Board of Directors

Matthias F. Bichsel, PhD

Corporate Director

Dr. Bichsel is an energy and technology consultant and corporate director. From 2009 until his retirement in 2014, he was a member of the Executive Management Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc and ran one of its four global businesses, where his responsibilities included upstream and downstream capital projects, technology and R&D, engineering, supply chain management and procurement as well as drilling. Dr. Bichsel was also accountable for the safety and environmental performance of Shell. He was further responsible for sustainable development including climate change, emissions, pollution, societal shifts and stakeholder interests.

Dr. Bichsel has a PhD in Geology from the University of Basel, Switzerland, and is an Honorary Professor at the Chinese University of Petroleum, Beijing, China.

Loraine M. Charlton

Corporate Director

Prior to her retirement in November 2022, Loraine Charlton was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lintus Resources Limited, a private oil and gas company with interests across Western Canada. With over three decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, Ms. Charlton has held various positions involving responsibility for directing overall management, including financial reporting, banking, debt and treasury management, investor relations, risk management, human resources, operations and strategy.

Ms. Charlton is also a director of CU Inc. and AKITA Drilling Ltd.

Ms. Charlton graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance.  She also holds the Corporate Director Designation (ICD.D) from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Robert J. Hanf, K.C.

Corporate Director

Mr. Hanf served as an executive leader within Emera Inc. and its group of companies for almost 20 years.  Until his retirement in 2020, he was Executive Vice President, Stakeholder Relations and Regulatory Affairs responsible for strategy and alignment of stakeholder and regulatory relations, communications, and government relations. During his career, he held positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nova Scotia Power Inc., Chief Legal Officer of Emera Inc., Executive Chairman of Barbados Light & Power Holdings Ltd., and President and COO of Bangor Hydro Electric Company.  Previously he worked in Western Canada’s construction and energy sectors for over a decade and was a partner in the Calgary office of McCarthy Tetrault LLP.

Mr. Hanf is currently a director of LUMA Energy, LLC and Mancal Corporation, and is the Chair of the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University. Mr. Hanf is also a former director of the Canadian Electricity Association and the Energy Council of Canada.

Mr. Hanf has a law degree from Dalhousie University and has held an ICD.D certification since 2008.

Kelly C. Koss-Brix

Corporate Director

Ms. Koss-Brix is an accomplished equestrian professional and former professional rider. She was a  member of the Canadian Equestrian Team and competed internationally for 15 years prior to her  retirement in 2017. For the past six years, Ms. Koss-Brix has served as Vice-President, Development for an equestrian facility in Alberta, where she has coached at all levels of the sport.

Ms. Koss-Brix has been a member of the Board of Directors of Sentgraf Enterprises Ltd. since 2017. In 2019, she joined the Board of Directors of Spruce Meadows, an internationally recognized equestrian facility in Calgary, Alberta, and she is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee and Long-Term Planning Committee. Ms. Koss-Brix obtained a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Calgary.

Robert J. Normand 

Corporate Director

Mr. Normand retired in 2015 as Chair of the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta, the agency which administers workplace insurance for the workers and employers of the Province of Alberta. In 2008, he retired from the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Alberta Treasury Branches ("ATB"). Prior to joining ATB as Executive Vice-President Sales in 1996, he was employed by the Bank of Montreal for 26 years and held line and credit executive positions in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.

Through his experience in the financial services sector, he has developed extensive knowledge and expertise in the areas of finance, regulatory matters and risk management.

Mr. Normand is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and holds a B.A. (Econ.) from Sir George Williams University and an M.B.A. from Concordia University.

Alex J. Pourbaix

Executive Chair, Cenovus Energy

As Executive Chair of Cenovus Energy, Mr. Pourbaix is responsible for providing leadership to the Board and ensuring ongoing strong governance, while supporting management’s execution of the company’s strategy. He also leads Cenovus’s advocacy efforts including industry initiatives, government relations, ESG engagement and provides ongoing leadership with the Pathways Alliance.

From 2017 to 2023, Mr. Pourbaix served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of Cenovus. He was instrumental in strengthening Cenovus’s balance sheet, implementing a disciplined capital allocation framework and reducing costs. Prior to joining Cenovus, he spent 27 years with TC Energy and its affiliates in a broad range of leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer, where he was responsible for the company’s commercial activity and overseeing major energy infrastructure projects.

