NPCC Appoints New Board Members Dedicated to Bulk Power System’s Reliability and Security in Northeast US and Canada

The Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc. (NPCC) has appointed two new members to its board of directors.

“I am pleased to welcome Amanda and Francios to our Board to help NPCC further its mission to ensure a reliable, resilient and secure bulk power system across northeastern North America,” said Charles Dickerson, NPCC President and Chief Executive Officer. “As the industry continues its transition, we at NPCC will continue to bring in industry leaders and experts with new and diverse points of view to complement our board and help advance our strategic perspective.”

Francios Brassard serves as a dedicated and engaged manager and engineer, with over 31 years’ experience in medium and high-voltage electrical engineering as well as instrumentation and control. Mr. Brassard began his career with Hydro-Québec as a test engineer in the high voltage test lab at the company’s research center before specializing in metering and in power transmission and distribution systems. He also has over 22 years’ experience managing technical teams in the fields of engineering and grid operations (distribution, transmission, and generation).

As Vice President – Integrated Energy System Design and Operation, Mr. Brassard is responsible for establishing and developing the energy system’s architecture and design from generation through distribution. In addition to grid operations, he is in charge of engineering and technical support for various company projects, overseeing more than $5 billion worth of projects annually. Mr. Brassard has served on several committees in recent years, including the Reliability Coordinating Committee of the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) and the Membership Representatives Committee of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), as well as various committees of Electricity Canada. He currently sits on the board of the Association de l’Industrie Électrique du Québec (AIEQ). As Hydro-Québec’s representative on various international projects and committees, he has demonstrated his expertise far beyond our borders.

Amanda Downey is a member of National Grid’s New England Leadership Team and serves as Vice President of Strategy Development and Partnerships. In this role she is responsible for leading the strategic direction, operations, and financial oversight required to deliver transition services under the Share Purchase and Transition Services Agreements, which include approximately 140 contracts related to National Grid’s divestiture of its RI business. She is also the principal architect of New England’s first-ever Strategic Workforce Development Initiative and Clean Energy Academies, intended to build a sustainable, systematic pipeline of diverse talent to ensure the New England workforce reflects the communities that it serves.

Ms. Downey has held several leadership positions at National Grid, including roles in Legal, FERC Strategy and Performance, Business Planning and Performance, Gas Capital Delivery - Complex Projects, Strategic Planning, Risk Management, and Corporate and Regulatory Compliance. She serves on several local non-profit boards and is a co-founder and former president of the Greater Boston Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), as well as a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Ms. Downey earned a Master of Laws in Banking, Corporate and Finance Law from Fordham University School of Law; a Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law; a Master of Business Administration degree from Franklin University; and a Bachelor of Science degree in English Education from Bowling Green State University. She is licensed to practice law in New York and Texas. For more information on NPCC’s board of directors, visit www.npcc.org/about/leadership-team.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jacqulyn Priestly (202) 251-9703