Signatory Spotlight: ESMIA Consultants
Equal by 30 is proud to feature our incredible signatories, including Kathleen Vaillancourt, PhD and President of ESMIA, an international leader in energy-economy system optimization modelling. Kathleen is a trailblazing entrepreneur, supporting governments, utilities, and industry leaders in addressing complex energy challenges—her organization plays a pivotal role in informing technology choices, public policy design, and strategic investment around the world.
The Equal by 30 team met with Kathleen to discuss her incredible career, consulting agency, and advice for other women in the energy sector.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired your career path in energy.
I first discovered optimization through applications in environmental fields, particularly waste management, during my Master’s at a mathematics-based research centre in Montreal. I was immediately drawn to the power of these tools to study complex, real-world problems. I then chose to pursue a PhD to deepen this expertise.
Energy naturally became my focus, as it sits at the core of economic development, geopolitical dynamics, and environmental challenges. It is a sector that will always be central to decision-making, and I was motivated by the opportunity to contribute to high-impact, real-world issues through rigorous mathematical modelling.
Q: What encouraged you to launch your own consultancy company? Can you share some of your proudest career milestones so far?
I began working as an independent consultant after my PhD, focusing on energy system modelling and decision support. As the scope and scale of projects increased, I incorporated ESMIA to structure the work—initially without the intention of building a team. As demand grew, I began subcontracting parts of the work. Hiring a high-performing subcontractor at that time changed my perspective on what it meant to build a team. This marked a turning point, leading to the development of a specialized team now recognized internationally.
I am proud of how we have built a high-performing organization in a highly specialized field. Despite our size, we have been entrusted with large-scale mandates from high-profile clients, reflecting both the niche nature of our expertise and the confidence placed in our work. More broadly, I am proud that our analyses contribute to informing complex energy decisions and delivering robust, decision-relevant insights.
Over time, growing demand required expanding capacity, which led to the development of a specialized team and a firm with strong expertise in energy–economy modelling. Today, ESMIA is recognized for its ability to support complex energy-related decisions in Canada and internationally.
Q: As a woman working in STEM, have you encountered any barriers throughout your career? How did you navigate and overcome these challenges?
There can sometimes be subtle biases or perceptions at play in a highly technical and traditionally male-dominated field. These situations are not always explicit, but they can influence how expertise is perceived.
I have a strong personality and am not easily intimidated, which has helped me face these situations directly. Rather than stepping back, I focus on being clear, assertive, and grounded in the quality of the work. Over time, this approach has helped build credibility and trust. More broadly, my background taught me resilience and determination, which have been essential in facing challenges and continuing to move forward.
Q: In your view, what steps can energy-sector organizations take to better support women and other marginalized groups in the industry?
The truth is that there are many talented and educated women in energy. I did not try to hire a mostly women-led team, they were simply the best candidates. Perhaps we receive more applications from women because of ESMIA’s existing women representation. Our team is made up of very great men, too; all candidates are given the same opportunity to work with us. They are treated equally.
It’s important to promote STEM to young women and be examples in this space. Representation matters, and I’m optimistic that more women will begin to view energy and mathematical modelling as a career path.
Q: If you could offer one key piece of advice to women aspiring to build a career in energy, what would that be, and why?
Do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Do not let anyone determine your worth, or make you think you’re not capable. Follow your dreams, work hard, move forward, and don’t let anyone stop you.
Thank you, Kathleen, for inspiring other women in STEM to reach for their dreams!
Are you a signatory who would like to be profiled in an upcoming Equal by 30 publication? Contact us at equalby30-paritedici30@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to let us know!