Energy sector leaders earn inductions into business hall of fame
Nancy Southern, Clay Riddell successfully steered companies through ups and downs
CALGARY Navigating their companies through the bountiful highs and difficult lows of Alberta’s turbulent energy sector, two industry leaders are being inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
Nancy Southern, ATCO chair, president and CEO will be inducted as a companion, following in the footsteps of her father Ron Southern, an international business pioneer inducted 22 years ago.
Clay Riddell, energy entrepreneur and billionaire philanthropist, will also be inducted.
Founder and executive chairman of Paramount Resources, Riddell served as director there since 1978 and as CEO until May 2015.
He is also executive chair with Perpetual Energy Inc., Trilogy Energy Corp., and is a part owner of the Calgary Flames.
Southern, in accepting her induction, gave credit to the thousands of staff at ATCO and its subsidiaries.
“It is truly their collective commitment that has allowed ATCO to excel,” Southern said.
“I am humbled by the legendary accomplishments of the leaders of industry who are past and present recipients of this award and I feel truly privileged to be named alongside them.”
Southern was appointed chair of ATCO and its subsidiary, Canadian Utilities, in December 2012 and has been president and CEO of ATCO since January 2003.
Over the course of her career, she has served with some of the world’s most influential business groups, including the U.S. Business Council, the American Society of Corporate Executives and the Trilateral Commission. She is also a member of the Premier of Alberta’s Advisory Committee on the Economy, the Business Council of Canada and the Rideau Hall Foundation Board of Directors.
In addition to her leadership in the business world, Southern has also advocated on a number of social issues, including the rights of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and the role of women in business. Southern is an honorary chief of the Kainai (Blood Tribe of Alberta) and was given the name Aksistoowa’paakii, or Brave Woman in 2012.
In 2015, at the request of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Southern joined 100 other global leaders for the G7 Forum for Dialogue with Women in Berlin.
Riddell, an officer of the Order of Canada for leadership and philanthropy, is well known for his entrepreneurial vision in the oilpatch and generous charitable work in Calgary.
In 2013, Riddell donated a historic $15 million to the Alberta Children’s Hospital pediatric pain and rehabilitation service, the largest donation ever made to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The gift was made in memory of Clay’s wife Vi Riddell, who was a nurse at the Alberta Children’s Hospital for more than 30 years.
“This hospital and the children who need it always held a special place in Vi’s heart,” said Riddell at the time of the donation. “My family and I truly hope the new centre will find new ways to reduce the pain and disability that kids experience so they can grow up to live happy and productive lives.”