This International Women’s Day, the International Hydropower Association highlights women whose leadership is shaping the future of hydropower and the global energy transition. Claudine Bouchard, President and Chief Executive Officer of HydroQuébec, shares her story in her own words.

Leading hydropower in a defining moment

We are at a pivotal point in the history of our industry.

The energy transition is intensifying, both in scale and in pace. At Hydro‑Québec, we are delivering an ambitious plan unlike anything we have done. It aims to decarbonise the economy, strengthen energy security, and support long-term prosperity.

Few generations are called upon to design and deliver transformation of this magnitude. Many professionals will spend an entire career without encountering such a moment. Leading one of the world’s largest hydropower producers at this point in time means carrying both a profound responsibility and a rare privilege: making decisions today that will shape energy systems and society for decades to come. A quest I am ready to embrace with humility and determination.  

The challenges before us are immense, but so is the opportunity to make this transition a collective success.

Hydropower, often seen as a mature technology, has never been more central to our strategies. Its reliability and flexibility make it a cornerstone of modern clean energy systems, enabling the integration of wind, solar, and storage. At the same time, it must continue to evolve and adapt.

Leading with long-term vision and collective responsibility

Leadership in this context is not about reacting to change. It is about stewardship.

My professional journey has been shaped by more than 25 years within the same organization. Over time, my roles took me from operations to major infrastructure projects, and eventually into broader leadership responsibilities. This continuity allowed me to develop a wide perspective. I learned how decisions made today echo decades into the future, and how large organizations succeed only when people, expertise, and purpose are aligned.

At this scale, leadership is about collective performance and accountability. Every day, 24,000 Hydro-Québec employees contribute to delivering reliable, affordable, and clean energy to 4.6 million clients. My role is to provide clarity of direction, preserve long-term focus, and enable teams to fully leverage their expertise and commitment.  

Building Relationships and Enabling Innovation

Energy systems do not exist in isolation. Today’s energy system is multidirectional. Clients are now active participants, and the delivery of major infrastructure requires the alignment of an entire ecosystem. In this context, social acceptability emerges as the key foundation for success, developed through dialogue and consistency over time. Renewable energy projects are built through meaningful engagement with local and Indigenous communities. These relationships, grounded in mutual trust and respect, are essential to act with sustainability in mind.  

Innovation also plays a critical role in this historic moment. Innovation is not only technological. It lies in how organisations work, how they collaborate across disciplines, and how they empower people – employees, suppliers, contractors, researchers, policy makers, and customers – to improve continuously.  

Inclusion as a Strategic Advantage

As a woman who has built her career in a traditionally male dominated sector, I have seen progress but I remain focused on what needs to be achieved. Inclusion is not symbolic. It strengthens decision-making, resilience, and performance. For leaders, this means attracting and retaining top talent, which is critical to meeting some of the greatest challenges of this century.  

The energy transition demands skills, creativity, and commitment on an unprecedented scale. Young professionals, especially women, must see energy as a field where they can lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Beyond our organizations, society as a whole must foster the conditions in which female talent can thrive.  

The energy transition is a transformative undertaking that will be written collectively, by joining forces to shape the course of history. The contribution of women is essential to its success.