ESA Taps Industry Veteran to Navigate Ontario's Energy Future

MISSISSAUGA, ON – January 02, 2026 – The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has appointed seasoned industry executive Richard Jackson to its Board of Directors, a strategic move that comes as Ontario braces for an unprecedented transformation of its energy sector. The appointment, effective January 1, 2026, aims to infuse the regulatory body with deep expertise in manufacturing and utility services at a critical juncture for the province's electrical safety framework.

The announcement was met with positive remarks from the ESA's leadership. "As Chair and on behalf of our Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce that Richard Jackson has been elected to the ESA Board of Directors," said ESA Chair Arjan Arenja. Josie Erzetic, President and CEO of the ESA, echoed this sentiment, stating, "We extend congratulations to Richard on his appointment. His extensive experience in the electrical and manufacturing industries make him a welcome addition to the Board."

While board appointments are a regular part of governance, Jackson’s arrival is particularly significant. It aligns directly with the ESA's new five-year strategic plan, "Empowering Safety, Energizing Tomorrow," which seeks to prepare the province for a projected 75% surge in electricity demand by 2050, driven by the expansion of data centers, renewed growth in manufacturing, and the widespread electrification of transportation.

A Career Forged in the Electrical and Manufacturing Sectors

Richard Jackson brings over two decades of leadership experience to the twelve-member board. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Cormorant Utility Services, a company that provides comprehensive engineering, construction, and maintenance solutions to the utility power sector. His leadership there involves overseeing complex operations centered on safety and quality in transmission, distribution, and substation engineering.

Before his current role, Jackson was the President and CEO of Spark Power Group, a leading North American electrical services company. He was appointed to that position in January 2021 with a mandate to steer the organization's long-term scalable growth and enhance its operational performance. His career also features senior management roles at industrial giants like Winoa Group, Eaton Corporation, and Moeller Electric, providing him with a multifaceted perspective on the industrial landscape.

This extensive background, which spans business integrations, supply chain management, manufacturing, and sales, makes him uniquely suited to address the evolving challenges facing the ESA. His academic credentials, including an MBA from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University, further complement his practical industry knowledge.

Aligning Expertise with Future Safety Challenges

Jackson's appointment is not merely about adding another name to the roster; it's a calculated decision to align board-level expertise with the ESA's forward-looking strategic pillars. The "Empowering Safety, Energizing Tomorrow" plan, covering 2025 to 2030, is built on four core objectives: increasing safety awareness, enhancing collaboration, fostering compliance, and evolving service delivery. Jackson's skill set maps directly onto these goals.

His proven track record in business integrations and driving operational performance at Spark Power is highly relevant to the ESA's goal of evolving its service delivery. As the authority modernizes its IT ecosystem and seeks seamless integration with external partners, Jackson's experience can provide crucial oversight and strategic guidance.

Furthermore, his deep understanding of supply chain management will be invaluable. In an era of global supply chain disruptions, ensuring the safety and compliance of electrical products entering the Ontario market is a paramount concern. Jackson's perspective can help the ESA anticipate and mitigate risks associated with unapproved or non-compliant products, a key aspect of its mandate to foster compliance.

With Ontario's manufacturing sector poised for growth, Jackson's extensive experience within that industry will be critical for enhancing collaboration. He understands the operational realities and safety challenges manufacturers face, enabling the ESA to develop more effective, pragmatic safety standards and outreach programs for this vital economic engine. Finally, his background in sales and marketing could bring fresh perspectives to the ESA’s efforts to increase electrical safety awareness among the public, ensuring that critical safety messages resonate more effectively across the province.

Bolstering Governance for an Electrified Era

The ESA, an administrative authority acting on behalf of the Government of Ontario, emphasized that Jackson's selection was the result of a "public and thorough recruitment process." This commitment to transparent and rigorous governance is fundamental to maintaining public trust, especially as the complexity of the electrical grid increases.

The ESA's board is designed to reflect a diversity of sectors, including the public, electricity distributors, electrical contractors, and engineering and manufacturing industries. Jackson’s appointment strengthens the representation from the latter two, ensuring that the perspectives of those who design, build, and operate within the electrical ecosystem are well-represented at the highest level of oversight.

The board’s responsibilities are substantial, encompassing the approval of strategic plans, overseeing financial integrity, and managing enterprise-wide risks. As Ontario navigates the transition to a more electrified future—with the accompanying challenges of integrating renewable energy sources, managing the load from electric vehicles, and securing a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure—the need for a knowledgeable and strategically-minded board has never been greater.

By bringing in a leader with direct, hands-on experience in the industries it regulates and serves, the ESA is reinforcing its capacity to not only enforce existing safety codes but also to proactively shape the safety landscape for generations to come. Jackson's appointment signals a clear intent to ensure the authority's governance is as dynamic and forward-thinking as the technological changes it is tasked with overseeing.