Peter Gregg, President & CEO, Nova Scotia Power Inc.
Peter Gregg has been leading the charge (pun intended) at Nova Scotia Power since October 2020. During his time at the helm, he has made it his mission not only to ensure the company is steadily navigating towards the province’s decarbonization targets, but striving to do so with a team beside him that is representative of the diverse communities that they serve. As a self-described “change fanatic”, Peter personally thrives when faced with the challenge of finding a new path forward, but what he enjoys most about his position, simply comes down to the people. This includes not only what he can do to support his team, but how can they continue to build and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization.
The Role of being an Ally
As a senior male leader, Peter admits there are certainly challenges that come with setting an example for diversity from his personal position of privilege, but he still identifies the opportunity to impact change through being a meaningful ally. He feels strongly that the first step is simply listening to those who have had a different experience and learning as much as possible about the barriers not only women, but all designated group members have faced in their career journeys. From there, comes the understanding Peter feels is necessary to create conditions that will allow those individuals to thrive, through identifying and working to develop solutions to remove those barriers one by one. Though this is no small feat and will take some time, he says to change the culture effectively, women without a doubt deserve a spot at the table and he has seen firsthand the benefits that brings to an organization and its success.
The Challenges and Successes
Nova Scotia Power has faced obstacles like many organizations in the industry with predominately male segments in their workforce, however, there have been some success stories and new initiatives introduced in an effort to move the equity needle forward. The company is proud to have an executive team that is 50% female, and they have recently introduced resource groups in order to provide a platform for employees to come together to share and promote initiatives. Though he admits they are still early in the journey, what has been particularly encouraging for Peter is the participation he has seen in the resource groups and the awareness that they have begun to bring to the organization as a whole.
Another key initiative has been connecting with community partners like the Immigration Services Association of Nova Scotia. Through ISANS, Nova Scotia Power was recently able to recruit a female Engineer in Training (EIT) from Iran, specializing in distribution and reliability. Through this employment opportunity, she has been able to obtain the hands-on experience required to become a registered engineer with Engineers Nova Scotia just this past March and has proven to be an invaluable member of the team. Stories like this Peter says, highlight why it is important for any organization to always be looking for new avenues to access diverse talent.
Finding a friend in WiRE
Another key partnership, between Nova Scotia Power and WiRE, began several years ago when Peter was introduced to WiRE’s President & CEO, Joanna Osawe through the Ontario Energy Network, an organization that provides strategic networking opportunities to various sectors of the energy industry in Ontario. Peter was immediately impressed by Joanna’s energy, passion and dedication to the industry, and they formed a fast friendship. Through the years, Peter has followed WiRE’s journey as an early supporter through keeping in touch with Joanna and the organization’s accomplishments. Additionally, starting just this year, Peter has played an integral role in forming an official partnership between Nova Scotia Power and the Nova Scotia Chapter of WiRE to help further their mission in assisting women across the province to advance their careers in the energy sector.
Closing Thoughts
When asked what advice Peter would give other senior leaders in the industry who wish to become stronger allies for the women (and any designated group members) in their organizations, Peter says it’s primarily about taking that leap to get out of your comfort zone. Getting out there to prioritize listening and learning to recognize the privilege that you have received compared to others, and what the impact of that has been. He emphasizes not making the mistake of surrounding yourself with people that look and sound like you. The future in energy is bright, particularly in renewables and the opportunities we have in Nova Scotia offshore, and women should be at the table influencing, advising, and making decisions that will contribute to the overall success of these initiatives that in turn, will lead us successfully to our 2030 renewable energy targets.
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