Spotlights — Women in Renewable Energy WiRE

WiRE Spotlights

2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

There are many amazing people doing great things in the energy sector. WiRE Spotlight helps brings recognition to these professionals by highlighting them and their many accolades. Click on an article below to learn about these wonderful people and their continued efforts in the energy sector. Is there someone you’d like to see in a WiRE Spotlight? Let us know! Submit a Spotlight Candidate

2024

Featured

Annette Verschuren, Chair and CEO at NRStor Inc.

In the realm of renewable energy, Annette Verschuren stands as a trailblazer of innovation and purpose-driven leadership. As Chair and CEO of NRStor Inc., Annette powers up the energy transition by advancing energy storage solutions, driving sustainable change, and fostering societal progress…

Aytek Babayeva, Deputy Director of Scientific Affairs, Azerbaijan Scientific-Research and Design-Prospecting Power Engineering Institute

I, Babayeva Aytek Ramiz, was born in an educated family in Baku city. In 1983, I entered secondary school No. 154 of Baku city and graduated with excellent grades in 1994. In the same year, I entered the Faculty of Energy of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, in 1998 I graduated with a bachelor's degree, and in 2000, I graduated with a master's degree in "High voltage technology and physics" with honors….

Heather Ferguson, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Corporate Affairs, OPG

WiRE’s first video spotlight! Join us for a conversation with Heather Ferguson, a leading figure in Canada's dynamic energy sector. With Canada at the forefront of global renewable and sustainable energy initiatives, Heather's extensive experience in shaping the nation's energy landscape offers valuable insights. She and Raina Halabi will explore the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in the evolving world of energy. ..

Beth Buckmaster, Director of Client and Stakeholder Relations at Hatch

Determined, passionate, and humble - Beth Buckmaster is the embodiment of an admirable leader. Beth, Director of Client and Stakeholder Relations at Hatch, is an expert at relationship building. In a recent interview with WiRE, she shed light on her incredible career journey, her passion for the renewable energy space, and provided invaluable advice on overcoming obstacles, both externally and within ourselves….

2023

Featured

Dr. Fahimeh Kazempour, Head of Grid Modernization, Wood MacKenzie

Fahimeh Kazempour is the Head of Grid Modernization at Wood MacKenzie. The path that led her there was paved by an unrelenting drive to make the world a better place through optimizing our energy systems. From an early age, Fahimeh loved mathematics and by the time of her undergraduate studies, electrical engineering emerged as a passion and a field she knew would be one of the most impactful for our planet…

Cecilia Routledge, Global Director of Energy and Facilities, CTEK

In the rapidly growing landscape of electrification, changemakers like Cecilia Routledge lean into complexity, driving revolutionary advancements in the automotive industry. For Cecilia, being at the forefront of such a seismic shift in industry is not new. A passionate innovator, Cecilia has been an advocate in ground-breaking disruptions across several fields…

Reem Hamdan, Director General, Electricity Distribution Company (EDCO)

In January 2022, Reem Hamdan made history by becoming the first female Director General of a power utility company in Jordan’s history. Her incredible career is not only a testament to her resilience and hard work but also an inspiration to young women globally who aspire to join traditionally male-dominated fields…

Meghan Calabro, Distribution Modernization Managing Director, Burns and McDonnell

Meghan Calabro is the Distribution Modernization Managing Director at Burns & McDonnell. She has an Electrical Engineering degree and an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Having found a passion for her career at Burns & McDonnell, she aims to share her passion with young professionals and is a great supporter of intentional advocacy and reverse mentoring…

The Chapter Leaders of WiRE UAE

Meet Dr. Rahaf Ajaj, Dana Darwish, Tania Zepeda Luna and Dr. Suzan Shahin, the women making an impact in the energy sector through their involvement with WiRE. Along with being the WIRE UAE Chapter leaders, these ladies are actively involved and leaders in their respective careers….

