Get to Know: Our Fall 2026 Co-op Students 

BRIEANNA SMITH, Generation Engineering Team, Soldiers Pond
Mechatronics Engineering, Term 5 (MUN)

Brieanna has always enjoyed math and science in school and loves being creative, but her dad being an electrical engineer was probably her biggest inspiration to get into the field of engineering.

As a part of our Protection and Controls (P&C) Engineering Team at Soldiers Pond, Brieanna is often sourcing parts that may be needed on site, regularly coordinating with team members to assess needs. She loves working on site at Soldiers Pond where she regularly gets to help with the onsite assessments of assets, such as our synchronous condensers, and to witness Megger tests. Brieanna is looking forward to having the opportunity to visit some of our sites in Labrador and continue to learn firsthand how large-scale energy systems operate.

Fun Fact: Brieanna took a gap year to live on a sailboat – sailing from Saudi Arabia to New Zealand – crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and passing through both the Suez and Panama Canals. While she enjoys spending time outdoors, sailing, hiking and skiing, she is just as happy to be at home knitting, sewing, or practicing the piano.

“I’m excited to gain valuable hands-on experience and learn from people working in the industry. I think this work term will help me build practical skills and give me a better idea of where I want to take my career.”

DANIEL HEWITT, Electrical Engineering Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Engineering wasn’t Daniel’s first career choice. After completing a bachelor’s degree in business administration Daniel realized his passion for taking apart old electronics to learn how they work. This curiosity and excitement encouraged him to return to school and pursue a career in electrical engineering. After completing multiple work terms in the utilities industry, he knows this is the right industry for his future career.

This is Daniel’s third work term with Hydro, and as a part of our Electrical Engineering Team, his typical day involves using drawing software, such as Bluebeam Revu, to review and edit drawings for a variety of different projects.

So far, his favourite experience from this work term has been a site visit to our Bay D’Espoir Hydroelectric Generating Station. His first visit to a generating station, this experience gave him a better understanding of the interconnectivity and complexity of our province’s electricity grid.

Fun Fact: Daniel grew up in St. John’s. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games, billiards and fencing, going for hikes and playing trombone in a community band.

“It was an easy decision to return to Hydro because I enjoy the overall culture and environment here. I also like being a part of work that matters. The work happening here, by so many Hydro employees, may go mostly unseen in the public eye, but its results are visible every day.”

DYLAN CRITCHTON, Communications Engineering Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Engineering is Dylan’s second post-secondary degree. He first completed his Bachelor of Kinesiology but, after graduating, decided to pursue a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.
As a part of the Communications Engineering Team, within our Protection Controls & Communication Group, a typical day can find Dylan coordinating with contractors and suppliers, testing equipment in the lab before deployment, and working on upgrades for Hydro’s administrative and SCADA networks.

Dylan has had the opportunity to visit some of our sites, including those in Upper Salmon and Hardwoods. His visit to our Upper Salmon Hydroelectric Generating Station was his first opportunity to tour a hydroelectric generating station and gain a firsthand look at how hydro power is produced and delivered. The visit also gave him the chance to explore a part of the province he had never seen before and now he is looking forward to visiting more sites across the province.

Fun Fact: Dylan enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible. Whether it’s hiking, biking, or skiing, his favorite moments are those spent exploring with family, friends, and, of course, his dog, Finn.

“Engineering remains exciting to me because each day brings a new opportunity to learn. Through five work terms, I have contributed to technology development, oil and gas, and now the hydro sector. These experiences have introduced me to new technologies, teams, and challenges, all while strengthening my approach to problem-solving and continuous learning.

EMILY O’REILLY, Project Controls Team, Major Projects
Bachelor of Commerce, Co-op (MUN)

Emily is in the fourth year of her program and this is her second work term with Hydro. She has always found herself leaning more toward human resources roles and working with people, but she is still learning about the different career opportunities available to her and is always open to learning something new.

