February 16, 2024 – The room was filled with excitement and anticipation, and greetings between friends—new and old—at Electricity Human Resources Canada’s 2023 Awards of Excellence, held yesterday in Toronto.

“With a mission to strengthen the Canadian electricity workforce to be safety-focused, innovative, and inclusive, EHRC honours employees, leaders and teams who are making a positive and tangible impact in the industry,” said Michelle Branigan, EHRC’s CEO.

Leslie Gallinger (left), president & CEO of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, receives EHRC’s Leader of the Year 2023 award. At right, Nirav Patel, chair, EHRC. (More event photos below)

This year, the Leader of the Year honour went to Leslie Gallinger, president & CEO of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, in recognition “of her exceptional leadership and commitment to cultivating an inclusive and values-based work culture”.

Congratulations to Gallinger, and the other 2023 honorees listed below:

• Emerging Leader of the Year: Oluwafemi Obadeyi, Atura Power
• HR Innovator: Lathani Sivakumaran, Ontario Power Generation
• Workplace Culture Innovator: Rosana Kemsley, ENWIN Utilities
• Workplace Culture Innovator: Jesse Spring, Primary Engineering and Construction
• Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award (SME): Ontario Energy Board
• Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award (Large organization): Manitoba Hydro

EHRC is Canada’s leading provider of human resources research and insights for the electricity sector. Its primary mission is to help the sector meet current and future workforce needs.

Mark your calendars for EHRC’s is hosting its flagship event on diversity, equity and inclusion—Agents of Change—being held April 10 in Markham, Ont.