Faces of the Industry Award | Electricity Canada

For National Electricity Month, Electricity Canada’s Faces of the Industry award highlights the work of six industry professionals, who have demonstrated leadership in every aspect of the electricity sector from linework, to operations, to engineering, to safety, to construction and everything else.

The electricity sector has some of the most talented people working today. We have innovators. Visionaries. Leaders. Heroes.

This award is given to any member utility employee who demonstrates the following qualities:

Outstanding achievement in their field
Innovation
Leadership

Applicants can be from any sector of the industry, at any level.

Nominations will be evaluated by an external judging panel.
Award winners will be invited to Ottawa to participate in a video/photoshoot.

Past Recipients

2025

Jennifer Williams, President and CEO Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Jennifer led a historic agreement last year by renegotiating the decades-old Upper Churchill contract 17 years ahead of schedule. This is one of the largest energy deals in North American history that will benefit future generations in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.

2025

Sandra Haskins, Senior Vice President and CFO at Capital Power

Sandra has over three decades of groundbreaking financial leadership and has raised over $3 billion in public capital markets over the past two years—an outstanding achievement for a publicly-traded independent power producer.

2025

Jeffrey Laninga, Live Line Engineer and Section Head at Manitoba Hydro

Jeffrey is an innovator in safety and live lines who invented tools to make powerline technicians’ work safer. Jeffrey’s groundbreaking tools and techniques have revolutionized field practices and are protecting workers across Canada and around the world.

2025

Joy Brake, Senior Technical Advisor, System Planning at Nova Scotia Power

Joy is a leader in building Nova Scotia’s renewable future by designing and implementing critical transmission strategies to integrate wind, solar, and battery storage, facilitating Nova Scotia’s transition from coal to renewables in the next five years.

2025

Mohamed ElNozahy, Engineering Manager – EMT Studies, from Independent Electricity System Operator

Mohamed is a pioneer in power system engineering, and he’s transformed Ontario’s future grid planning through electromagnetic transient modeling (or EMT) which will become an important tool for safe and reliable integration of renewables.

2025

Dan Irvine, Director of Procurement and Contracts at SaskPower

Dan has redefined SaskPower’s procurement strategy in Saskatchewan. He has championed the growth of the domestic supply chain and built capacity for procurement using local and Indigenous suppliers.

2024

Gary Smith, Executive Vice President, Operations and Innovation

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. 

2024

Kim Griffin, Manager Sustainability and Corporate Communications

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. 

2024

Barmak Khosravi, Ingénieur télécom, Architecte de reseaux

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. 

2024

Rick Putman, Superintendent, Distribution Lines

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..   

2024

Lara Ludwig, Manager, Stakeholder Relations

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.    

2024

Keyra Hawley, Environmental Specialist

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. 

Questions?

For further information, please contact Daniella Bidin, Electricity Canada's Manager of Communications Projects.

Email Daniella Bidin