Pooja Shah, Senior Consultant, DNV’s Renewable and Power Grids Group

Pooja Shah is a senior consultant in DNV’s Renewable and Power Grids Group. She leads project development and owner’s engineering for the energy storage and emerging technologies advisory. Pooja also supports business development and technical due diligence for electric vehicle charging infrastructure….

2022

Featured

Abby Watson, Senior Executive New Markets Offshore Mainstream Renewable Power

Abby Watson is a Senior Executive for Mainstream Renewable Power. She has an EMBA from Villanova School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Energy and Sustainable Policy from Penn State University. She hopes to make an impact to our future by being a key player in the policy making and business aspect of the renewable energy industry…

Ricky-Lee Watts, Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE)

Ricky-Lee is the Youth Lead Program Manager at the Indigenous Clean Energy organization (ICE). ICE is an NGO that carries out programs for the inclusion of indigenous people in Canada’s energy sector. Ricky-Lee has a Bachelor’s of Psychology from the University of Victoria. He aims to be a role model, guide, and an involved member of the indigenous community…

Robert Stasko, Executive Director of Hydrogen Business Council

Robert Stasko is the Executive Director and COO at the Hydrogen Business Council (HBC). He has a masters degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto. Having a career in energy and emerging technologies, he aims to be at the forefront of decarbonisation in Canada…

Ms. Roberta Giroux, Trade Winds to Success

Roberta Giroux is the Apprenticeship Retention Coordinator at Trade Winds to Success. Trade Winds to Success is an organization that strives to increase the number of Indigenous people working in the building trades. Roberta has a certificate in finance from NAIT and is a Journeywoman Electrician. Roberta uses her experience to work with youth and indigenous people to promote education and the skilled trades industry…

2021

Featured

Robert Hornung, President and CEO at Canadian Renewable Energy Asssociation

Robert Hornung is the President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). CanREA engages Canadians to enable the responsible and sustainable deployment of wind energy, solar energy and energy-storage solutions to power Canada’s energy future. Robert is CanREA’s first-ever CEO, resulting from the recent merger of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) and the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)…

Laura Zagar, Managing Partner at Perkins Coie LLP

Laura Zagar is the Managing Partner at the law firm of Perkins Coie LLP in San Francisco, California, and her practice focuses on multijurisdictional energy, water, and other infrastructure projects as well as complex environmental litigation…

Julia Middleton, Founder of Common Purpose

Julia was born in London, grew up in New York and graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is the founder of Common Purpose, an organisation that is the pioneer in leadership development. Since 2020, she is leading a social initiative known as Women Emerging from Isolation…

Colleen Giroux-Schmidt, Vice President of Corporate Relations, Innergex

Although Colleen has been working in the energy sector since her final year of undergrad, she describes her entry into the industry as a total fluke. As a History and English major at Simon Fraser University, Colleen aspired to work in the corporate world, in a role where she knew she was making a difference. Little did she know that her summer role at the Association of Mineral Exploration BC (AME BC) would lead her to a career in renewable energy…

Allison Girvin, Associate Corporate Counsel for Amazon Web Services Infrastructure Team

Allison Girvin is an Associate Corporate Counsel for the Amazon Web Services Infrastructure Team at Amazon, in Seattle, Washington, which means she provides legal services for the infrastructure group, specifically working with the energy and water business and procurement teams supporting Amazon’s data centers in the Americas…

Jennifer Williams, President of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Jennifer is the President of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, a Nalcor Energy Company. Prior to her role as President, she also served as NL Hydro’s Vice President of Production, as well as General Manager of Production and Manager of Regulatory Engineering. Before joining NL Hydro, Jennifer accumulated a diverse range of experience working at both Newfoundland Power and St. John’s International Airport Authority. She has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, is a previous member of the Board of Directors of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL), as well as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and Fellow of Engineers Canada. ..

