Spokespeople

Claire has 20 years of experience in human resources management and has served as an HR business partner at Schneider Electric in several business environments, including supply chain and logistics as well as innovation teams in various lines of business, before joining Team Canada in September 2021. Her experience spans continents – she has led Schneider Electric’s HR organization in France, managing a regional scope in Europe to a global scope, including India & China. Claire believes the true value of HR is to bring the business, its leaders, and the workforce together as one. She and her team continually seek best-in-class programs and services to offer employees high levels of flexibility, well-being, inclusion, and engagement. She is also passionate about change management, agile transformation, and the journey through the sense of belonging in employer branding.

Building on his extensive experience as an executive leader with national and international experience, David leads a team of professionals across Canada that are focused on delivering energy management products and solutions for both the Home and IT/Data Centre verticals. David is passionate about smart home technology, Prosumer advancement, as well as protecting the quality and availability of electrical power in critical infrastructure such as industrial plants, airports and healthcare. He has been featured in many media publications, including The Globe & Mail, Electrical Industry Newsweek, The Hill Times and Electrical Business. Prior to Schneider, David was the Vice President, Enterprise Sales (Private Sector) at TELUS. In this role David was responsible for driving all revenue, profitability, client satisfaction and employee engagement for enterprise accounts. He also held previous positions at Sprint Canada, BCE, Netscape, and Deloitte. David is also involved with Youth Hockey, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Royal Canadian Military Institute (RCMI).

Emily Heitman has led a dynamic career in the Energy Industry, working for high profile manufacturers in the electrical transmission & distribution space. Most recently, as the Senior Vice President of Power Products and ASCO for Schneider Electric, she is responsible for the LV & MV transactional business in the US.  Emily started her career at Cooper Power Systems, working in global supply chain and then global product management in the medium voltage transformers and switchgear categories. At ABB, she became a GM, managing several commercial, engineering, and execution teams for their HV transformer business in the US & Canada. When she joined Schneider Electric in 2017, she became the VP of Energy for US & Canada, managing the medium voltage equipment and energy automation business. In 2020, she took on the VP of Power Products business for the US and expanded her role in 2022 to include the ASCO. Emily is passionate about energy efficiency and sustainability. She has spoken on these topics at various industry panels within the utility, commercial construction, and oil & gas spaces. In 2015, Emily testified in front of the U.S. Congress Energy Committee as a Grid Resiliency expert. Emily is a champion for diversity and is the executive sponsor for the NSBE ERG at Schneider. Emily holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University and an MBA from Marquette University. Emily is currently based out of Toronto, ON.

Frederick has been with Schneider Electric for over 25 years and is the quarterback for Sustainability in Canada, guiding net-zero actions across the company’s operations and value chain and supporting customers’ sustainability journey. In 2023, Frederick was named to The Globe & Mail’s Best Executives list for his leadership and expertise in the market.   He is a trusted advisor and has helped customers in over 40 countries decarbonize and efficiently manage their energy use. Prior to his role as the Sustainability lead for Schneider Electric, Frederick served as Vice President, Services, where he orchestrated strong digital experiences between Schneider Electric’s partners, customers and core businesses.   Frederick is a strong believer in the power of mentorship. Under his leadership, Schneider Electric has partnered with the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise (ICE) to help Indigenous communities build a clean energy plan. He also supports the next-generation of talent and academia through alliances with HEC Montreal and other research institutes and is involved with think tanks and start-ups who are mapping innovative ways to reach net-zero ambitions.   Frederick is also actively engaged in the Canadian business community through his involvement in the Association de l’industrie électrique du Québec (AIEQ) and the Institut en génie de l'énergie électrique (l'IGEE). He is regularly featured as a keynote speaker and panelist to discuss electrification planning and to guide industry partners, policymakers, customers and regulators on advancing Canada’s climate action ambitions. 

Hugo Lafontaine is a highly accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in the Automation industry. At Schneider Electric Canada, he is responsible for industrial products and software, overseeing a wide range of operations across the country.   Hugo began his career as a controls consultant and building automation integrator specialist, working his way up to increasingly senior roles within sales and marketing before transitioning to management. Before joining Schneider Electric as the National Manager for building systems, Hugo spent 11 years with Regulvar, one of the largest building system integrators in Canada. He went on to hold progressive roles in sales and management, including at Daikin Applied as the General Manager for Canada and Northeast U.S., and then subsequently, transitioning his career to Schneider Electric as the Vice President, Digital Energy and Power Products.  Throughout his career, Hugo has demonstrated an exceptional ability to drive growth and optimize operations, leading to significant business outcomes. He has a keen interest in leveraging technology to improve building and operational efficiencies, with expertise in commercial, manufacturing, and industrial segments.  Hugo's educational background is equally progressive. He obtained his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering in 2002 and became a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 2006. In 2016, he completed his Executive Master's in Business and Management at Telfer School of Management. He is currently completing a Senior Leadership program at INSEAD Business School in Paris, to be completed Fall 2023.  Hugo is deeply committed to advancing the energy field and giving back to his industry. He is a member of the CSA Smart Building Executive Committee and has been on the Board of Director for the Building Energy Innovators Council (BEIC) since 2020. He previously held a position on the Board of Directors for the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA). 

Shitiz has over 18 years of experience in strategic planning, business transformation and operations management in the energy and digital automation market. He has held global positions at Schneider Electric in India, Africa, Hong Kong, Middle East, and currently leads Canada’s Power Systems Business, sales and operations. Shitiz is passionate about sales transformation and implementing market penetration strategies to drive profitable growth for the business, while improving efficiencies and providing customers with a connected experience. He believes in providing tailored solutions to customer and help them become more sustainable and digital. He is actively engaged in the Mississauga Board of Trade and is a core member of their environment, sustainability and infrastructure committee. Shitiz is also the executive sponsor of the Women in Schneider Electric (WiSE) network to help drive the empowerment, diversity and inclusivity of women and allies at Schneider Electric and among partners in Canada.