As a Project Manager with Hydro’s Major Projects team, Chelsey Pike is helping shape the future of energy at Hydro. Born and raised in St. John’s, she’s a collaborative leader who brings her expertise and all the right people together to help move the Labrador West Transmission Project forward.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a born-and-raised ‘Townie’ but have spent most of my career supporting projects in Labrador. Labrador holds a special place in my heart because part of my family is originally from the Strait of Belle Isle. At Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, I’m a Project Manager with our Major Projects team. Outside of work, I’m married with two young children, so life is busy!

Describe your role at Hydro.

At Hydro, I’m leading the Front-End Engineering Design phase of the Labrador West Transmission Project. My role is to bring together the technical, environmental, operational, commercial, and regulatory aspects of the work to deliver engineering and cost estimates to support future project phases. It’s an exciting project that draws on many different areas of expertise across Hydro.

What made you want to come to work at Hydro?

I was interested in returning to Hydro because I had really enjoyed working on the Lower Churchill Project earlier in my career and wanted the opportunity to take on a new challenge in the energy sector. In between my time at Hydro, I was involved in a large-scale oil and gas development, which allowed me to gain experience in a different type of project environment. I was excited to bring that experience back to Hydro and continue contributing to projects that directly benefit Newfoundland and Labrador—that was important to me.

What does an average day look like for you?

No two days are really the same! That’s one of the things I like most about projects. Some days are spent working closely with external engineering consultants, engineers, and technical specialists on project details, while others are focused on contracts, schedules, budgets, and risk management. I work regularly with teams across Hydro, regulators, and other stakeholders, so most days are a mix of everything. A big part of my role is keeping everyone aligned, addressing issues as they arise, and making sure the project continues moving in the right direction.

What’s something about your job that you think most people may not know?

I think people would be surprised to know just how much of project management comes down to working with people. The technical work, schedules and budgets are obviously important, but on projects, success largely depends on bringing together people with different expertise, perspectives, and priorities. A big part of my job is helping teams work through different viewpoints and trade-offs so we can make the best decisions with the information we have.

What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

Getting to work on meaningful infrastructure projects. The project I’m working on is complex and challenging, but it also has the potential to make a real difference to the province’s energy future. It’s rewarding to know that the work we’re doing today could have a real impact on our province for years to come.