Ayesha Sabouba, Director - Transmission and Stations Engineering, Hydro One

Ayesha always enjoyed math and science, and the likelihood of obtaining good employment after graduation is largely what attracted her to pursue engineering after high school. Ayesha attended Carleton University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. She worked hard throughout her studies, and during the summers, as well. It was through her summer work experiences that Ayesha developed many of the skills that made her a strong candidate upon graduation. During the summer after her third year of studies, Ayesha worked on testing satellite equipment for Transportation Canada…

Roya Rahnejat & Haida Liu, WiRE Academic Advisory Committee Leaders

Haida is a graduate from the Integrated Engineering program at Western University. She is currently a Project Manager at Kinectrics. Roya has an Engineering Sciences degree from the University of Toronto. She is currently working at Arup as an Advisory Consultant. Both Roya and Haida aim to become leaders in the industry while giving back through their involvement with WiRE. Meet two women, Roya and Haida, who are making an impact in the energy sector through their involvement with WiRE…

Hanna Grene, Chief of Commercial Development of PXiSE

Hanna is the Chief of Commercial Development of PXiSE (pronounced ‘pice’), a company offering grid management technology, primarily software, to integrate and manage renewable and distributed energy resources. She directs corporate strategy and commercial development for this growing technology company by overseeing business development, sales, marketing, and global partnerships…

2020

Featured

Falguni Shah, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Elexicon Energy Inc.

Falguni Shah is Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Elexicon Energy Inc., a power distribution utility in the Ontario, Canada. With a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in power systems, Falguni has worked in the electric utility industry for more than 25 years. She has extensive experience in smart grid, distribution system automation and modeling, SCADA communication, interconnection of distributed resources with remote monitoring and control, data management to quantify power system reliability, and in the planning and operation of reliable distribution system…

Norma Panetta and Dr. Katie Sampson - Leading Ladies

CU-WISE interviewed Norma Panetta and Dr. Katie Sampson, two women involved in the sustainable engineering sector, to learn about their unique experiences and advice to young women who are interested in this field…

Dr. Ibilola Amao, Principal Consultant, Lonadek Nigeria Limited

Dr. Ibilola Amao was born into a royal family in Nigeria. When her late father – a trained civil engineer – discovered she had a love for science and math, he encouraged her to pursue studies in this area. This was uncommon for a young woman in Nigeria at this time, However, Dr. Amao speaks fondly of her father’s sensitivity and progressiveness that paved the way for her success. Dr. Amao attended a boarding school in England when she was 15, where she was met with a host of challenges: adjusting to a new culture…

Arielle Kadoch, Sector Leader of Power Delivery, at Stantec

Creativity, trust and connecting; these are the values that drive Arielle Kadoch to be a successful force in the energy industry. As the Sector Leader of Power Delivery, at Stantec, Arielle is responsible for developing and maintaining long lasting relationships with clients in Canada and internationally…

Dr. Dureid Mahasneh, C.E.O. of Gargour Shipping Company

Dr. Dureid is currently the CEO of the Gargour Shipping Company in Jordan. He has a Bachelors of Science in Biology and a PhD in Marine Sciences. He is involved in several extracurricular activities and has received several service awards including the Independence Medal of the First Order…

Rebecca Boudreaux Ph.D, C.E.O and President of Oberon Fuels, Inc

Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D. is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Oberon Fuels, Inc., a California-based company making DME (dimethyl ether) as a pathway to zero-emission and carbon-neutral transportation fuel…

Ivano Labricciosa, President and CEO of Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC)

Currently Ivano Labricciosa holds the position of President and CEO of Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC), which provides energy and communication services to the Oshawa and Durham regions and parts of the GTA. With a background in engineering, business development, and strategic planning, as well as his international experience with alternative and renewable energy, Ivano is providing innovative leadership to Ontario’s energy sector…

Jamie Garrett, Business Development and Strategy Manager for ENGIE

Jamie Garrett is a Business Development and Strategy Manager for ENGIE, in their San Diego, California office. ENGIE is a renewable energy company offering solutions for customers mostly in the public sector, such as public school districts, cities, investor-owned utilities, and libraries

