Vice-president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in St. Philips, and went to junior high and high school in St. John’s at MacPherson and Bishops.

What is your current position?

I am vice-president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. I’m responsible for all legal and governance aspects of the utility, as well as supply chain and procurement.

Why did you choose the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial?

My parents were both physicians and wanted at least one of their three boys to follow that path. So I did two years in biochemistry and neuroscience before realizing that it wasn’t for me. My older brother had gone through business at Memorial and loved it, so I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did and it was a great background for law school.

What is a highlight of your time at the Faculty of Business Administration?

I worked as a student at Gardiner Centre for a couple of semesters. I really enjoyed that and I think I gained some really valuable experience there.

What is your fondest memory about your time at the business faculty?

I have great memories of some of the team work I got to do in my smaller classes. I met some great people studying late at night in the business building.

What was your favourite or most memorable class?

I really enjoyed Organizational Strategy. Strategy is a big focus of what I do today at N.L. Hydro.

How were your professors? Do you have any memorable ones?

My professors were all great. Susan Gardiner and Peggy Coady really stand out. Both were amazing and ended up being two of my references for law school.

Tell us about any extracurricular activities you were involved in and how they enhanced your experience.

At that stage of my life, I was really into competitive sports. I went to the Canada Games to compete in rowing, and then again two years later as a coach of the N.L. squash team. Both were during my time at the business faculty.

I also got to compete for Memorial in both sports. I think it really helped to have those things to look forward to outside of my studies. I also made some lifelong friends.

How did your experience at Memorial and the Faculty of Business Administration compare with your other alma mater(s)?

I wasn’t as involved with the business faculty as I was with my law school class afterwards and I do regret that looking back. I think that was a function of me growing up in St. John’s and having an established social circle whereas I had to move to a different city for law school. I really encourage people to get involved at their schools!

How did your experience at the business faculty help you find your first position after graduation?

I would not have gotten into law school if not for my business degree, so in that way it has helped immensely with all of the legal positions I’ve held. In my role as an executive with N.L. Hydro, I provide business advice more frequently than I do actual legal advice.

What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most useful in your career?

My day-to-day work life at N.L. Hydro is incredibly varied. I’m involved in almost all aspects of the business. Having had the opportunity to take courses in all areas of business really built a strong foundation.

What did you initially hope to do for a career and how does that align with your current employment?

Once I made the switch to business, I had my sights set on being a lawyer and my time at the business faculty led directly to that. When I started practicing law, I was drawn to in-house practice and wanted to be directly involved with an organization as opposed to working on discrete issues from the outside. My business background really prepared me for that.

What community organizations do you currently support? How do they align with your values?

I serve on the boards of a number of organizations right now – maybe too many but I enjoy each one! I am an elected bencher of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, sit on the chapter executive of the N.L. Branch of the Institute of Corporate Directors, serve as a judge for the Canadian Law Awards, and I’m a director of the Canadian Bar Insurance Association/Lawyers Financial.

I have also recently been appointed as a director of the Business Development Bank of Canada. I’m really excited and proud to have been selected to serve on that board, given the critically important contribution that entrepreneurs and small businesses play in our provincial and national economy.

It’s also really important to me that we embrace diversity and amplify the voices of others. I’m proud that all of the organizations I serve have that as a core value. I believe that for any business to succeed, it’s critical that diversity of thought and diversity of leadership are embraced.

What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made? How so?

I think the best business decision I’ve ever made was to go to work at N.L. Hydro. The experiences I’ve had there and the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with are the reasons I’ve been successful in my career since leaving private practice.

This province is uniquely positioned to be a leader in renewable energy and N.L. Hydro is the driving force behind that. I’m so grateful to my CEO and my board for allowing me to be part of that. I really do believe that N.L. Hydro is one of the best and most exciting places to work in the province.

What’s the best personal decision you’ve ever made? How so?

I bought a 50/50 ticket that I did really well on just a couple of months ago. So that stands out at the moment! I’d also have to say committing to my partner of 13 years who coincidently works at Memorial. He’s so supportive of everything I do and I wouldn’t have accomplished any of it without him.

What advice do you have for business students as they consider their future?

Put your hand up! Whether it be for an award, a new position or a new challenge in your existing role. You do not need to have 20 years’ experience to be able to be truly valuable and contribute to an organization.

I think a big part of my success to date also stems from my board work and the organizations that I volunteer with. I urge students and recent grads to get involved in this kind of work as early as possible in their careers.

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?

I’m so proud to have been appointed as King’s Counsel at a relatively early stage of my career. My father was beyond excited and proud of this appointment because of his strong connection to the legal community. I’m so grateful that I got to experience that with him before he passed away.

You’ve been very successful in your career. Is there something else you hope to accomplish?

As I said to my CEO not long ago: I’m not done, I’m just getting started!

If you could pick one thing in the entire world to spend your time doing, what would it be?

Sailing with family and friends – preferably somewhere warm!

Tell us a random fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess.

Maybe not surprising given my background in sports, but I’m still really active. I taught spin and fitness classes for more than a decade on the side but retired during the pandemic. Out of that, I grew a love of aerobics and still go regularly. It’s a great workout!