As a part of the Project Controls Team in Major Projects, every day looks a little different for Emily, which is one of her favourite parts of the job. Some days are filled with meetings and collaborating with team members, while other days find her working independently on projects. Being part of the Major Projects team has given her a new appreciation for everything that goes into planning and delivering these types of projects.

Emily is especially looking forward to attending a conference – something she has never had the chance to do before. She’s excited for the opportunity to learn from others in the industry and experience something new.

Fun Fact: Emily enjoys learning new things. She enjoys taking on challenges that help her grow both personally and professionally.

“Joining the Major Projects team has shown me career paths I never really considered before, and has opened my eyes to different opportunities. It has made me realize there are so many ways to make an impact and has helped me think differently about my future career.”

JACK BARRINGTON, Transmission & Distribution Team
Civil Engineering, Term 5 (MUN)

Jack was drawn to civil engineering because it’s a hands-on career with real world applications. He especially enjoys the idea of working on projects where he can see the results of his work and understand how they make a difference.

As part of our Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Team, a typical day for Jack involves using programs, like PLS-CADD, to digitally map out power lines, and AutoCAD LT, to create 3D models. Jack loves that every day is a little different, giving him the opportunity to gain experience and see how his work contributes to real-world projects.

Jack is especially looking forward to getting out in the field to see the power lines and infrastructure he’s been working on in-person. Working with our T&D team has helped Jack experience how much planning and engineering goes into designing and maintaining power lines and he enjoys being able to contribute to work for our province’s electricity grid.

Fun Fact: Jack is from St. John’s and spent one year living in Quebec to finish high school while playing hockey. In his free time, you can find Jack playing hockey, golfing, going to the gym, and staying active.

“I wanted to complete a work term with Hydro it’s a great opportunity to develop my technical skills, learn from experienced engineers, and gain a better understanding of how engineering is used to solve real-world problems in my own community.”

JEFFRIE PITCHEE, Protection & Controls Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Jeffrie has always had a deep interest in physics and, over time, as he gained more technical knowledge through his high school courses, he became especially interested in embedded electronics and power transmission. Because of this, electrical engineering stood out as the perfect blend of technical problem-solving and real-world results.

As a part of our Protection & Controls (P&C) Team, a typical day for Jeffrie involves collaborating with other P&C engineers on several project deliverables. Some days Jeffrie may be working from the office, using programs such as BlueBeam and QuickSet to find and update information about protective relay settings and to modify technical drawings as needed. Other days find him heading out for site visits to complete routine checks at terminal substations across the province. Getting out into the field for site visits and seeing large-scale equipment in the switchyards up close has been a highlight for Jeffrie, and he’s looking forward to taking on deeper responsibility with his assigned projects.

Fun Fact: Jeffrie is from Mauritius and enjoys working out, listening to music and taking long walks.

“What excites me most about the energy industry is the scale and responsibility of the work. No matter how small the work might be, it is always meaningful.”

KYLE ROBERTS, Long-Term Asset Planning, Churchill Falls
Civil Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Kyle has always enjoyed problem-solving, developing designs and exploring innovative ideas, making engineering a fulfilling career choice. He also recognizes the positive impact his work as an engineer can have on individuals and communities, allowing him to serve the world around him through the projects he’s working on.

After spending two terrific work terms with our Dam Safety team, Kyle is spending his current work term in Churchill Falls with our Long-Term Asset Planning department. His main responsibility is to update FEED Alignment Documents (FADs), helping Kyle play a key role in developing and updating the Long Term Asset Plans for Churchill Falls.

As Kyle approaches the end of his degree, he’s confident this sector is where he wants to be. His time with Hydro has given him an improved appreciation for the people, processes, and infrastructure behind the electricity that powers our homes and businesses and he’s proud to have had an opportunity to learn in a friendly and encouraging environment.

Fun Fact: After living in Texas, Rio de Janero, and Dubai, Kyle moved to Newfoundland in 2021. He is a freelance photographer and video creator who enjoys going for walks and going to the gym.

“My first visit to the Churchill Falls Underground Powerhouse was truly unforgettable. I was blown away by the size and complexity of the structure, especially considering we were 1300+ ft below ground. It’s an experience I will never take for granted.”

