On March 8, 2025, people around the world came together to recognize and honour the achievements of women from all industries, places and walks of life in celebration of International Women’s Day.
We met with some of the women driving innovation, responsible development and positive change across Canada’s energy industry — from oil and gas to nuclear and geothermal to Indigenous LNG — to learn more about their experiences, what inspires them and what advice they have for the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Karen Ogen — CEO, First Nations LNG Alliance
Karen Ogen is the CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance (FNLNGA), a collective of First Nations who participate in and support the development of sustainable and responsible liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Canada.
With a background in social work, Ogen served as elected chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation from 2010 to 2016 and was also a council member for the Nation from 1987 to 1990 and again from 2019 to 2022. Through her work with the FNLNGA, she seeks to increase economic opportunities for First Nations by providing information and education relating to responsible resource development.
“I’m very passionate about the work that I’m doing, because it is about building our people up economically,” says Ogen. “Being part of these major projects helps us gain economic security for our community.”
In 2016, Ogen was named one of the 35 Most Influential Women in B.C. by BC Business Magazine and she was elected as one of the most influential leaders in British Columbia in the Resources, Oil and Gas sector by Business in Vancouver BC 500 in 2021 and 2022.
Q: The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Accelerate Action” — what does that mean to you as a woman leader in the Canadian energy industry?
“For me, as an Indigenous woman, I think being in leadership — speaking and advocating on behalf of our people — is action-oriented,” says Ogen.
“It’s really important, especially in this industry, to continue to bring the voice of women and Indigenous women to the table, because we have a lot to offer and a lot to contribute to the energy sector.”
Lisa Mueller — President and CEO, FutEra Power Corp.
Lisa Mueller is educated as a mechanical engineer with extensive experience in the energy industry. She is the president, CEO and co-founder of FutEra Power Corp., a renewable power generation company that leverages innovation, experience and Alberta’s diverse resource industry to create transformational power and sustainable infrastructure solutions for Canada and the world.
Mueller’s focus is leveraging Alberta’s current energy assets to develop a cleaner energy tomorrow, beginning with Canada’s first operating co-produced geothermal power plant, which began operations in Swan Hills, Alberta in March 2023.
“I come at the world through a technical and communications lens, which allows me to have a position in innovation — which is my love,” says Mueller.
Q: Do you have any advice for young women who want to pursue a career in the Canadian energy industry?
“I have a daughter who’s an engineer, and I’ve always said to her: ‘The best way to get ahead is to be good at what you do — there’s no other way to lead than to be good at your craft,’” says Mueller.
“There’s an unfettered opportunity for young women, including my daughter, to become leaders — paved by the work that my fellow executives and I have already done. It’s getting better all the time, but we can’t take our foot off the gas.”
Joy Romero — executive advisor, Innovation, Canadian Natural Resources
Joy Romero grew up across Canada, immersed in the Canadian resource industry as a result of her father’s work in mining construction. With a background in metallurgical engineering, she has worked in the industry herself for more than 30 years and is currently the executive advisor for Innovation at Canadian Natural Resources.
“I joined Canadian Natural to be a part of the team to develop the Horizon Oil Sands,” says Romero. “It was fantastic to be involved from the very initial design through to operations.
“After that, I moved into technology development at Horizon, and then to technology and innovation across Canadian Natural as a whole.”
In 2018, Romero was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame for her contributions to the sector and, in 2021, she was recognized by Foresight Canada as one of the top 20 Women Leading Cleantech in Canada.
Q: What has your experience been as a woman leader in the Canadian energy industry?
“It’s been a tremendous experience, focusing on natural resources in Canada,” says Romero.
“Whether you’re a woman or a man in Canada — we’re all championing reliable, responsible energy development. We all have the exact same goal and we all show up to be a part of the team that is doing that work.”
Nannette Ho-Covernton — Sustainability leader, Spartan Controls
With a background in engineering, Nannette Ho-Covernton joined Spartan Controls in 1995 and has held several positions within the organization in the years since. Spartan has been a leading provider of industrial automation solutions in Western Canada for more than 60 years, on a mission is to create a sustainable modern world with innovation automation.
In her current role as sustainability leader, Ho-Covernton oversees the six spokes that make up the sustainability framework at Spartan Controls: people, well-being, community, industry and education, innovation and environment.
“Part of this role is ensuring that we champion the adoption of reliable, industrial automation solutions that support the right environmental outcomes for a sustainable energy future,” says Ho-Covernton. “That’s what lives at the forefront of my brain every day.”
In 2024, Ho-Covernton was the recipient of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) Women in Engineering & Geosciences Champion Award and recently received the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Planet North Star 2025 Award.
“I’ve been in this industry for a long time, and I’m so grateful to all the women and men that I’ve come across who have helped mentor me and guide me in my career,” she says. “Hopefully I’m inspiring others as I move forward as well.”
Q: Do you have any advice for young women who want to pursue a career in the Canadian energy industry?
“Take on leadership roles. Raise your hand. Be bold. Be brave,” says Ho-Covernton.
“I’m going to quote something from our past president, Grant Wilde. He talks about the leadership equation, and he calls it E=MC12. The 12 C’s stand for creativity, competency, calm, communication, competitiveness, courage, contribution, clarity, conscience, commitment, connection and change.
“A leader should have all 12 of those attributes — maybe not at the same time, but you should know when to lean on the ones you need to bring your visions to life.”
Aiman Khan — Senior program manager, Bruce Power and President, Women in Nuclear Canada
As senior clean energy leader with more than a decade of experience, Aiman Khan specializes in project management, engineering, innovation and major construction initiatives. She has a background in mechanical engineering, specializing in mechatronics, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.
In her role as senior program manager at Bruce Power, she focuses on ensuring the safe and reliable refurbishment of Canada’s largest nuclear generating station.
As president of Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada, Khan leads an organization of more than 6,000 members, where she advocates for gender equality, inclusion and leadership advancement in the nuclear sector.
“Growing up as a first-generation immigrant, I was deeply inspired by the transformative power of energy in shaping economies and improving quality of life,” she says. “Canada’s nuclear sector stood out to me as a field where I could drive meaningful change — whether in advancing clean energy solutions, promoting sustainability or fostering innovation in large-scale infrastructure projects.”
Q: What has your experience been as a woman leader in the Canadian energy and nuclear industry?
“Being a woman leader in the energy sector has been both challenging and rewarding. While the industry has made progress, women — especially in leadership roles — remain underrepresented. Early in my career, I often found myself as the only woman in the room, but I used that as motivation to advocate for more inclusive spaces and drive systemic change.”
Q: Do you have any advice for young women who want to pursue a career in the Canadian energy industry?
“My biggest piece of advice is to be fearless and own your seat at the table,” says Khan.
“The energy industry — especially nuclear — is evolving rapidly, and there is an increasing demand for diverse perspectives, innovation and leadership.”