Faces of the Industry award highlights the
work of six individuals who have shown outstanding achievement
within the electricity sector.
OTTAWA,
ON, April 30, 2024 /CNW/ - ATCO's Keyra Hawley, a self-proclaimed "bird nerd" who
uses innovative technology to protect wildlife and humans alike, is
a recipient of Electricity Canada's first-ever 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 demonstrated innovation
and leadership and come from every part of the industry including
executive leadership, communications, engineering, safety and
public engagement.
Keyra has used innovative technology including drones, robotics
and 3D modelling 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. One such success had
Keyra working with ATCO's engineers in developing management
systems to prevent bird electrocutions. Through her efforts, a
nesting and perching deterrent was found that can be installed
safely on powerline structures without suffering an outage.
Keyra has worked for over two decades as an environmental and
wildlife specialist on large utility construction projects. She has
used her knowledge of wildlife and habitat, migratory birds,
vegetation management, environmental best practices, legislation
and Indigenous knowledge to ensure that wildlife stays safe, and so
do the crews that are working.
Beyond her own comprehensive expertise, what really
distinguishes Keyra is her dedication to removing roadblocks. She
has a unique ability to identify a need, pull together a diverse
team of technical experts from within ATCO and across the industry
and develop novel, biologically-sound, methods to preserve the
environment and ensure safety and operational efficiency.
The Faces of the Industry awards were given out at a reception
in Ottawa yesterday evening. The
recipients will be featured in a social media campaign during
National Electricity Month in June.
QUOTE:
"There is no single type of 'electricity employee'. We value
anyone who can make working with electricity safer and better for
the environment. Keyra Hawley is an
important example of that. Her work involves three things that no
one would think of putting together: wildlife, technology and
electricity. And yet, every day, Keyra brings these things together
to ensure people and wildlife stay safe. It's through efforts
like these that Keyra drives environmental innovation in the
electric utility industry. Electricity Canada is proud to have Keyra Hawley as one of the first recipients of
our Faces of the Industry award."
- 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