Chair: James A. Keech, P. Eng (Chair) | Interim President and CEO | Ontario One Call

Jim Keech was the President and CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Utilities Kingston and Kingston Hydro Corp. from 2000-2022. In 2009, he was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Ontario Municipal Water Association and is currently on the Board of Directors after serving as past-Chair of the Electricity Distributors Association of Ontario.

Josie Erzetic | President and CEO | Electrical Safety Authority

Josie is the President and CEO of the Electrical Safety Authority, a provincial safety regulator responsible for the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, electrical product safety, Licensed Electrical Contractors, and Local Distribution Companies. 

Prior to this role, Josie was the ESA’s Chief Regulatory Officer and General Counsel with responsibility for the regulations, legal, communications, and government relations functions. Josie has spent most of her career in the electricity sector.  Before joining ESA, she held various roles at Ontario Power Generation including as Vice President, Corporate Business Development, responsible for the development of hydro, thermal, solar, and energy storage projects.  In particular, she proudly led the development of several renewable generation projects as joint ventures between Ontario Power Generation and First Nations partners. 

Josie began her career as a lawyer in private practice specializing in energy, environmental, and planning law.  She received her ICD.D designation in 2016 and was called to the Bar in 1993.  Josie has also served on a number of Boards and as an advisor in the electricity sector.

Heather Ferguson | Senior Vice-President Corporate Affairs | Ontario Power Generation

As OPG’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Heather Ferguson is responsible for all stakeholder, public and media outreach, government relations, Indigenous relations, and branding activities in support of OPG business goals.

Heather has more than twenty years’ experience in the resource development, energy and electricity sectors, which includes OPG’s VP of New Business Ventures & Electrification, VP of Environment, and Director of the Hydro Business Development Group. In these roles, she was instrumental in creating OPG’s electrification development group as well as assembling the company’s new nuclear team working to advance small modular nuclear reactors. As the hydro business development lead, Heather and her team successfully built northern power projects in partnership with Indigenous communities. She also worked previously in the Calgary office of Golder Associates supporting clients from the mining and oil & gas sectors.

Heather also currently serves as a Director on the Boards of Atura Power, the Canadian Nuclear Association and the Council of Great Lakes Region. She holds an undergraduate and Master’s degree in Science from Queen’s University, as well as an MBA from the Rotman School of Management.

Amanda Klein | EVP | Toronto Hydro

Amanda Klein is Executive Vice-President, External Affairs, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer at Toronto Hydro. Her work takes her to the heart of the corporation’s strategy and operations, and she brings over a decade of experience to her leadership of Toronto Hydro’s advocacy, communications, stakeholder relations, business development, climate action, energy and regulatory policy, law, enterprise risk and governance, as well as streetlighting, emergency management, and business continuity activities.

Ms. Klein is a strong believer in the importance of electricity and innovation in sustainable city building, and is passionate about building high-performing teams. She is a regular speaker and contributor in a wide variety of conferences, forums and initiatives in the sector and community.

Prior to her time at Toronto Hydro, Ms. Klein practiced commercial litigation and government relations in Toronto. She holds a law degree from the University of British Columbia.

Jeff Parnell | President | Power Workers’ Union

Jeff Parnell is an electrician by trade and has been employed with Ontario Power Generation for 30 years.

His activism with the PWU began in 1991 when he was elected as a Shop Steward. Over the years Jeff has fulfilled the roles of Health and Safety Representative, Health and Safety Accident Investigator and was the Chief Steward in Unit 2-12 for seven years before his election as Executive Officer of the PWU in September of 2016. He swore his Oath of Office on June 22, 2017 at the PWU Election Convention.

Jeff has worked hard for the membership of this sector. He fought to keep the doors of the machine shops open in New Liskeard and Niagara. Jeff is currently working with the communities in Northwestern Ontario, to help stimulate the emerging bio-economy. He remains focused on ensuring PWU members receive the highest quality of representation.

Matt Vines | Vice-President, Growth | Hydro One Networks

Matt Vines is responsible for originating and executing new growth opportunities for Hydro One, including partnerships, strategic investments, and acquisitions. He has overall accountability for Hydro One’s wholly or jointly owned unregulated energy subsidiaries, Aux Energy and Ivy Charging Network, with a focus on battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and energy management services.

Prior to his role at Hydro One, Matt spent over a decade in investment banking, focusing on executing M&A transactions and financings in the renewable power and utility sectors across North America. Matt holds HBA and MBA degrees from Ivey Business School at Western University and is a CFA charterholder.

Mike Rencheck | President and CEO | Bruce Power

Over the past 30+ years, Mike has served in a number of roles and most recently was the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for AREVA overseeing its extensive Global capital portfolio of nuclear and renewable projects. Prior to this, he served as President and CEO of AREVA Inc. in North America leading its diverse nuclear services business in Canada and the United States with a workforce of about 5,000 people.

Gerry Smallegange (Past Chair) | CEO | Burlington Hydro

As President and CEO of Burlington Hydro Inc., Gerry Smallegange oversees a utility recognized for customer service excellence and innovation. Burlington Hydro has consistently met or surpassed mandated standards for electricity reliability, service responsiveness and safety. Gerry Smallegange is the founding partner and senior executive overseeing GridSmartCity, a co-operative that distils its perspectives from the viewpoints and experiences of a full spectrum of industry and utility partners. GridSmartCity has earned international attention by showcasing distribution automation, grid modernization and renewable energy innovation.