For Keltey Heathcott, energy leadership is about rallying people around practical progress and aligning strategy, capital and culture to move complex systems forward.

Born and raised in Calgary in a multi-generational energy family—with a mother who was a geologist and a father who ran an E&P company—Keltey grew up understanding the significance of Alberta’s energy sector. What has kept her in the industry is not just legacy, but momentum; over the past decade, she has witnessed rapid change across the value chain, from upstream exploration to midstream infrastructure, power generation and energy transition sectors. That evolution continues to motivate her.

Keltey began her career in upstream E&P finance before expanding into infrastructure and energy transition corporate development roles. She joined ATCO EnPower in 2021 and went on to work with a multidisciplinary team focused on the growth of a cleaner fuels infrastructure portfolio—a pivotal turning point that marked her transition to an emerging leader within ATCO. Working on a fast-evolving cleaner fuels portfolio, she evaluated several energy solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia and carbon management opportunities, working closely with partners, customers and policy makers. The role required collaboration, resilience and adaptability as markets, policy and public expectations shifted.

Later, as Manager of Business Operations and senior advisor to the ATCO EnPower executive leadership team, she led a series of programs spanning growth strategy, operations, data management and continuous improvement. Her focus on the intersection of people, process, and perception created measurable shifts in how the organization approached performance, adaptability, communication and culture.

Most recently, Keltey was selected for a secondment to the Government of Canada’s Major Projects Office, where she now works to identify and advance nation-building projects that are diversifying and connecting the Canadian economy. Contributing to long-term transformational opportunities for Canada is a unique experience and an honour for Keltey.

Mentorship has been central to her journey. Early in her career, a leader encouraged her to seek out mentors with different backgrounds and experiences. That advice encouraged her to expand her network and make her first career change. She continues to surround herself with mentors whose advice and perspectives continue to guide her career every day.

Today, she pays that forward by mentoring young women navigating career transitions and advocating for diverse perspectives in leadership. “Your career doesn’t have to look like a straight line” she says, “take the opportunity to learn from the people and changing environments that surround you, and lean into new opportunities that the industry is creating.”

Congratulations Keltey!

Read aLl the 2025 YWE Award Winner Profiles:

• Alise Vandersalm, Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company

• Amanda Calleberg, Commercial Advisor, Inter Pipeline

• Ashley Marshall, Piping General Superintendent, Kiewit Construction Services ULC

• Karen Ngo, Project Engineer, Cenovus Energy

• Katie Howes, Project Engineer, Corporate Liability, Canadian Natural

• Keltey Heathcott, Director, Investments – Major Projects Office, Government of Canada (secondment from ATCO Group)

• Lindsay Campbell, Manager, Sustainability, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)

• Nathalie Carson, Operations Lead, Imperial Oil

• Neneh Thapar, Senior Manager, Strategy & Business Design, Deloitte

• Summer Okibe, Policy Analyst, Government of Alberta