Stephanie Dei, National Coordinator with UN Women

Stephanie Dei is a National Coordinator with UN Women, Non-Executive Director with DaMina Advisors and VP Finance on the Board of Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto Chapter. She holds a degree in Political Science from Carleton University and a Masters degree from the University of London. She aims to spread the word of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment globally…

Selen Inal - TurSEFF Business Development Manager - Stantec

Selen Inal is a TurSEFF Business Development Manager with Stantec Turkey. She holds a degree in chemical engineering and a masters in energy conversion and management. Having developed a wealth of experiences working with several companies in the energy sector, she aims to share her knowledge with others in her goal to break the ‘glass ceiling’…

Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin, C.E.O. - WaterPower Canada

Anne-Raphaëlle serves as CEO of WaterPower Canada, the national association representing the hydro-power sector in Canada, she is also President of its board of directors. In this important role she focuses on government relations, promoting the sustainable future of the industry and advocating within the sector, and with the public. In addition to her role at WaterPower Canada, she is also a founding member of the Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity…

Meredith Halfpenny, Wind Technician - Boralex

Meredith Halfpenny is a Wind Site Technician with Boralex where she inspects, maintains and repairs both wind turbines and their infrastructure for the 230 MW Niagara and the 10MW Port Ryerse wind energy projects. Boralex is a power producer whose core business is dedicated to the development, building and operation of renewable energy power facilities. In 2018, the Corporation was operating an asset base with an installed capacity of 1,909 MW in Canada, the North-Eastern United States and France…

Jeff Jenner, CEO of Potentia Renewables Inc.

Jeff Jenner founded, built and successfully sold or merged three renewable energy development companies prior to becoming CEO of Potentia Renewables Inc. in 2016. From 2009 to 2013 Jeff founded and was the CEO and Director of Renewable Energy Developers Inc. until its merger with Capstone Infrastructure. From 2007 to 2009 Jeff was Senior VP and Canadian Country Senior Officer for the largest IPP in the world, and prior to 2007, he was the co-founder, CFO and Secretary of Ventus Energy Inc. before its sale to GDF Suez…

Disha Mittal - WiRE Intern, Student at Rotman School Of Management, University Of Toronto

Disha Mittal is currently a student completing her Bachelors of Commerce at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba before relocating here to complete her school. She hopes to become a lawyer and make a direct impact on the policies involving diversity, inclusion and ethics…

2019

Featured

Neda Druzic, Assistant Manager - S&C Electric Company

Neda Druzic is an Assistant Mechanical Manager at the S&C Electric Company. Neda graduated from George Brown College with a diploma in CAD CAM. Prior to working at S&C Electric, Neda worked as a Mechanical Designer at Commercial Switchgear Limited (CSL). Working now for 19 years at S&C, she hopes to continue delivering S&C Electric’s products and design solutions while training and developing the future generation of designers…

Elbia Gannoum - Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEólica)

Elbia Gannoum is the CEO of ABEEólica (The Brazilian Wind Energy Association). ABEEolica is an association whose main goal is to defend and develop wind energy as an important contribution to the energy sector in Brazil. Elbia holds a degree in Economics from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Brazil before taking on the role of CEO. She is proud to be a part of an association that is helping to defend the planet. As the proud winner of the C3E initiative she is constantly fighting for and engaging in discussions involving gender equality in the energy sector…

Angie Schuler – Director of Air Switchgear – S&C Electric Company

Angie Schuler is the Director of Air Switchgear at S&C Electric Company where she manages the product lines of their overhead and underground air insulated switches. Founded in 1911, S&C is a global leader in solutions providing the protection and control of electrical power. Graduating from Marquette University with a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, she has made her home at S&C for the past 17 years. Based in Chicago, Angie has led successful completion of numerous projects…

Tracy Walden – Director of Media and Communications at the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)

Tracy Walden is the Director of Media and Communications at the Canadian Wind and Energy Association (CanWEA). Graduating from university with a Bachelor of Education, Tracy began her career as a teacher and transitioned to training, communications and marketing in a corporate environment before discovering the rewards of working for industry associations….

