Our team works behind the scenes to maintain an extensive network of 1,500 kilometers of distribution lines and 32 substations, ensuring the power you depend on is always there when you need it.
“At Burlington Hydro, we know energy keeps life moving. Our purpose is clear. We are: Today’s reliable energy partner for tomorrow’s innovative community.”
Gerry Smallegange brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in Ontario’s electricity sector, with extensive expertise in utility operations, governance, and strategic planning.
As President and Chief Executive Officer, he provides leadership and oversight for Burlington Hydro’s strategic direction, operational performance, financial stewardship, risk management, and regulatory compliance, helping ensure the safe, reliable, and sustainable delivery of electricity services to the Burlington community.
Gerry brings significant governance experience across the electricity, municipal, and not-for-profit sectors. He is a Director and Past Chair of Plug’n Drive and has served as Chair of Conservation Halton and the Electricity Distributors Association of Ontario. He also serves as a Director of GridSmartCity Cooperative and PowerShare, supporting collaboration, innovation, and modernization across Ontario’s electricity sector.
Gerry holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Business Administration from Athabasca University. He is a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and holds the Chartered Director designation (C.Dir.).
Sally Blackwell brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in the electricity sector, with extensive expertise in finance, regulatory affairs, and business planning.
She has played a key role in multiple electricity distribution rate applications and was actively involved in the merger process that formed Alectra Utilities. As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, she provides leadership and oversight for Burlington Hydro’s Finance, Billing, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Capital Planning functions.
Sally serves as a Board Member of the MEARIE Group, the Utilities Standards Forum and Links2Care. Her diverse professional background includes experience in both the electricity and consumer-packaged goods sectors, bringing a broad business perspective to financial leadership and strategic decision-making.
Sally holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration from McMaster University. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and holds the Chartered Director designation (C.Dir.).
Jennifer Smith brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the electricity distribution industry, with extensive expertise in strategy, governance, organizational leadership, and stakeholder engagement.
As Executive Vice President, Corporate and Chief People Officer, she provides leadership and oversight for Burlington Hydro’s strategy, governance, human resources, information technology, privacy, stakeholder and customer relations, corporate communications, and health and safety functions.
Jennifer brings extensive board and governance experience and is actively involved in supporting industry, business, and community organizations. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Board and is a member of the Canada Soccer Electoral Committee. She previously served as Chair of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce Board and has also chaired various human resources committees for the GridSmartCity Cooperative, the Electricity Distributors Association, and Electricity Human Resources Canada.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Brock University and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Digital Transformation from McMaster University. She is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and holds the Chartered Director designation (C.Dir.).
Paul Heeg brings more than 30 years of experience in the electricity distribution industry, with extensive technical and managerial expertise in Engineering and Operations.
As the Executive Vice President of Grid Operations and Modernization, he provides leadership and oversight for the design, planning, operation, and maintenance of Burlington Hydro’s electricity distribution system, helping ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of power to customers.
Paul is a strong advocate for workplace safety, operational excellence, and the continuous development of employees. He is actively involved in advancing industry best practices through his participation on several industry technical councils and committees.
Paul holds an Energy Systems Engineering Technology diploma from Mohawk College. He is a Registered Journeyperson Meter Technician and holds the Chartered Director designation (C.Dir.).
Susan Kilburn has served as a Board Director with Burlington Hydro since 2017.
She brings over 30 years of experience across diverse industries, specializing in process optimization, business/IT alignment, and large-scale transformation. In her current role as Chief Operating Officer at LightPoint Financial Technology, Ms. Kilburn focuses on operational efficiency, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve business objectives. Prior to joining LightPoint, Susan worked as an independent consultant with organizations such as BMO Financial Group and 407 ETR on transformative IT and business initiatives. Other roles that Susan has held include Vice President, Solution Management at Rogers Communications, and Vice President, IT Engagement Services at Symcor.
Ms. Kilburn is an alumna of McMaster University, where she earned her B.Eng.Mgt. in Engineering Physics and Management. She remains connected to McMaster, serving on the Industrial Advisory Committee for the Engineering and Management program.
Susan obtained her Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College in 2021. She lives in Burlington with her husband Mike and their son Damon.
Susan is a member of the Governance and Risk Committee and the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was elected for a second term as the 30th mayor of Burlington, Ontario in October of 2022.
She is also the second woman to hold that position in Burlington’s history and is now the longest serving female mayor of the city.
Mayor Meed Ward is working collaboratively with Burlington’s city council, leadership team, staff and community partners to bring many initiatives that began during her first term as Mayor to fruition and embark on new ones to help the city continue to grow and thrive. She also introduced a Deputy Mayor with portfolio initiative, giving each council member a focus area based on their unique backgrounds and interests. This is a new governance structure harnessing the skills and experience of each council member in service to residents.
Through initiatives such as the Mayor’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force, she led the city in partnering with local businesses to identify and remove the challenges to business expansion and attraction. In her commitment to reasonable growth and development, the work completed in Burlington’s new Official Plan will ensure future growth happens in the right places and at the right scale to align with the community’s vision.
On her path to becoming Mayor, she served as a Burlington city councillor for two consecutive terms, from 2010 to 2018. Prior to her career in politics, she worked for 22 years as a journalist for clients including the Toronto Sun, Vision TV, the CBC, CHCH News, Chatelaine, Toronto Metropolitan University and more, committed to keeping people informed about the issues that impact their lives. Mayor Meed Ward lives in Burlington with her husband, three children, and their Wheaten Terrier, Boston.
