June 19: WiRE Southwestern Networking Meet-Up in Windsor

May 13, 2019

The world is almost too small to contain all the projects of Michelle Branigan, CEO of Canada’s leading organization delivering HR information and research for the electricity Industry. EHRC has just released the industry’s 2017–2022 Labour Market Information Study, a major research undertaking that will provide both real-time current information and long-term (up to five years) estimates/assessment of labour demand and supply specifically for the electricity and renewable energy industry. This research will be used to inform and improve the electricity industry’s capability in workforce planning, regulatory filing and organizational planning to mitigate business risk related to human resource management.

Branigan is a subject matter expert when it comes to the market and industry and enjoys working closely with employers and industry stakeholders to address their specific labour market and HR challenges. She has accumulated her Human Resources knowledge through 20 years of experience in project management, human resources development, recruitment, and curriculum development and evaluation. Originally from Ireland, Branigan holds a master’s degree in training and Performance Management from the University of Leicester, U.K., and is a certified Project Management Professional.

Her ambitions are fuelled by Canada’s aging electricity infrastructure, a maturing workforce, and a growing skilled labour shortage. Understanding the impacts of innovation and technology, Branigan is committed to developing forward thinking and cutting-edge tools, resources, and research to meet current and future workforce needs. As a Champion of diversity and inclusion, she is passionate about leading real change for the advancement of women and minorities and has spearheaded many instrumental programs which have sparked a national movement for organization to become agents of change. Among these initiatives is The National Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity for the Electricity Industry- a public commitment by employers, educators, unions, and governments to build a workforce that is truly representative of Canada’s people.

Additional programs of influence led by Michelle include: Empowering Futures, National Occupational Standards and Career Portal, Connected Women Mentorship Program for Women, Valuing People with Disabilities in the Workplace,along with a host of others to support the recruitment, retention and advancement of Canada’s Electricity sector. Her team at EHRC notes that she practices the same values and virtues when it comes to her own workforce culture, putting emphasis on the development and advancement of her own employees. Her motto: Balance, Collaboration and Commitment, be practical and learn from your mistakes, they’re a great teacher. She is currently an active Board Member with the Energy Council of Canada, the Irish Film Festival Ottawa, and a recipient of Women in Renewable Energy’s (WiRE) 2015 Woman of the Year award, which recognizes and celebrates professional women working in the energy sector who go above and beyond business as usual.