The City of New Westminster has announced the newest member of its senior management team.
Davinder (Dave) Bains has been appointed the city’s new director of energy and climate action. He begins his role with the city on Jan. 20.
“On behalf of the City of New Westminster, I would like to welcome Dave Bains to our organization,” chief administrative officer Lisa Spitale said in a news release. “His extensive experience makes him an exceptional fit to lead our electrical services and climate action teams in achieving our clean energy initiatives and building a more sustainable future for our community.”
The City of New Westminster created the energy and climate action department in 2024, when the climate action staff moved out of the planning and development department and joined with electrical services. The city said this action was taken to better reflect its goals for zero carbon emissions and increased electrification.
Bains said he is honoured to join the City of New Westminster as its director of energy and climate action and is excited to lead the advancement of the city’s bold climate and energy goals.
“By leveraging innovation, technology, and operational efficiency, we will tackle the challenges of electrification and drive progress toward a sustainable, zero-carbon future,” he said in a news release. “Together, with our staff teams, council and the community, we will build a resilient, vibrant city that leads in climate action and energy innovation.”
According to the city, Bains holds a bachelor of electronic engineering and a master of business administration, with notable qualifications and supplementary education in leadership and strategic management. He has almost 20 years of experience in the electrical services industry, including 14 years of experience in leadership roles.
Bains’ expertise spans infrastructure asset management, organizational change, project management, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance, said the news release.
“Dave began his career at BC Hydro in 2006,” said the news release. “He served in progressive roles, from engineering specialist up to station manager, and in 2013 was appointed senior manager for the integrated planning and asset investment management division. In this role, Dave provided strategic direction and leadership for a team of specialist engineers in managing power system protection, control and telecommunications assets for over 350 BC Hydro substations.”
In addition to overseeing many capital projects and operations budgets during his 12 years as a senior manager, the news release said Bains instilled a culture of safety compliance, championed the integration of regulatory work into maintenance programs, and facilitated the creation of training and procedural documentation for crisis management.
While developing the city’s 2024 budget, staff proposed the creation of a new energy and climate action department. Its mandate includes driving innovation and implementing components of council’s strategic plan related to the climate and environment.
A memo to council said the restructuring proposal would see the city’s electrical department and climate action team integrated and renamed as the department of energy and climate action. The memo said the establishment of an energy and climate action department represents “a modernization” of the organization’s structure and provides the city with an opportunity to be more innovative in the electric utility.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone said Bains’ combined engineering and business experience will help ensure the city can keep the lights on while it implements its climate action plans.
“New Westminster is uniquely situated in having our own electric utility and aggressive climate targets,” he said in a statement to the Record. “We have a lot of work to do towards electrification of buildings and our transportation realm in order to achieve our Seven Bold Steps goals for 2030. Strong leadership in our new energy and climate action department will be vital.”
