Board of Directors

John Brace

Board Chair, Director

John Brace was appointed Chair of Northland in December 2019. John served as Chief Executive Officer of Northland from 2003 until his retirement in 2018. He joined Northland in 1988 and held various positions in risk management, development, construction, and operations before becoming Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Brace successfully led the Corporation through many of its key growth initiatives, from an Ontario-focused independent power producer to an international industry leader.

Mr. Brace received his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics from Queen’s University and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors’ designation (ICD.D).

On March 25, 2024, Mr. Brace was appointed as Executive Chair of the Board.

Doyle Beneby

Director, Governance and Nominating Committee Member, Project Delivery Committee Member

Doyle Beneby is a professional director. From November 2018 to September 2022 he served as CEO of Midland Cogeneration Venture. Prior to that, he had been self-employed as a professional director since May 2016. He was formerly the CEO of New Generation Power International, an international independent renewable energy company, from October 2015 to May 2016. Prior to joining New Generation Power International, he was the president & CEO of CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned gas and electric utility in the US, a position he held since August 2010. Doyle has over 30 years' experience in various aspects of the electrical power industry.

Mr. Beneby holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami, and a Bachelor of Science from Montana Technical College. In 2021, Doyle was recognized as one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine.

Lisa Colnett

Director, Human Resources and Compensation Committee Chair, Governance and Nominating Committee Member

Lisa Colnett is a Corporate Director and has held a series of senior executive roles for companies with global operations, including as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services, for Kinross Gold Corporation from 2008 to 2013. From 1996 to 2008, Ms. Colnett was a founding executive of Celestica, one of the world’s leading providers of electronics manufacturing services, serving as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, and President of the Memory Division. Ms. Colnett is a Director of Parex Resources, where she is Chair of the Compensation and Human Resources committee, and a member of the HS&E and Reserves committee. She is also a Director of Parkland Corporation where she is a member of both the Environmental, Safety and Sustainability Committee and Human Resources and Compensation Committee. 

Ms. Colnett holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ivey Business School at Western University and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors’ designation (ICD.D).

Kevin Glass

Director, Audit Committee Chair, Human Resources and Compensation Committee Member

Mr. Glass is an international and versatile senior executive combining an extensive financial management background with operational and information technology management experience across Canada, the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. Mr. Glass was most recently Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at CIBC from 2011 to 2019 where he was responsible for financial strategy, oversight, reporting and planning, as well as use and composition of CIBC’s balance sheet resources.  Prior to CIBC, Mr. Glass was Chief Financial Officer for a number of companies that included Revera Inc., Atlas Cold Storage Income Trust, and Vitran Corporation Inc. Currently, Mr. Glass is a Director of Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY). 

Mr. Glass is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (FCPA, CPA, CA), holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Keith Halbert

Director, Audit Committee Member, Project Delivery Committee Member

Keith Halbert is a former Chief Financial Officer of ClearStream Energy Services Inc. and has an extensive background in the environmental, oil and gas, technology, and financial services sectors. In addition to his considerable financial and operations experience in fast-paced, growth-oriented ventures, Mr. Halbert is experienced in mergers and acquisitions, financial due diligence, and business transition planning.

Mr. Halbert has volunteered as a committee member advising graduate companies at Waterloo-based Accelerator Centre, a leading Canadian startup accelerator. In addition, Mr. Halbert is co-chairman and treasurer of Friends of the Grand River, a charitable organization focused on environmental preservation and conservation within the Upper Grand River watershed in Ontario. 

Mr. Halbert is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Studies from Northumbria University, England. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors’ designation (ICD.D).

Helen Mallovy Hicks

Director, Audit Committee Member, Governance and Nominating Committee Member

Helen Mallovy Hicks is a well-versed business executive with global perspective and business management expertise. As a partner with PwC she had successive leadership roles up to Global Valuation leader. She has a deep understanding of what drives long-term shareholder value gained from over 30 years advising directors and executives on value creation, capital allocation, complex transactions, transformation and restructuring matters. 

Ms. Mallovy Hicks is a proficient board member with audit and risk, human resources, and executive compensation experience. Currently Ms. Mallovy Hicks is a director, Audit Committee and Risk Committee member of Sun Life Financial Inc., Director, Audit Committee and Investment & Risk Committee member of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, and Director and Audit & Risk Committee Chair of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

Ms. Mallovy Hicks has distinguished recognition in her professions as a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuator (FCBV) and also as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (FCA/FCPA). Ms. Mallovy Hicks holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto.

Ian Pearce

Lead Independent Director, Governance and Nominating Committee Chair, Project Delivery Committee Member

Ian Pearce is a Corporate Director with over 40 years of professional experience in the global metallurgy and mining related industries. Mr. Pearce held progressively senior engineering and project management roles with Fluor Inc., including managing numerous significant development projects in the extractive sector. He also held executive roles at Falconbridge Limited, including Chief Operating Officer and subsequently served as Chief Executive Officer of Xstrata Nickel, a subsidiary of Xstrata plc. Mr. Pearce currently is a Director of New Gold Inc., where he is Chair of the Board, Director of Metso Corporation and is also a Director of NextSource Materials Inc.

Mr. Pearce holds a Higher National Diploma in Engineering (Mineral Processing) from the University of Johannesburg and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

On March 25, 2024, Mr. Pearce was appointed as the Lead Independent Director of the Board.

Eckhardt Ruemmler

Director, Project Delivery Committee Chair, Human Resources and Compensation Committee Member

Eckhardt Ruemmler brings extensive experience in the energy sector, including renewable energy, where he was involved in the management, delivery and operations of large complex projects with a focus on Europe. He has intricate knowledge of the offshore wind business, having built the offshore wind business in the Baltic and North Sea for E.ON and was involved in all facets from origination through to overseeing commercial operations. He was also instrumental in formulating E.ON’s Renewable Energy Strategy and later led the business to drive significant growth in the United States. Mr. Ruemmler served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer of Uniper SE until his retirement in 2020 and prior to Uniper SE held various executive roles within E.ON SE, including Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of Global Unit Next Generation and E.ON Generation. Mr. Ruemmler is also a member of Verbund AG’s Supervisory Board.

Mr. Ruemmler earned a Master’s in Marine Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, Fachhochschule Hamburg, Germany and is fluent in both English and German.

Ellen Smith

Director, Audit Committee Member, Human Resources and Compensation Committee Member

Ellen Smith is a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting in the Corporate Finance practice where she focuses on power and utility engagements including commercial and operational diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Smith additionally provides advice on mega-EPC projects globally. Ms. Smith is a former Chief Operations Officer of National Grid US and has a deep background in electric and gas transmission and distribution, LNG operations and power generation. While at National Grid, Ms. Smith participated in regulatory proceedings in 4 states and at FERC. Prior to National Grid, Ms. Smith also worked for Hess Corporation, Pratt & Whitney and at GE Power Systems.

Ms. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Power Systems from Union College in Schenectady New York. She is also an independent board member of Velo3D and a member of Women Corporate Directors.