Georgina is committed to advocating for the development and advancement of women in the power industry. In addition, she contributes her expertise and experience to make a positive impact on the future of women in utilities.

Georgina has been recognized by the industry as an influential leader and has made significant contributions through her involvement in various industry groups including the Idaho National Laboratory. In her free time, she mentors young professionals and coaches aspiring female athletes.

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Executive Vice President, Customer and Corporate Services
AltaLink

Johanne is a graduate from the University of Toronto’s Engineering Science Program and Queen’s University Master of Business Administration program. Prior to joining AltaLink, Johanne held senior executive roles in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors. At Shell Canada she was the General Manager, Oil Sands Growth Operations, and oversaw operations, commissioning, and startup planning for expansion projects. At Celestica she was the Senior Vice President of Canadian Operations, responsible for multiple production facilities and more than 40 production lines.

Other notable career highlights include serving on the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) Advisory Board for the Shell Manufacturing Centre and receiving the Globe and Mail’s recognition as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 for her leadership in growing Celestica’s Canadian Operations. Johanne also received the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Engineering 2T5 Mid-Career Achievement Award recognizing alumni who have earned respect within the profession and within the broader Canadian community.

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Leah is a strategic executive leader with a proven track record in non-profit management, regulatory governance, and business strategy. As Executive Director of Women+Power, she drives initiatives that advance collaboration, innovation, and equity in Alberta’s power and energy sectors.

Leah previously served as Executive Director of a Professional Regulatory Organization and led teams in post-secondary education to build programs, manage operations, and implement strategic initiatives through complex organizational transitions.

A Project Management Professional, Change Management Practitioner, and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, Leah brings a multidisciplinary perspective to leadership, change management, and stakeholder engagement, helping organizations navigate complexity and achieve strategic goals.