CELEBRATING OUR 2023 ATCO EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS
The ATCO Excellence Awards, ATCO’s annual peer-nominated recognition program, celebrates our people for their incredible efforts and achievements throughout the year.
Each year, colleagues nominate individuals or teams who have demonstrated excellence in one of the four award categories: Imagination & Innovation, Community Spirit, Health & Safety and Growth.
As we wrap up the sixth year of the Awards, we’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s exceptional winners. These individuals embody a relentless commitment to Excellence and have accomplished remarkable feats.
This year’s Awards ceremony was hosted at the One ATCO Conference in Edmonton, Alberta on November 2, where our 2023 award recipients were announced:

R.D. Southern Award for Imagination & Innovation
ATCO’s Hydrogen Refueller team is celebrated for their work on developing an innovative hydrogen refueling station at ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Hub. This station serves as the primary fuel source for ATCO’s hydrogen vehicle fleet in Australia. Since its launch, the H2 refueller has generated significant interest from energy companies and government officials in Australia and around the world who are considering investing in similar innovations.

Group Nomination: ATCO’s Hydrogen Refueller Project Team
- Kapz Malhotra, General Manager, Engineering Projects, ATCO Australia Gas
- Brooke McCaw, Project Coordinator, Hydrogen & Clean Fuels Development, ATCO Australia
Garrie Mould, Supervisor, UAFG & Network Monitoring, ATCO Australia Gas
Chris Olley, Senior Engineer, Customer Projects, ATCO Australia Gas
Richard Smith (pictured), Manager, H2 & Clean Fuels Development Energy Infrastructure, ATCO Australia Gas
M.E. Southern Award for Community Spirit
Mike won the M.E. Southern Award for Community Spirit for his dedication to caring for his team, fostering a sense of community, and making a difference within ATCO and in the broader community. Mike was one of the few nominees to receive several nominations from his peers – who celebrate and uphold his commitment to team building, community service, and volunteerism.

Mike Purnell, Senior Manager, Business Support Services, ATCO Frontec
G.P. Kiefer Award for Health & Safety
Luc took home this year’s G.P. Kiefer Award for Health & Safety for his transformative impact on LUMA’s safety, training, and operational practices. Luc enhanced training programs, upgraded equipment, initiated safety culture changes, and even designed a fire-resistant bee suit for working in hazardous environments. His efforts also extended to developing policies for drone use, improving emergency response, and enhancing worker skills and equipment for climbing structures, all of which benefited LUMA’s crews.

Luc Graham, Manager, Workforce Transformation, LUMA
N.C. Southern Award for Growth
Neil was awarded the N.C. Southern Award for Growth for initiating complex projects, achieving remarkable outcomes, exceeding financial targets, and implementing significant improvements within the Engineering Projects team. Neil, along with his team, delivered an outstanding financial performance in 2022 by significantly exceeding the company’s business plan target.

Neil Butt, Project Controls Manager, ATCO Australia Gas