Heidi Leslie, Chief Executive Officer

Heidi is a strategic executive leader with deep expertise in utilities and a track record of leading through change. She has significant experience in strategy formulation and execution, complex transactions, successful regulatory proceedings, stakeholder management and process and organizational change. Heidi founded Crux Energy Consulting in 2023 and provides strategic advisory services to utilities. 

Heidi’s background includes extensive experience in corporate strategy and leadership roles within the energy industry. As Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Emera Inc., Heidi was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategic initiatives. During her tenure, Heidi led the company through a transformative phase by maturing the corporate strategy process and establishing a best-in-class strategy engagement with the Board of Directors. Her ability to articulate clear, credible, and data-supported scenarios proved invaluable in guiding the company through strategic decision-making during a period of unprecedented change in the electricity and natural gas utility sectors.  

Recognizing the importance of collaboration and taking a broad view of the business in order to develop an effective strategy, Heidi was also active in internal governance committees such as the Enterprise Risk Management and Digital Advisory committees, further contributing to the company's overall strategic direction. She served on the Boards of affiliates, while also representing Emera as a representative at Energy Impact Partners, a US venture capital firm focused on investing in innovative energy and decarbonization companies.

Prior to her role as Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Heidi held various executive positions at Emera Energy Inc. As Executive Vice President Legal, Regulatory and Public Affairs, she was responsible for overseeing the legal, regulatory, natural gas logistics, communications, public affairs, and strategy teams in Canada and the US. During this time, Emera Energy experienced substantial growth and change, including multiple acquisitions, divestitures, financings, and complex regulatory processes. In addition to leading acquisition and divestiture files, Heidi successfully navigated the regulatory and governmental approvals for Emera Energy's acquisition of 49% of Northeast Wind and Emera’s 25% equity interest in Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, including testifying in front of Maine's Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Technology. Her leadership resulted in securing three successive utility regulatory approvals from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. 

Heidi started her legal career at Baker & McKenzie in Moscow, following which she practiced law in law firms in Toronto, Ottawa, New Zealand and Nova Scotia. She has extensive experience in corporate M&A, commercial contracting and construction law.  

Heidi earned her law degree at Dalhousie University and a BA(Hons) at Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College.