Changing the Face of Energy: Alberta’s Energy Future is Promising – YWE Recognizes 10 Inspirational Young Women of 2021

YWE is proud to recognize the 10 inspirational young women of 2021 who are leading Alberta’s energy transformation.

ALBERTA – March 8 – Young Women in Energy (YWE) is thrilled to celebrate International Women’s Day by announcing the ten (10) winners of its eighth annual Awards program.

Since 2014, YWE’s Awards Program has shone a spotlight on more than 70 women’s contributions to and accomplishments in Alberta’s energy industry. The award winners are selected based on their commitment to challenging the status quo through new and innovative initiatives, demonstrative leadership (with or without the title), top performance, and their impact in the local community and larger industry.

“The transforming energy sector promotes more women to lead, with their skill sets, their ideas, and their passion”, said Katie Smith-Parent, executive director, Young Women in Energy. “Alberta’s energy future will be diversified, sustainable and profitable, and these 10 women are key in successfully seeing it through”.

The 2021 YWE award winners are:

Andrea Hepp, Deal Lead – Acquisitions, Divestments & New Business Development, Shell Canada Limited
Bita Malekian, Engineer-in-Training, TC Energy & Founder of Water Movement
Christina Iversen, Chief of Staff, Alberta Energy Regulator
Ivy Cheung, Contract Performance Manager, Real Estate, Shell Canada Limited
Janice Tran, CEO, Kanin Energy
Joeti Lall, Senior Program Development Advisor, Enbridge Inc.
Kristine O’Rielly, Senior Consultant, Delphi Group
Lauretta Pearse, Civil & Environmental Engineer – Strategic Advisory Services, Associated Engineering
Leora Hornstein, Well-Being Specialist, Cenovus Energy
Vilasini P. Pillay, Director, Marketing and Social Impact, SkyFire Energy Inc.

A robust review process involving both a peer review and final executive evaluation by the 2021 YWE Awards Executive Selection Committee was completed over four weeks in January. We would like to extend our thanks to the 2021 Executive Selection Committee for lending their time and expertise: 

• Dale Friesen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Chief Government Affairs Officer, ATCO;
• Geeta Sankappanavar, Founder & CEO, Akira Impact;
• Kent Ferguson, Co-Head, Global Energy, Global Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets;
• Darlene Gates, Chief Operating Officer, MEG Energy;
• Jason Switzer, Vice President, Growth & Capital at Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre; and
• Alicia Dubois, Founder, Nish Synergies Advisory Group and former CEO, Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation.

Research has shown that over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women in the workforce. “Each of this year’s applicants exemplify how women continue to drive the transformation of Alberta’s energy industry whether it be working in the office, remotely at home or abroad, and through creating new and equitable ways to engage and inspire the community in the process”, says Kelly Parker, YWE Awards Manager. “We are so inspired by the unique contributions of each of the applicants, and also those who lent their voice in support of them as part of our #NominateHer campaign.”

Each award winner is paired with an industry executive mentor through the YWE Mentorship Program, honoured with a YWE Award keepsake, and welcomed into the YWE Awards Alumni network, amongst other benefits. The 2021 YWE Award Winners will be honoured at a reception in May 2022.

See the 2021 Award Winners Here

Get involved with the YWE community and say hello by sending us an email at volunteer@youngwomeninenergy.com.

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About YWE

Young Women in Energy (YWE) believes young women have the power to change the energy industry for the better. Our mission is to increase the female voice, presence, development and leadership in Alberta’s energy industry. We serve our 4,500+ members through events and programs aimed to support them as they work tirelessly to improve the industry in their chosen professions. The annual YWE Awards program recognizes and rewards Alberta’s top young women who are ‘changing the face of energy’.

For more information please contact:

Katie Smith, Executive Director
Young Women in Energy (YWE)
katie@youngwomeninenergy.com

Kelly Parker, Awards Manager
Young Women in Energy (YWE)
awards@youngwomeninenergy.com

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