Eryn Stewart, Project Director at Lumos Energy

Eryn Stewart is a Project Director at Lumos Energy, a leading clean energy advisory group to Indigenous communities. She is also the Director and Creator of the 20/20 Catalysts program a national award-winning capacity-building program, under the not-for-profit the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise…

2018

Featured

Rupali Jain, Electrical Engineer, P. Eng., S&C Electric Canada Ltd.

Born and raised in western India, Rupali’s passion for mathematics and science began at a young age. In school, she excelled in mathematics and biology, and initially wanted to pursue an education in medicine; but by the time she reached the end of her high school career, Rupali realized a passion that was drawing her to mathematics and pursued a university career in electrical engineering…

Megan Lund, Planner, Transmission Integration, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)

Megan Lund is a Planner, working in Transmission Integration at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The IESO manages the power system for all of Ontario, planning for system generation and transmission while delivering conservation programs and running the electricity market. She is a graduate of The University of Toronto Engineering Science program…

Cara Clairman, Founder and CEO, Plug’n Drive

Since its inception in 2011, Plug’n Drive has been driving the Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution, encouraging commuters to take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of driving electric. Cara Clairman is the founder and CEO of Plug’n Drive, a leader in Canada’s Electric Vehicle (EV) industry….

Kehkashan Basu, Founder, Green Hope Foundation

Kehkashan Basu is the founder of the Green Hope Foundation, which is focused on giving a voice to children and youth in a discussion that arguably impacts them the most – the future. She is passionate about sustainability, inter and intragenerational equality, girls and women’s rights, and climate justice. Speaking at several United Nations and international summits…

Jayamali Kasige, Director of Engineering, Potentia Renewables

Jayamali Kasige is the Director of Engineering at Potentia Renewables, a leader in the renewable energy industry in Toronto, Ontario. Potentia is an experienced developer, owner and operator of renewable energy systems. The company develops solar and wind energy projects. Since 2016, Jayamali has participated in over 600 operating solar projects for clients such as the Toronto District School Board…

Tracy Robillard, Legal Counsel, Northland Power Inc.

Tracy provides support to the legal function at Northland Power Inc. where she assists all aspects of Northland’s business with general corporate and commercial legal advice. Tracy also contributes to important special projects and initiatives including legal compliance and governance policies to support Northland’s overall operations and future business strategy…

Michelle Hassen, Business Development Manager, Invenergy LLC

Michelle Hassen is Business Development Manager at Invenergy LLC. She has over ten years of experience working with corporations, non-profits and government representatives on renewable energy projects, community development, market development, stakeholder engagement, training and policy analysis. Michelle holds an IMBA from the Schulich School of Business, and a BA in International Relations from the University of BC. She has lived and worked in Canada, Benin, Guatemala, Mexico and Switzerland….

Avis Petersen - Project Manager, S&C Electric Canada Ltd.

Avis Petersen is a professional engineer with over a decade of coast-to-coast experience across the energy industry. She has worked on a number of solar and wind installations, including working with remote franchisees in Kampala Uganda to empower communities to install and maintain their own solar panels. From large to small-scale, Avis has worked on projects across the pipeline…

2017

Featured

Lyne Parent-Garvey - Chief Human Resources Officer at Hydro Ottawa

Lyne Parent-Garvey is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Hydro Ottawa. With over 25 years of experience in human resources in a variety of sectors including municipal, health care, not-for-profits and energy, Lyne leverages her expertise to prepare Hydro Ottawa’s workforce for the future…

Valerie Kitchell - Renewable Energy Specialist, MBA Candidate

Valerie has been an active member in the renewable energy industry for the past decade. She’s worked with the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), and has been Manager of Renewable Energy Approvals at wpd Canada Corporation, a large-scale renewable energy developer with a global presence. Val has worked both sides of the coin, as an active policy advocate, and on the development side under the Ontario Green Energy and Green Economy Act….

