North America Advisory Board

Deb is an energy executive with 22 years of experience in North American and global retail energy markets. She has served as a board director for Just Energy, a publicly traded retail energy provider (NYSE:JE TSX:JE.TO) with revenues of $3.8B. She also served on the board of ecobee, a private company focused on creating smarter wi-fi thermostats that provide energy efficiency and savings.

Prior to this, Deb led Just Energy for four years as the President and co-CEO. where she led the company through a transformation to a consumer-focused retail energy provider delivering real value to consumers. During her time as co-CEO, she grew EBITDA by 24%, reduced debt from 6.8x net debt to EBITDA down to 2.5x, expanded sales channels and new customer additions by 26% and expanded the company outside North America. She is a recognized leader in the industry and pioneered the strategic vision of the company that positioned Just Energy for long term sustainable growth.

In 2002, Deb co-founded Just Energy LP, a Houston-based retail energy start-up. In 2007, the $34 million business caught the attention of the Energy Savings Group, which purchased Just Energy, retaining its sound operational structure, and the proven leadership team behind it. Deb holds a BA from the College of Wooster, as well as an MBA from Texas A&M University. She is active with various organizations including serving on the advisory board for the Women’s Energy Network.

Mary Nichols is widely recognized for a career as one of the world’s most important environmental regulators. As chair of the California Air and Resources Board from 1975-1982 and then from 2007-2020, she led California’s leading battle to cut smog and carbon emissions. Under Nichols’ leadership, CARB enacted the first comprehensive cap on industrial greenhouse gas emissions by any major regulatory agency in the world. Nichols now holds visiting appointments in the Columbia Global Energy Program and the Cornell Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. She also serves as the Distinguished Counsel at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law, Vice-Chair of the China-California Climate Institute, and Co-Chair of the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility.

Heather Redman has more than two decades of experience in the areas of business development, corporate development and structuring, strategy, operations, M&A, corporate and project finance, product acquisition, intellectual property, licensing and tax. She has handled many corporate transactions including successful exits, financings and joint ventures for her companies. Her experience ranges from management positions in consumer products companies to B2B companies serving Fortune 500 customers. Heather is a principal shareholder and a director and member of the Compensation Committee of Summit Power Group. She is also VP Business Operations and General Counsel at Indix Corporation. She is an active angel and venture capital investor and advisor and a member of the Alliance of Angels and Element 8.

Gin Kirkland Kinney is Senior Vice President, Administration and Corporate Affairs. In this role, she oversees communications, marketing, sustainability, philanthropy, and talent & culture. She leads this diverse and talented group with a focus on building a well-rounded company culture and employee experience, shaping external thought leadership, enhancing customer experiences, advancing corporate reputation, and driving business growth.

She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and business development, with a strong foundation of more than 10 years in the global energy industry. She previously held roles in energy and cleantech startups, including the development of large-scale solar and distributed energy projects.

An active member of the community, Gin is a board member of Houston Area Women’s Center. She also serves on the advisory board for the Hawthorn Club for Executive Women in Energy and Tech and is a member of the Chief Marketing Officer Council.

Gin holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia.

Melanie Nakagawa is Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft where she leads Microsoft’s ambitious climate goals to be carbon negative by 2030 and remove its historical carbon emissions by 2050. Melanie previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Climate and Energy on the National Security Council at the White House, one of several roles she has held in the US Government. At the White House, Melanie played a leadership role on international and domestic climate initiatives, as well as energy issues that included the international energy response to the war in Ukraine.

As Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation (US Department of State) Melanie was the senior official responsible for supporting the shift toward a low carbon economy as integral to economic development and global energy security. She has served on the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s Policy Planning Staff where she led the climate change, energy, environment, science, and sustainable development portfolios.