Fresh in the role of president and CEO at BC Hydro in August 2025, Charlotte Mitha didn’t exactly inherit a quiet inbox. Instead, she stepped into one of the most consequential jobs in the province: leading the utility at a moment when B.C.’s ambitious energy goals were becoming logistical reality. A mechanical engineer by training, Mitha has been with BC Hydro since 2004—previous to taking the helm, she was serving as executive vice-president of operations and overseeing nearly 4,000 employees along with critical generation, transmission and distribution assets across the province.
For Mitha, the biggest revelation of the CEO role has been seeing just how deeply BC Hydro’s work touches everyday life. “When you look after an essential service, you have a role in people’s homes and in their aspirations and essentially their quality of life as well,” she says. Upholding that responsibility also depends on maintaining strong, long-term relationships across the province, including with First Nations. “We hold these relationships we have with First Nations very, very carefully,” says Mitha. Rather than treating engagement as a box to check, she says BC Hydro works to build “long-term relationships and not just push a project through.”
The CEO is equally committed to making the industry more diverse. In 2024, Electricity Canada recognized Mitha for her work supporting women in the sector—highlighting BC Hydro initiatives like Taking the Stage, which has supported more than 700 women since 2015, alongside mentorship programs such as Mentorship Matters and dedicated forums for female field workers.
And the scale of the work is only growing. Electricity demand in B.C. is projected to rise by about 15 percent by 2030, and BC Hydro is investing nearly $36 billion over 10 years in capital projects.
“You work in a world of trade-offs,” says Mitha, regarding the road ahead. Her answer is clarity, strong decision-making and, above all, transparency. “At the end of the day, you want trust,” she says. “You want people to understand your decision, even if they don’t agree 100 percent with it.” In uncertain times, a steady hand matters more than ever. And it would appear we have one.
What was your first job?
Nuffy’s Donuts in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.
What is the last book you read?
How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner.
What is your most-used app?
Pips (the New York Times game).
