Board of Directors and Executive Team
Leadership & Governance
Board of Directors
The NBHDL Board of Directors provides oversight, strategic direction, and accountability. The Board ensures that our operations align with the values of the City of North Bay and reflect our mission to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient electricity service.
Current Board Members:
- Chris Winrow, Chair
- David Wolfe, Vice Chair
- Chris Haas, Director
- Charles Gagnon, Director
- Stacie Fiddler, Director
Executive Team
Matt Payne P. Eng.
President and CEO
As President and CEO, Matt brings decades of dedication and experience to leading North Bay Hydro Distribution Limited devoted to advancing safe, reliable, and sustainable power. A collaborative leader and strategic thinker, Matt is committed to fostering strong teams and empowering people to deliver lasting impact.
Guided by a deep belief in continuous improvement, Matt champions innovation and operational excellence while staying grounded in community values. His leadership is defined by a clear vision, an inclusive approach, and a steadfast commitment to serving both customers and the communities North Bay Hydro Distribution Limited supports. His leadership has led to the full rehabilitation of the North Bay Hydro Distribution Limited grid, the acquisition of Espanola Regional Hydro, and the development of a robust, community-centered vegetation management program – one that balances system reliability, environmental stewardship, and public engagement.
Matt holds an Electrical Engineering and Management degree from McMaster University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario.
Matt is active within the electrical distributor industry serving on many boards, including the Utilities Standards Forum, MEARIE, MEARIE Management Inc., Ecobility, and 17 Trees and active in the community serving on the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation Board as a Trustee.
Roch Pilon P. Eng.
Vice President, Engineering & Operations
Roch Pilon is Vice President of Engineering and Operations at North Bay Hydro, where he leads capital planning, system design, and operational strategy. With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, Roch has held senior roles at the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, including Head of Planning and Design, and led international project teams at Trojan Technologies. He holds a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Ottawa and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario. Roch is recognized for his leadership in infrastructure development and team-building across complex technical environments.
Melissa Casson CPA
Vice President, Finance
Melissa Casson is Vice President of Finance at North Bay Hydro, overseeing the Corporate Finance, Regulatory, and Billing teams. Known for her integrity, accountability, and people-first leadership, Melissa is committed to building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Her collaborative leadership style and deep technical expertise have helped position North Bay Hydro for long-term stability. Throughout her career—including the last 16 years at North Bay Hydro—Melissa has led financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and regulatory strategy with a focus on maintaining strong accounting processes and controls, transparency, accountability, and the creation of long-term value. She has played a key role in numerous complex regulatory filings, helped lead the acquisition and amalgamation of Espanola Regional Hydro, and has served as a trusted advisor to the executive team and the North Bay Hydro Board of Directors over her entire tenure at the utility. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University, a Business Administration – Accounting Diploma from Canadore College, and earned her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) designation in 2013.