Mayor Meed Ward is a member of the Governance and Risk Committee.
Curt Benson is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of Burlington.
He has more than 20 years of experience in municipal government, with a focus on planning, development, and intergovernmental relations.
Curt joined the City of Burlington in 2024 as Commissioner of Development and Growth Management. In this role, he worked closely with Council and staff to support responsible growth, infrastructure planning, and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining the City, he held senior leadership positions at Halton Region and Niagara Region, where he led high-impact initiatives related to long-term planning, servicing, and climate change.
He is a Registered Professional Planner and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo.
Curt is a member of the Audit and Finance Committee.
Nicole brings over eighteen years of experience in power generation and business leadership across a range of strategic, operational, and engineering disciplines.
Her career spans maintenance, business planning and strategy, asset and project management, and engineering support within Thermal, Hydroelectric, and Nuclear Generating Facilities.
In her current role as Vice President of Operations, Nicole leads a team of 300 professionals that support the safe, reliable and efficient operation of 5 hydroelectric plants that deliver 2,400 MW of clean power to Ontario. Previously, as Vice President of Engineering, she led strategy, compliance, and engineering support for 66 Hydro and 2 Nuclear Generating Stations.
Ms. Fabbro serves as a Board Director for the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) and Nanticoke Solar Limited Partnership. She holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University. Outside of her professional commitments, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband and two children in Burlington.
Nicole is a member of the Audit and Finance Committee.
David Kerr is a senior legal executive who provides strategic counsel to executives and management in diverse business sectors.
His broad perspective is gained from progressive experience in professional advisory and governance roles. He is adept at risk identification, negotiation and solution facilitation in collaboration with diverse parties across public and private sectors.
David is Senior Legal Counsel with Hendrix Genetics, a global producer of turkeys, swine, chickens and various seafood. He previously held legal and governance positions at Axiom Law, Meridian Credit Union, Computershare Trust Company of Canada; Manulife Financial Corporation, and as an Associate Lawyer with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. David has a Chartered Director designation from The Directors College/DeGroote School of Management and is also a member of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.
David received his B.A. from Marietta College (Ohio), his LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario and was admitted to the Bar in 1996. David lives in Burlington with his wife Melanie and their two sons.
David chairs the Governance and Risk Committee and is a member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
Todd is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 30 years of experience in diverse industries, including technology, manufacturing, power and utilities, and renewable energy.
Todd has a proven track record of developing and financing large-scale capital projects, implementing ERP systems and building finance teams for growing public companies.
Todd is currently Chief Financial Officer of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd., responsible for financial reporting, treasury, tax, and information technology. Prior to joining De Havilland Canada, he served as CFO for Enlighten Innovations Inc, a cleantech battery manufacturer. Todd’s previous roles included VP of Finance & Administration at Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., a role that included business development of large-scale power generation projects. Todd holds a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Waterloo.
Todd is married with three children and has held numerous volunteer positions over the years focusing on the environment and mentoring youth. In his spare time, Todd enjoys many outdoor and fitness activities including running, golfing and skiing.
Todd is a member of the Audit and Finance Committee.
Sherry Smith is a retired Human Resources executive. She has 30+ years of human resources and management experience that spans the retail, health sciences and telecommunications industries.
Ms. Smith most recently served as Senior Vice President of Total Rewards at Loblaw Companies Limited where she was responsible for Compensation, HR Services and HR Systems. A seasoned Human Resources executive, Sherry has extensive experience in the areas of compensation, benefits and HR operations. Sherry began her career at Nortel Networks where she spent more than 20 years in various leadership roles working in a large and complex global HR organization. Prior to joining Loblaw, she held the position of VP, Global HR Services at MDS Inc.
Sherry obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and her Masters of Business Administration from McMaster University. She obtained the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College in 2021. She resides in Burlington with her husband Bob.
Sherry chairs the Human Resources & Compensation Committee and is a member of the Governance and Risk Committee.
At Burlington Hydro, our values guide every decision and action we take.
They reflect who we are as an organization and how we serve our community. From safety and reliability to stewardship and empathy, these principles ensure we deliver power with purpose—building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating a sustainable future for Burlington.
We succeed together. Every goal we reach, and every light we keep on is the result of our united effort. At Burlington Hydro, we rely on each other’s strengths, building trust and supporting one another to serve our community with excellence.
We protect what matters. Safety is our highest commitment—to our team, our community, and every person we serve. In every decision and every action, we prioritize safeguarding each other and ensuring Burlington’s well-being.
We serve with heart. We understand that power is essential to keep life moving, so we approach our work with compassion and care, especially for those who need us most. We are here not just to provide a service but to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
We deliver, rain or shine. Burlington counts on us, and we embrace that responsibility. Every day, we bring steadfast dedication to our work, ensuring reliable access to power and service that meets expectations, no matter the circumstances.
We are Burlington. As members of this community, we’re committed to its growth, resilience, and prosperity. We work not just for Burlington but as part of it, investing in its success and building a future that benefits us all.
We take ownership of what’s entrusted to us. At Burlington Hydro, stewardship means taking responsibility for the long-term well-being and sustainability of our community, environment, and resources. We prioritize mindful decision-making, ensuring that every action we take today contributes to a thriving future.
