Allies are an essential part of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) process, bringing attention to the experiences of marginalized, often underrepresented groups when their voices are not being heard. I had the privilege of speaking to one such ally, who has been advocating for positive social change and creating spaces to hold authentic and courageous conversations.

Cynthia Hansen is the EVP and President of Gas Distribution and Storage (GDS) at Enbridge Gas. In addition to being responsible for the overall leadership and operations of GDS, she is a passionate advocate and ally for EDI. Cynthia’s leadership has had a ripple effect on the entire organization, and has helped embed EDI in Enbridge’s DNA. The impact of her work truly shows, in fact, Enbridge has been recognized as one of Canada's best diversity employers in 2020.

Cynthia goes above and beyond to mentor and sponsor talented individuals, including those from underrepresented groups. She has shown herself to be an inclusive leader in every sense of the word, and has been named as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 by the Women’s Executive Network, and was recognized as a Canadian Business Leader by Catalyst Canada.