Get to Know: Jill Henderson, Maria Veitch and Shauna Bailey
June 23, 2025
June 23 is recognized annually as International Women in Engineering Day and we are pleased to profile three women in engineering here at Hydro.
Jill, Maria and Shauna each have very different roles and responsibilities within our organization but they are all passionate about the work they do to help provide safe, reliable service for our customers, while supporting a more sustainable future for our province.
Get to Know Jill, Maria and Shauna, and read a little more about the work they do here at Hydro.
JILL HENDERSON, Business Development Engineer
Business Development/Commercial Management
Jill has been with Hydro for 13 years. As a Business Development Engineer, with our Business Development/Commercial Management Team, Jill works with Indigenous groups, and independent power producers who are looking to develop renewable energy projects, either on the island grid, or in the isolated diesel communities we serve. She works to help them navigate our commercial and technical interconnection processes all to help create a smooth and collaborative process for everyone involved. Outside of work Jill likes to keep moving – you can often find her playing ultimate frisbee, cycling, running and hiking with her beagle Charlee.
When did you first get interested in engineering and how did that influence your education?
I think I decided I wanted to be an engineer in Grade 2, my family would have been my biggest influence as I was surrounded by a family of engineers. Growing up, I was fascinated by learning how things worked and loved creating – especially my own legos. This carried on throughout high school when math and physics were my favourite subjects and it became an easy decision for me to apply for engineering at Memorial where I completed a mechanical engineering degree – I haven’t looked back since.
Do you remember facing any barriers to pursuing engineering?
I didn’t face many barriers growing up or attending university. My family was very supportive, and I had a tight knit class that really supported each other throughout our degree. Once I graduated and started work, particularly in industrial construction, I became much more aware that I was a young female in a male dominated industry. While there were challenges learning to navigate this space, the number of people I had supporting me far outweighed any negative experiences I had.
I want to shoutout the operations folks in Bay d’Espoir who were so helpful to me in my early career, and the supportive colleagues on Hydro’s Women’s Leadership Network who gave me the confidence to speak up about challenges women in engineering were facing. I like to think the world is growing to be a more accepting place and that the more diversity we can bring to the engineering profession the better off it will be.
What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue engineering as a career?
Just do it! It’s challenging, especially the long hours during university, but it’s very rewarding and worth it. There are so many career opportunities and you can work to find something you are truly passionate about.
What do you find most rewarding about being an engineer?
I’m driven to constantly learn and love the challenge of trying to solve problems. In my current role I love that I get to play a small part in the fight against climate change. I’m proud that we’re working to advance renewable energy, even in places where it’s very challenging to do so, and I’m proud to be working for a company that is committed to making positive change in our province.
MARIA VEITCH, Senior Transmission Engineer
Engineering and Operational Technology
Maria has worked with Hydro for her whole career (almost 18 years)! As Senior Transmission Engineer, Maria is responsible for our high voltage power lines. She provides technical support for the operation, maintenance, capital projects, and emergency repairs of these power lines to help ensure they are safe, reliable and able to provide power for our customers. Originally from Buchans, Maria now lives in downtown St. John’s with her husband, Mike.
When did you first get interested in engineering and how did that influence your career path?
I was always interested in math and problem solving, buildings and structures. Through the MUN Co-op Engineering program I got to discover how diverse civil engineering can be.
Do you remember facing any barriers to pursuing your career?
While I was growing up my family was so encouraging that it never occurred to me there was something I couldn’t do because I was girl. In university and professionally I’ve encountered people that had different opinions on how knowledgeable or effective a young woman would be as an engineer, but over the course of my career those attitudes have become far less prevalent.
What advice would you give to a young girl who wants to pursue engineering as a career?
Get involved in any activities that interest you.
Don’t let fear of being the “only girl” in a situation stop you from getting involved.
Take up space and ask questions.
What do you find most rewarding about your career?
The most rewarding thing about being an engineer is problem solving and finding solutions. It also gives me the opportunity to constantly learn new things and expand my understanding of the field. I’m proud to help provide safe and reliable hydroelectric power to my province.
SHAUNA BAILEY, Project Engineer
Menihek and Churchill Falls
Born and raised in Grand Falls-Windsor, Shauna graduated from Memorial University in 2021 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has been working in the hydroelectricity industry ever since. She began her career with us in April 2024 as a project engineer with our Engineering Services Team.
Many of her projects are in Menihek and Churchill Falls and involve work on intake and spillway gates systems, overhead cranes and turbine-generator units. This work can include anything from replacing or refurbishing older equipment, to completing maintenance and inspections to commissioning. When she’s not at work, Shauna spends her time with family and friends – she loves being outdoors walking, ATVing, cooking, and exploring new places.
When did you first get interested in engineering and how did that influence your career path?
I spent time with my father while he worked on his car, ATVs or small equipment which really sparked my interest for mechanical systems and how they worked. I was always interested in math and science subjects and it was around middle school that I first started considering engineering as a career.
Do you remember facing any barriers to pursuing your career?
While I didn’t personally face any barriers in school, there was definitely an underrepresentation of women in my mechanical engineering class. After graduation I started doing rotational work as a field engineer for three years. During that time, there were instances where my opinions and work would be overlooked by some people and comments would be made about me being a young woman. I quickly learned to assert myself and not back down when being challenged on my work. It’s unfortunate that these instances still happen but they are occurring less over time which is positive.
What advice would you give to young girls who want to pursue engineering as a career?
If you have interest in it then you should pursue it, no matter what others may think. It’s a great career to work in with lots of opportunities in all industries. Work hard and always trust in your own abilities even if it’s intimidating.
What do you find most rewarding about your career?
Being an engineer allows me to work in a career that interests me and is always offering opportunities for growth. It’s a rewarding feeling knowing I’m doing a small part to keep a much larger system running.
There are always new advancements and designs allowing me to keep developing my knowledge and skills every day. I’m proud to contribute my expertise to the project work that helps Hydro ensure they can provide safe and reliable energy to our communities.