Nathalie Carson was drawn to oilsands mining because it’s still a relatively young industry - one where there’s real opportunity to shape how it evolves. What has kept her in energy, though, is the complexity. “The work is interconnected, fast moving, and never repetitive,” she says. “Every day presents a new problem to solve.”

Today, Nathalie leads a large, integrated tailings operation at Imperial Oil’s Kearl Oilsands Project, overseeing more than 100 employees and contractors in one of the sector’s most demanding operating environments. She holds a senior operational role in a field where women remain underrepresented, and carries responsibility for decisions that impact safety, environmental stewardship, reliability, and profitability.

She is especially proud of the scope of responsibility she has been trusted with at this stage of her career. Earlier roles included managing a nine-figure budget and leading major infrastructure improvements that strengthened asset performance. Those experiences sharpened her financial discipline and ability to balance competing priorities — skills she now applies daily in operations.

At the core of her leadership approach is clarity. “In complex settings, progress rarely stalls because people lack ability - it stalls because they don’t yet share the same understanding,” she explains. By aligning teams around real conditions and priorities, she enables confident decision-making and stronger execution. When that alignment clicks, teams often exceed expectations.

Beyond operational performance, Nathalie is committed to expanding opportunity. As Chair of the Kearl Women’s Interest Network, she supports mentorship, networking, and early awareness of technical and trades careers for young women “I know how influential it can be when someone creates space for you to grow,” she says. “I want to help build that same environment for others.”

Outside of work, Nathalie finds perspective in the mountains, trail running and hiking. Endurance sports have shaped her mindset: steady effort, patience, and grit compound over time.

Her advice to women earlier in their careers is simple and direct: “Take the opportunity before you feel ready and trust yourself to grow into it. Growth is almost always uncomfortable at first.”

Through clarity, discipline, and steady leadership, Nathalie is helping shape both operational excellence - and the future of inclusive leadership in energy.

Congratulations, Nathalie!

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