Determined that 2026 would be the year to finally grab hold of her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Yvonne Grinam-Nicholson did not expect a double accolade — that of the Women in Energy Award conceived by the Canadian Government and implemented by the High Commission of Canada in Jamaica.

Along with three other women — Jamaican Winsome Callum of the Jamaica Public Service, Melissa Newman of Jamaica Energy Partners, and Sheree Ebanks of the Caribbean Utilities Company Limited, Cayman Islands — Grinam-Nicholson, director of consumer and public affairs at the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), is counting her lucky stars. But she knows that neither of her twin rewards came easily or by favours.

The Woman in Energy Awards “recognise and celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women who have made significant contributions to their country’s energy sector”.

The PhD is only for the dogged few willing to sacrifice sleep and numerous things in-between.

No wonder a proud hubby, A J Nicholson, the former attorney general and justice minister, was beside himself over his “incomparable life partner’s achievement”.

“Yvonne has made us so very proud. She is so talented! She has made me into a proud, cheerful, fulfilled human being; my family has been richly blessed and uplifted!” said A J, as he is affectionately called.

The energy award citation stated: “Canada proudly honours Yvonne Joyce Grinam Nicholson, PhD, for her contribution to consumer protection, regulatory governance, and public understanding within Jamaica’s utilities sector.

“At the Office of Utilities Regulation, Yvonne has spent more than a decade helping to place consumer experience at the centre of regulatory oversight. Her work has included national consumer satisfaction surveys; mystery-shopping research; and the development of communication strategies, programmes, and policies designed to strengthen the voice of Jamaicans in the governance of their utility services.

“Her expertise has also had international reach. As a technical volunteer and regional expert with NARUC and USAID, Yvonne has supported energy regulators in Nigeria, Zambia, and Bangladesh in strengthening complaints handling, stakeholder engagement, and protections for vulnerable customers.

Dr Yvonne Grinam-Nicholson, director of consumer and public affairs, Office of Utilities Regulation, and High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, The Bahamas and Consul General for the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands Mark Berman 

“She led the planning committee for the 2016 and 2026 OOCUR Conference in Jamaica, a major regional gathering of utility regulators.

“In financial regulation, her earlier contributions to the Jamaica Stock Exchange included conceptualising stakeholder engagement and investor education programmes, the JSE Best Practices Awards, the JSE e-Campus, and its regional Conference on Investments and the Capital Markets.

“She has a PhD in communication studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona, and is an Accredited Business Communicator.

“Yvonne has built a career at the intersection of communication, consumer protection and accountable governance.

“Her leadership demonstrates the important role of informed and engaged consumers in building energy and utility sectors that are responsive, transparent, and trusted.”

Grinam-Nicholson, began her professional career as a journalist at The Gleaner and Jampress, the now-defunct government national news agency.

Across her career, she has combined strategic communication, research, education, and regulatory engagement to strengthen institutional credibility and public understanding in sectors that directly affect national development. Her body of work positions her as a respected professional at the intersection of consumer protection, utilities regulation, financial services education, and stakeholder-centred governance.

The award was presented by High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica Mark Berman on October 15, 2026 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.