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.

Ms. Tully serves on the boards of Emera, Inc. (NYSE/TSX: EMA), Pattern Energy, and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum. She is a Senior Advisor to the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) North American and European energy groups and an advisor to several energy startups.

Ms. Tully is a former Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Earthrise Energy, an energy transition company she developed and grew into a successful independent power producer. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Renewable Energy at MAP Energy, a $2.4 billion energy investment firm, where she scaled the company’s renewable energy development business. At the AES Corporation, a global Fortune 500 utility and energy generation company, Ms. Tully held key senior leadership roles, including President of AES UK and Ireland. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics from the University of Southern California. She received the Silver Stevie Award for Best Female Entrepreneur in 2022 and UK Institute of Directors’ Award – Director of the Year for Corporate Responsibility in 2016.

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 Chief People Officer at NRG, where she is the key architect of NRG’s culture, brand, and workforce strategy. She is focused on building a high-performing, resilient, and AI-ready workforce, aligning talent, leadership, and employee communications with NRG’s business priorities. The teams she leads shape how NRG attracts, develops, and retains talent, safeguards its people and workplaces, and connects employees to the communities it serves.

Gin joined NRG in 2012 and brings more than 30 years of experience spanning marketing, communications, business development, and energy industry leadership. Prior to NRG, she 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 serves on the board of directors of the Houston Area Women’s Center and in addition to this Hawthorn Club advisory board focuses on executive women in energy. She is also 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.