Jen Aitchison - Senior Vice President, Sustainable Energy Insurance

When people talk about renewable energy, we often think about the physical parts like solar panels, wind turbines, and electricity grids. But the renewable energy industry, like any other large-scale infrastructure, relies heavily upon the expertise, skills, and resources of a number of industries. It’s with the help with people like Jen Aitchison that Ontario’s renewable energy industry has been well-served in that regard…

Kathy Lerette - Senior Vice President of Business Transformation at Alectra Utilities

Kathy Lerette is the Senior Vice President of Business Transformation at Alectra Utilities. Alectra was formed by the recent merger of Enersource, Horizon Utilities and PowerStream and the acquisition of Hydro One Brampton. With a career spanning over three decades in the electrical utility industry, Kathy has seen and worked on it all, including the construction, operations, and engineering side. She’s managed teams across the utility, steadily working her way up through a steadily changing work place….

Mary Warner - Finance Manager at TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative

Mary Warner's passion for social justice and the environment began in university. Her initial interests were focused on international development, and she attended a post-grad program for International Project Management. It was there that Mary's personal priorities shifted – in the age of the “global village”…

Jennifer Manning - Vice President and General Counsel of NRStor Inc.

Jennifer Manning is Vice President and General Counsel of NRStor Inc., a Toronto-based energy storage project developer. She has a great deal of experience in both large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, including the Eglington Crosstown project…

Debbie Ellis - District Sales Manager G&W Electric Canada

Debbie Ellis is a 26-year veteran and the current District Sales Manager with G&W Electric Canada, a global supplier of electric power equipment since 1905, which supports its sister company Survalent Technology, a supplier of advanced distribution management systems which includes SCADA, OMS, and DMS since 1964….

2016

Featured

Bonnie Hiltz - Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Advisor for ENGIE Canada

Bonnie Hiltz is the Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Advisor for ENGIE Canada (formerly known as GDF Suez). She has a breadth of policy experience across several sectors, both locally and abroad, and was part of the team responsible for Ontario’s renewable energy policy development, ranging from the first Renewable Energy Supply procurements (RES)….

Michelle Chislett - Vice President & Country Manager SunEdison

An electrical engineer by trade, Michelle Chislett was bitten by the renewable energy bug and decided to complete her MBA to broaden the roles she could play in the field. She is passionate about the ever-changing renewable energy field and advises women interested in the industry to “join us!” As the 2015 WiRE Solar Power Woman of Distinction Award winner…

Jennifer Taylor - PhD at University of Toronto

Jennifer Taylor is completing her PhD at U of T, focusing on the production of knowledge in renewable energy transitions, specifically focusing on interesting controversies such as the wind turbine health studies. She also teaches a course in environmental impact assessment and carries out research for Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative…

2015

Featured

Sarah Simmons - Energy and Environment Practice at Sussex Strategy Group

Sarah Simmons is a member of the Energy and Environment Practice at Sussex. She has in-depth knowledge on matters related to the electricity system, energy supply and natural environment. In her capacity as Senior Associate, Sarah works with clients to understand their concerns and implements top-line government relationship strategies…

Kathleen Alexander - Environmental Specialist at R.J. Burnside and Associates

Kathleen Alexander is an Environmental Scientist at R.J. Burnside & Associates in the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Group. Primarily working on feasibility and environmental constraints studies for solar and wind projects, serving a wide range of clients from municipalities, private developer, to First Nation communities…

Lisa Oelke - Solar Women Summer Series (Canada): Policy, Philanthropy and Play

Lisa Oelke is the Marketing Manager (North America) for Advanced Racking Solutions, a division of hb Solar Canada, in Ontario. She is also the Solar Development/Renewable Energy Consultant Off-Grid Specialist for the Solar Majengo Tanzania project and an Advisory Board member for Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE). Recently, she gave us a Canadian perspective on renewable energy policy…