Mr. Pourbaix currently serves on the Board of the Business Council of Alberta and the Alberta Regional Board of Nature Conservancy Canada. He was previously Chair of the Mount Royal University Board of Governors, the Board of Governors at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, and also served as a board member of the Business Council of Canada. In 2022, Mr. Pourbaix was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of the contributions he has made to Alberta. Mr. Pourbaix earned Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Alberta.

Hector A. Rangel

President, BCP Securities Mexico

Mr. Rangel is the President of BCP Securities Mexico, a joint venture with BCP Securities LLC, a US investment bank specializing in emerging markets. Prior to this role, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Nacional Financiera S.N.C. and Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior and a member of Mexico's cabinet under President Felipe Calderon. Mr. Rangel has extensive corporate and investment banking expertise having held various executive positions with the Grupo Financiero Bancomer from 1991 until 2008, including a tenure as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Rangel has also been President of the Mexico Bankers Association and President of the Mexican Business Council.

Mr. Rangel is presently a director of GNP Profuturo Afore, GNP Seguros, and Fresnillo PLC and has been director of a number of major public companies in Mexico.

Mr. Rangel has an Industrial Engineering degree from Purdue University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Stanford University.

Laura A. Reed

Corporate Director

Ms. Reed is a director of ATCO Australia Pty Ltd. In December 2021, Ms. Reed was appointed Chair of the Spark Infrastructure Group, also joining the boards of Victoria Power Networks Pty and SA Power Networks Partnership and their wholly-owned subsidiaries.

From 2017 until March 2023, Ms. Reed was the Chair of Epic Energy South Australia Pty Ltd, which owns the Moomba to Adelaide gas transmission pipeline in South Australia. She was also previously appointed to the board of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the federal government corporation (Australia) which assists with the funding of clean energy projects.

Ms. Reed was the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Spark Infrastructure from 2008 until 2012. Spark Infrastructure owned 49 per cent of three electricity distribution businesses in Australia. Before joining Spark Infrastructure, she spent nine years at Envestra Limited, a gas distribution company, in a number of senior financial roles including Chief Financial Officer.

Ms. Reed holds an MBA from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is a fellow of Certified Practicing Accountants Australia.

Robert J. Routs

Corporate Director

Dr. Routs is the Lead Director of ATCO Ltd. and is a director of ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd., ATCO Australia Pty Ltd and Neltume Ports S.A. Until his retirement in 2008, Dr. Routs was an Executive Board Member at Royal Dutch Shell plc. He was responsible for the global refining, chemical, marketing, trading and renewable businesses. During his career, he held various senior management positions in the US, Canada and The Netherlands, including Chairman of Shell Canada prior to the buyout of the public shareholding by Royal Dutch Shell plc. Dr. Routs has substantial experience in the refining and chemical industry with a strong focus on operational safety and sustainable operations to reduce the industry's impact on the environment.

Dr. Routs is an emeritus member of the International Advisory Council to the Economic Development Board of Singapore and received the Distinguished Friend of Singapore medal. Dr. Routs was Chairman of the Board of Aegon NV from 2009 until 2019 and Chairman of the Board of Royal DSM NV from 2011 until May of 2021. From 2010 to February 2021, Dr. Routs was a director of AECOM Technology Corporation. Dr. Routs graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Eindhoven in The Netherlands, where he also obtained a PhD in Technical Sciences. He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.

Nancy C. Southern

CHAIR & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CANADIAN UTILITIES LIMITED 

Nancy Southern is Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Utilities Limited, as well as Chair & Chief Executive Officer of ATCO Ltd. Reporting to the Boards of Directors, she is responsible for the leadership, strategic direction, and operations of both companies. She also serves as Executive Vice President of Spruce Meadows Ltd. and is a founding Director of AKITA Drilling Ltd., a Director of Sentgraf Enterprises Limited, an Honorary Director of BMO Financial Group, and a Director Emeritus of the Rideau Hall Foundation.

