Joanne Howard
“I find excitement in solving complex challenges, embracing technological advancements and contributing to a sector that plays a pivotal role in powering the world,” Joanne Howard said. “I’m passionate about how energy access and energy security can transform lives, particularly by raising communities around the world out of poverty. Additionally, the opportunity to be part of innovations that address environmental concerns and promote sustainability fuels my passion for making a positive impact within the industry.”
Howard’s career in energy has centered around sustainability, enhanced transparency and decarbonization. She led the development of the first-ever Midstream ESG Reporting Template through her work co-chairing the Energy Infrastructure (EIC) ESG Working Group.
“This collaborative process, that included members from both EIC and GPA Midstream, involved significant participation from in-house ESG specialists and professionals with operational and technical expertise from across the industry,” she said. “We received positive feedback from investors as they are now able to compare the ESG performance of each midstream company across the industry. The development of this ESG reporting template has also enabled other midstream companies to start their ESG reporting journey.”
A native of London, Howard grew up in Houston, then returned to the U.K. to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in international relations. Her first energy job was as vice consul for energy at the British Consulate-General in Houston.
She joined Spectra Energy in sustainability positions, then oversaw the combination of its sustainability program with Enbridge’s after the two companies merged in 2017. She continued her work in sustainability at Crestwood Equity Partners, rising to senior vice president in early 2022.
As senior vice president, Howard spearheaded the development and implementation of a comprehensive sustainability strategy.
“This program not only met but exceeded industry standards, earning Crestwood external recognition and receiving multiple third-party awards from Hart Energy, The Wildlife Habitat Council, Girls Inc. and Institutional Investor, to name a few,” she said.
The strategy represented a team effort from the board of directors and CEO all the way to the operations team in the field. Every employee contributed to Crestwood’s success.
“It’s essential to foster a culture of sustainability driving positive change from the top down and bottom up, leading through influence while building trust and transparency,” she said. “This career milestone was not just about professional success but also about making a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable company, while implementing initiatives that contributed to the bottom line and enabling our social license to operate.”
For Howard, being able to learn from peers and mentors on the job has been essential to her career. Her mentors include Bob Phillips, founder, chairman and CEO of Crestwood, and Robert Halpin, the company’s president.
“From them, I have gained confidence in my abilities and have been willing to learn from both successes and failures,” Howard said.
Another mentor is her father, an energy banker in Houston, who taught her the power of networking. A mother of two sons, ages 5 and 9, Howard believes it’s important to be a mentor to her family, too.
“My boys are my everything,” she said. “I feel it’s important that they see strong working women in their lives.”
Howard takes a pragmatic approach to the industry’s future, pointing out that while it has made strides in innovation and decarbonization, the work isn’t done.
“We need to continue to do this in a practical way while telling our authentic story—eliminating greenwashing,” she said. “We need to continue to foster a mindset of collaboration across the energy value chain and continue to eliminate silos. Embrace cutting edge technologies such as AI, smart grids, etc. Continue to prioritize [diversity, equity and inclusion] to harness a wide range of perspectives and further promote diversity of thought.”
Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2024 Women in Energy here.
1. I love to travel and learn about different cultures. I’ve traveled to over 60 countries.
2. My love of community service began at an early age, inspired by my late mother who was passionate about giving back to the community. As early as 16, I traveled to a remote community in Fiji to help build a school and teach English and Health to the children of the village. This was a rewarding experience and one that ignited my desire to support non-profit organizations.
3. While working for the British Consulate in Houston, I escorted a member of the British Royal Family on a trip to Texas and Louisiana, with a special visit to the Shell MARS platform in the Gulf of Mexico.