McGhee-Krizsan Engineering Limited – MKE – is a boutique firm primarily focused on Dams and the Waterpower Industry and specializing in Engineering and Project Management. We were founded in 2006 by our current president, are 100% Canadian owned, and based in Burlington, Ontario.
Our reputation was built on providing clients with a close, personalized, and holistic approach to projects. We extend your in-house team as opposed to merely providing outside consulting services.
MKE is a proud member of the Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA), Canadian Dam Association (CDA), and Women of Waterpower (WOW).
See MKE’s Brochure for 10th Anniversary (issued 2017)
About our Founder and President, Karen McGhee, P.Eng.
Karen started her career in waterpower in 1993 with Cumming Cockburn Limited (CCL), which was acquired by IBI Group in 2004. In the early years, Karen’s focus was on design, energy generation forecasting, and construction administration. Over the years she moved into Independent Engineering Reviews for new developments as well as refinancing, acquisitions, and income fund public offerings for operating facilities. During her time at CCL / IBI, she was responsible for the engineering review of over 50 waterpower sites. After founding MKE in 2006, Karen expanded her focus to include Project Management, Structural Design, Preparation of Dam Safety Documentation, and Independent Engineering services.
In 2025, she founded W.O.W. (Women of Waterpower) a non-profit group committed to supporting women in the Canadian waterpower industry.
Karen was elected to the Ontario Waterpower Association Board of Directors in 2014 and re-elected in 2017, serving as Director, Treasurer, and Secretary over her six year tenure.
In 2013, Karen became the 9th recipient and first woman to be awarded the R.R.Dodokin Award from the Ontario Waterpower Association in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the advancement of waterpower in Ontario.
*Karen has recently downgraded her licence in BC to “non-practicing” to focus on Ontario. The licence could be re-actived to “practicing” immediately upon request.