Ms. Southern has long played a prominent role in advocating on social issues of global importance—most notably, the rights of Indigenous peoples and the role of women in business. She is an Honorary Chief of the Kainai (Blood Tribe of Alberta) who bestowed the name Aksistoowa'paakii, or Brave Woman, upon her in 2012.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Southern has served with many respected business and academic organizations. She is a member of the Business Council of Canada, the U.S. Business Council, the American Society of Corporate Executives, and is a Canadian member of the Trilateral Commission. She is also a member of the University of Calgary School of Public Policy Advisory Council.

Ms. Southern is the recipient of numerous honours for her community leadership and commitment to democratic principles and free enterprise. In 2023, she received the Lifetime Business Achievement in the Americas Award from the Canadian Council for the Americas and was named Energy Person of the Year by the Energy Council of Canada. In 2022, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce honoured her with the Canadian Business Leader Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in 2022, she was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and, in 2020, she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to British equestrian, military, and commercial interests in Alberta. In 2018, she received the Canadian Business Leader Award from the University of Alberta and was named a Distinguished Policy Fellow by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy in recognition of her lifetime commitment to Canadian public policy. She was inducted as a Companion into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2017.

Ms. Southern has been recognized by Fortune on its list of the “50 Most Powerful Women Outside of the U.S.” as well as its list of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business: The Global 50.” She has been named one of the “50 Most Important People in Canada” by Maclean’s.

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Ms. Southern studied economics and commerce at the University of Calgary, which also awarded her its highest academic honour, an Honorary Doctor of Laws, in 2014. She also holds Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Mount Royal University, the University of Lethbridge, and Western University. 

Linda A. Southern-Heathcott

Vice Chair, Canadian Utilities Limited and President & Chief Executive Officer, Spruce Meadows Ltd.

Ms. Southern-Heathcott is President & Chief Executive Officer of Spruce Meadows Ltd., an internationally recognized equestrian facility in Calgary, Alberta. As a former professional equestrian rider, Ms. Southern-Heathcott was a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team for nine years and competed in the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a founding director and currently serves as the Executive Chair of AKITA Drilling Ltd., an oil and gas drilling contractor with operations throughout North America. Ms. Southern-Heathcott brings significant management and business experience to the Board and was appointed Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Canadian Utilities in 2017 and of ATCO Ltd. in 2016.

Ms. Southern-Heathcott also serves on the Boards of ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd. and Sentgraf Enterprises Ltd. She is Chair of Travel Alberta and on the Telus Calgary Community Board.

In 2010, Ms. Southern-Heathcott received her ICD.D certification from the Director Education Program of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

In 2018, Ms. Southern-Heathcott was named an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the King's Own Calgary Regiment. In 2020, she was awarded a British Empire medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to British equestrian, military, and commercial interests in Alberta, Canada.

ROGER J. URWIN, PHD, C.B.E.

Lead Director

Dr. Urwin is the Lead Director of Canadian Utilities, a director of ATCO Ltd., Chair of the Board of Directors of ATCO Australia Pty Ltd., and Vice-Chair of LUMA Energy, LLC. He has worked in gas, electric and telecom utilities throughout his career. He retired at the end of 2006 as Group Chief Executive of National Grid plc. He played a key role in establishing National Grid's international strategy and its successful expansion into the U.S., creating one of the largest investor-owned utility companies in the world. Dr. Urwin was the Managing Director and Chief Executive of London Electricity from 1990 to 1995. He was non-executive Chairman of Utilico Investments Limited until October 2015 and has been a special advisor to Global Infrastructure Partners, an international infrastructure investment fund. He was Chair of Alfred McAlpine plc from 2006 to 2008.

Dr. Urwin is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Dr. Urwin has a Physics degree and a PhD from the University of Southampton, U.K.

WAYNE G. WOUTERS, P.C., O.C.

Corporate Director
 

Mr. Wouters is Strategic and Policy Advisor to the Canadian law firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Prior to joining the private sector, Mr. Wouters had a distinguished 37-year career in the federal public service, including five years serving as the Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada. As Clerk, he held the roles of Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Public Service. During his career, he has held the positions of Secretary of the Treasury Board, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Mr. Wouters has industry expertise in the oil and gas and natural resources, transportation, technology, telecommunications, and security sectors. He was inducted by the Prime Minister as a Member of the Privy Council in 2014 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2017.

Mr. Wouters graduated in Commerce (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan and holds a M.A. in Economics from Queen's University. He holds several honorary degrees.