Nicole Wiedman, 2020 Young Women in Energy Awards Recipient

Nicole Wiedman, a graduate of the Master’s program with The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, has been named as one of the recipients of the 2020 Young Women in Energy Awards.

Wiedman, Indigenous Relations Manager with MEG Energy, says she is very honoured to receive the award and understands the weight on her shoulders of helping to change the face of what the energy industry looks like.

But for her it’s a great opportunity to learn the best practices for public policy development, stakeholder engagement and corporate responsibility as well.

And she’s thankful for the role The School of Public Policy has played in her success.

“I think that this school does a really great job at enabling you into the workforce. They help facilitate and create a lot of networking opportunities. They have a pretty strong alumni network  as well,” she says.

“I learned a lot of really practical skills. Like game theory, numerical and spatial data manipulation and quantitative and qualitative analysis skills that would be applicable in analyzing and developing policy in any industry.

Wiedman has been at MEG Energy for more than six years and has been in her current position since October.

“ I interface with leaders, elders and representatives to build strong relationships with communities nearby where we operate,” says Wiedman.

“Every road or industrial activity that is proposed to be developed within MEG’s project area requires consultation with a number of communities. So I work with them to listen and understand any potential issue or concern, try and find agreeable solutions and ensure that adequate consultation is complete to meet regulatory requirements..

Another big part of my role is being an advocate for Indigenous businesses and local employment within the organization.  You want to make sure that the people closest to where you operate are benefiting from your work. I’m  a voice within the different business units to help facilitate some of those introductions with support from the supply chain management team.”

Wiedman loves the fact that every day on her job is different. She also likes the social impact, the corporate responsibility or sustainability, lens of her role.

“I think it’s really impactful and powerful to help see that communities where we operate are benefiting from what we do.”

Wiedman is originally from Edmonton and has ties to northern Alberta.. She finished her undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta in Economics and Political Science. Then she moved to Washington, D.C., and did an internship at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars.

In 2012, Wiedman moved to Calgary to take a Master’s Degree in The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.

“Living and working in Alberta I was definitely drawn to the energy and environment conversation and debate. My research in The School of Public Policy was focused on that,” she says.