LEANA CLAUDE, Menihek Generating Station Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 5 (MUN)

Leana has always enjoyed logical thinking and finding solutions to problems. She also likes being active and hands-on, so engineering felt like a good fit, because she can combine both.

As part of our Menihek Generating Station Team, Leana’s days are usually a mix of different tasks. She collaboratives with engineers on her team to ask questions and learn from their experience to get a better understanding of the work she’s doing. She is enjoying learning more about how the hydroelectric generating station operates, what goes on behind the scenes and is really looking forward to visiting site to help bring her learning full circle. Working at Hydro has helped Leana see that engineering is about more than calculations or designing something from scratch. Instead, a lot of it is understanding how things work, how they can be improved and working with people who have a lot of experience. All of which she feels will be very useful when she starts her career.

Fun Fact: Leana is originally from Switzerland and came to Canada to study and play soccer at Memorial University. She really enjoys being active and learning new things.

“What excites me about the energy industry is that it combines something I enjoy, engineering, with something that people rely on every day. Before working at Hydro, I didn’t realize how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep everything safe and reliable.”

LENNY ZHANG, Long-Term Asset Planning Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Lenny as always liked problem solving, which led him down the career path to becoming an electrical engineer. He also draws inspiration from his grandfather, who was an electrician.

As part of our Long-Term Asset Planning Team, Lenny works in our Asset Management Planning Department. Lenny’s days are spent developing engineering specifications for new equipment and preparing and updating engineering directives. He helps develop procedures for preventative and corrective maintenance plans and supports the monitoring of critical equipment performance – including assisting with a MV Switch gear bid evaluation and FEED Alignment document for a transformer replacement in our Churchill Falls switchyard. But his favourite experience so far has been touring the Synchronous Condenser building at Soldier’s Pond – he appreciated getting to see the machines from his textbooks in action in the real world.

Fun Fact: Lenny was born in Baltimore, Maryland and lived in China before moving to Canada. He plays for Newfoundland’s provincial badminton team and will be competing in 2027 Canada Winter Games, in Quebec.

“I have seen the distribution side of the utility industry during my previous work terms with Newfoundland Power. I want to learn more about how hydroelectricity is generated, how the power system works together to provide clean energy throughout the province supporting people’s day-to-day lives.”

MOHAMED SAIED, Long-Term Asset Planning Engineering Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

This is Mohamed’s third work term with us as he continues to develop a strong foundation, laying the technical groundwork for his future engineering career. As part of our Long-Term Asset Planning Engineering Team, Mohamed tackles a variety of work items, including completing Capital Work Requests and Preventative Maintenance check sheets, to help ensure Hydro’s assets remain well maintained for the foreseeable future.

He considers himself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit, and complete work, at several of our sites across the province, including Bay D’Espoir, Grand Falls, Bishop Falls, Paradise River, Hinds Lake, Soldier’s Pond and Muskrat Falls. Mohamed is grateful to be able to contribute to Hydro’s mission of providing energy for this province – something which is truly a great source of pride for him.

Fun Fact: Mohamed loves boxing, playing soccer and heading to the gym. He also enjoys building computers and Legos.

“I have gained an exponential amount of knowledge and experience during my work terms with Hydro. The friendly, safe and co-operative work culture is a wonderfully enlightening experience.”

MOUSTAFA ABDELFATAH, Mechanical Engineering Team
Mechanical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Moustafa enjoys understanding why things work the way they do and seeing what he learns in class show up in the real world. Mechanical engineering gives him the opportunity to learn the physics behind something and then actually use it to make, design, or improve something real.

As part of our Mechanical Engineering Team, Moustafa usually spends his time reviewing drawings and site photos, learning more about our hydroelectric plants, and working with engineers and other team members to better understand these systems. He’s very excited to visit our Hinds Lake site to see in real life what he’s been looking at on screen. He also really enjoys his interactions with friends and colleagues, for Moustafa, these small interactions really add up to making working at Hydro a pleasant experience.

