Barbara Meens Thistle, CPHR

An accomplished HR leader, Barbara has a proven ability to provide effective counsel to senior leaders to help them achieve strategic business priorities through individual, team and organization wide leadership and talent development goals. 

Barbara works with organizations as a senior level strategic Human Resource advisor, providing guidance on strategy to create strong workplace cultures and strong teams. She has extensive experience as a senior executive within large, complex organizations, both in public and private sectors.  

She began her career over 25 years ago in British Columbia holding progressive senior leadership roles before joining a Halifax based Canadian telecommunications company as their National Director. She then joined a publicly traded energy company based in Nova Scotia eventually becoming the General Manager of Human Resources of Nova Scotia Power and later Chief Human Resources Officer of Emera Inc., with oversight of the HR, safety, and health and wellness functions across the entire Emera Group of Companies. Barbara was the Vice President of HR and Strategic Services for the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC – a Crown Corporation) for several years and most recently, Barbara was Vice President of Human Resources at one of the top 20 public universities in the world based in British Columbia. 

Education:  

• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) 

Passions, Community Involvement and Personal Interests: 

• Board member, Ocean Wise 
• Board Governance Designation from the Canadian Board Diversity Council  
• Member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) 
• Previously, board positions with Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Bangor Hydro, and the Dalhousie School of Medicine Advisory Board