Six individuals are the inaugural winners of Electricity
Canada's Faces of the Industry award.
OTTAWA,
ON, April 30, 2024 /CNW/ - An executive
vice president who led efforts to restore power to a Caribbean island; A Communications Manager who
was the face and the voice during Hurricane Fiona; A telecom
engineer who has innovated through the use of cellular networks and
broadband to aid the electricity sector; A supervisor of
distribution lines who helped found a system used by electricity
companies during severe outages; A stakeholder relations manager
who managed to get an entire province to talk about the energy
needs in the future; A biologist who uses technology to help
wildlife avoid electrocution. These six individuals are the
inaugural winners of Electricity Canada's Faces of the Industry
award.
The Faces of the Industry award highlights the work of six
individuals who have shown outstanding achievement within the
electricity sector. These individuals have been selected from every
region of Canada,and come from every part of the industry including
executive leadership, communications, engineering, safety and
public engagement. What they all have in common is leadership and
innovation.
Electricity Canada, an
organization that represents the companies that generate and
distribute electricity in Canada,
sent out a call for nominations in January. This was a grassroots
campaign that resulted in 47 nominations being submitted by people
who worked for one of Electricity Canada's member companies. Six
winners were then selected by an independent panel based on the
candidate's leadership, innovation and the overall impact of their
work on the electricity sector.
The recipients for Electricity Canada's first-ever Faces of the
Industry Award are:
Gary
Smith, Executive Vice President, Operations and Innovation –
Fortis Inc
Gary's current responsibilities span the entire operation of
Fortis Inc, with $66 billion in
assets in 18 locations and close 10,000 employees. He has shown
leadership in the organization on the energy transition,
reliability, safety and expanding access to the grid. Gary has also
managed major power outages including Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane
Irma.
Kim
Griffin, Manager Sustainability and Corporate Communications
– Maritime Electric
During the three-week restoration effort of Hurricane Fiona, Kim
was the "face and the voice" of Maritime Electric as she conducted
hundreds of press conferences to keep customers informed. Kim has
led a wide range of projects that have kept the customer at the
heart of Maritime Electric's work, including implementing a virtual
contact centre and building their sustainability program.
Barmak
Khosravi, Ingénieur télécom, Architecte de réseaux –
Hydro-Québec
Barmak has been an innovator in the telecommunications portion
of the electricity sector, using cellular networks and broadband to
enhance operations and safety. Barmak's work has made significant
impacts on Hydro-Québec's work, and, through his leadership working
with other Electricity Canada members, on a national stage as
well.
Rick
Putman, Superintendent, Distribution Lines – Hydro
One
Rick helped develop the Canadian Mutual Assistance agreement in
2013 that modernized how utilities share resources during
large-scale restoration events. This helped create the Ontario
Mutual Assistance Group, or OnMAG, Mutual assistance has now become
a North America wide effort, and
Rick has overseen power restorations both in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada and the U.S..
Lara
Ludwig, Manager, Stakeholder Relations – SaskPower
In 2022, SaskPower began talking with residents about how
Saskatchewan will be powered in
the future. Since then, Lara and her team have reached out to over
60,000 Saskatchewan residents and
engaged them in meaningful conversations about Saskatchewan's future power supply.
Keyra
Hawley, Environmental Specialist – ATCO
A self-proclaimed "bird nerd", Keyra has used innovative
technology including drones and 3D models to prevent wildlife from
being electrocuted – which can be harmful to both wildlife and
humans alike – and developing novel methods to keep crews and the
environment safe, while saving money and improving reliability.
Electricity Canada's Faces of
the Industry awards were given out at a reception in Ottawa yesterday evening, April 29. The recipients will be featured in a
social media campaign during National Electricity Month in
June.
QUOTE:
"The electricity sector isn't just made up of companies. It's
made up of people. The Faces of the Industry Award was created to
bring the people who provide electricity front and centre. Our very
first awards are being given to six individuals who represent the
very best of the electricity sector. They have made incredible
innovations that have changed how electricity companies work. They
have shown leadership in extremely trying situations. They have
come up with brilliant solutions to problems and have connected to
customers with empathy and understanding. Gary, Kim, Barmak, Rick,
Lara and Keyra are truly the faces of our industry. These awards
celebrate their talent—and the talent that is in every part of the
electricity industry"
- Francis
Bradley, President and CEO, Electricity Canada
About Electricity
Canada:
Founded in 1891, Electricity Canada (formerly the Canadian
Electricity Association) is the national forum and voice of the
evolving and innovative electricity business in Canada. The Association supports, through its
advocacy efforts, the regional, national, and international success
of its members. Electricity Canada
members generate, transmit, and distribute electrical energy to
industrial, commercial, residential, and institutional customers
across Canada. Members include
integrated electric utilities, independent power producers,
transmission and distribution companies, power marketers, and
system operators, who together deliver electricity to all
Canadians, in every province and territory.
SOURCE Electricity Canada