The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced the members of the negotiating team to lead the drafting of definitive agreements outlined in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Hydro-Quebec announced on December 12, 2024. This is the same team that successfully negotiated the MOU.
The team includes industry veteran Karl Smith, Chair of the Churchill River Management Expert Panel; Jennifer Williams, President and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro; and Denis Mahoney, Deputy Minister of Justice and Public Safety. The team brings together expertise in industry, utility and law to head up these negotiations.
The negotiating team will be supported by internal and external expertise as required and will engage Indigenous representatives.
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“Following the extraordinary session in the House of Assembly, we are now moving towards drafting definitive agreements with the leadership of this smart and experienced team that helped get us to this stage. Our goal is to complete the definitive agreements within the timeline outlined in the MOU.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
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BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of Panel Members
Karl Smith
Over the last three decades, Mr. Smith served in a number of progressively responsible roles within the Fortis Group of Companies, including Chief Financial Officer of Fortis Inc. (1999-2003), President and CEO of Newfoundland Power (2004-2007), President and CEO of Fortis Alberta (2007-2014), and Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortis Inc. (2014-2018).
Mr. Smith graduated from Memorial University in 1981 with a degree in Commerce, and following retirement has assumed a role as Chair of the University’s Faculty of Business Administration Advisory Board.
Mr. Smith is a former Chair of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (2014-2016), past Chair of the Canadian Electricity Association, and a retired member of the Chartered Professional Accountants Association (Newfoundland and Labrador Branch). Mr. Smith currently serves on the Boards of Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador, Young Adult Cancer Canada, and the Genesis Centre. He is also a Director of the Canadian Standards Association and co-Chair of the 2025 Canada Games Host Society.
Jennifer Williams
P. Eng, FEC, FCAE, President and CEO, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Jennifer Williams was appointed President of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in February 2019 and assumed additional responsibility as interim CEO for Nalcor in June 2021. Jennifer is now acting as President and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Prior to 2019, Jennifer had served as Vice President, Production, with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro since August 2016. Earlier positions include General Manager, Hydro Production, as well as Manager, Regulatory Engineering. Jennifer joined Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in 2014, having previously worked with both Newfoundland Power and the St. John’s International Airport Authority.
A Memorial University graduate, Jennifer has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and is a member and former member of the Board of Directors of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador. Jennifer was awarded the Fellow of Engineers Canada in 2016 and was elected as a Fellow to the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2020.
Denis Mahoney
Mr. Mahoney began his career working in the public service as a Labour Relations Advisor in 1987 with the Newfoundland and Labrador Hospital and Nursing Home Association. He completed his articles of law and was admitted to the Bar in 1994. He was appointed as Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety effective January 1, 2022.
During his lengthy tenure with McInnes Cooper, Mr. Mahoney served in a variety of leadership roles including inaugural board director, member of the firm-wide management team and Regional Lead Partner of the St. John’s office.
Mr. Mahoney has served on a number of committees and boards and has volunteered with several organizations including Memorial University’s Board of Regents, the province’s Labour Management Arbitration Committee, the St. John’s Board of Trade, the Strategic Partnership Coalition, the 2025 Canada Games Host Society Inc., Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association, TaskforceNL Inc., and the Boys and Girls Club in St. John’s.
Mr. Mahoney holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Queen’s University (1993) as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Co-operative Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland (1987). In 2020, he received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.