Fun Fact: Moustafa grew up in Kuwait and came to Newfoundland in 2021 to study mechanical engineering and has come to really love it here. He loves playing football (soccer), weightlifting, and bouldering. He’s also a lifelong Ben 10 fan who makes really good shawarmas.

“My very first work term was with Hydro, so to be back for my final work term, feels like a full-circle moment to close off my co-op journey. A big reason I wanted to come back was the people, the culture, and the opportunity to learn in a positive environment.”

NOAH RYAN, Long-Term Asset Planning, Soldier’s Pond
Civil Engineering, Term 5 (MUN)

From a young age Noah was always interested in how things are designed, built, and put together. After his first year of engineering, he realized the best choice for him was a career in the civil field so he can apply these interests to various projects.

As a part of our Long-Term Asset Planning (LTAP) Team in Soldier’s Pond, all Noah’s days are different. He often spends his time writing Front-End Engineering Alignment Documents for new proposals, making Preventative Maintenance Documents for various assets, supporting feasibility studies and visiting various work sites. His favorite experience so far has been touring the buildings at Soldier’s Pond. From seeing the synchronous condensers to the converter station, he found it fascinating to see how power gets transferred from Labrador and then distributed throughout the Avalon.

Fun Fact: Noah is originally from Burin and moved to Paradise to attend MUN. In his free time he enjoys playing hockey, soccer and golf and loves any activity he can do with family and friends, including hiking and swimming.

“As a civil engineer, working on asset management is very important for me, as it makes me think not just about building new infrastructure but about how to optimize the life, condition and safety of an asset.”

PARKER STOKES, Project Execution Team
Civil Engineering, Term 5 (MUN)

Parker has always enjoyed understanding how things work and finding solutions to problems. Civil engineering felt like the right fit because of the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that have a lasting impact on communities and pursuing a career that would continuously provide opportunities to learn and develop new skills.

This is Parker’s second work term with Hydro, but his first with our Project Execution Team. His responsibilities vary depending on the projects he’s working on, but a typical day often involves reviewing engineering documentation, and assisting with project planning and scheduling. Parker enjoys the variety of work he’s involved in to help support his team but his favourite experience from this work term has been travelling to the Exploits River area to visit some of the projects happening there. It was a great opportunity to see the practical side of the work he’s been involved in, and experience how engineering projects progress from planning into construction. Working with our Project Execution team is giving him a better understanding of project management, planning, and the coordination involved in engineering projects – experiences that will provide a strong foundation as he works towards becoming a professional engineer.

Fun Fact: Parker is originally from Cape Freels, a small community in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. He enjoys opportunities to learn new things and meet new people.

“During my first work term, I learned so much and had the opportunity to work alongside some incredibly kind, welcoming, and knowledgeable people. I really enjoyed the work environment and the experiences I gained, so when the opportunity came to return for a second work term, I was excited to come back, continue learning, and experience another side of the organization.”

RAHUL SETHURAMAN, Long-Term Asset Planning Team, Soldier’s Pond
Mechanical Engineering, Term 8 (MUN)

Rahul likes the idea of having the ability to design/test things, and mechanical engineering gives him the opportunity to be hands-on and opens the scope to be a part of wide range of industries.

This is Rahul’s third work term with Hydro. He has worked in Churchill Falls, our Hydro Place office, and is now excited to be working in Soldier’s Pond. As part of our Long-Term Asset Planning team, he regularly interacts with his supervisor, engineers, and millwrights. This term he is developing operating context for the Building Automation Systems (BAS) and working with the Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) facilitator to perform RCM analysis on this system in Soldier’s Pond. He is also developing a vibration monitoring plan for some of the equipment on site and is looking forward to testing the plan, including collecting the data and fine tuning it.

Fun Fact: Rahul is from Tamilnadu, India, and moved to St. John’s for his engineering degree. He enjoys hiking, swimming, fishing, and road trips.

“Here at Hydro the opportunities to learn are endless and all the teams I have worked with are very welcoming and helpful. I’m gaining valuable skills which will be useful in any engineering industry and are also in within my field of interest.”