Women in Energy Roundtable and Networking Dinner

The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) and India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) successfully organised the Women in Energy Roundtable on Energy Storage, Electric Mobility and Green Hydrogen on 2nd May at NDMC Convention Centre, New Delhi as part of IESW 2023. The roundtable witnessed 60+ women participants. There were researchers, senior business heads, founders, and leaders in their respective domains from across the energy spectrum. Gathering learnings that enabled their professional journeys helped them understand and relate with one another. The energy level within the discussion room was at its peak. Enthusiastic experiences poured in with each participant contributing her bit of approach adopted to pursue her professional journey. Most of them agreed that having the right mentor was a quintessential aspect. Experiences were shared on how smoothly their work could happen because of the support of men in their life. 

The key points of discussion 

1. The Importance of Women's Participation: Diversifying the energy sector's workforce by promoting women's participation brings numerous benefits. Firstly, gender diversity fosters innovation and creativity, leading to the development of more sustainable and efficient energy solutions. Empowering women in the energy industry promotes economic growth and poverty reduction. Increasing their access to education, training, and employment in the energy sector can contribute to the economic empowerment of women, leading to greater financial independence and improved livelihoods for themselves and their families. 
2. Challenges Faced by Women in the Energy Sector: Despite progress, women continue to encounter various challenges in the energy sector. Gender stereotypes, biases, and discriminatory practices limit their access to education, training, and leadership positions.
3. Initiatives Promoting Gender Equality: Recognizing the need for change, governments, organizations, and industry stakeholders are implementing initiatives to promote gender equality in the energy sector.

All women unanimously agreed and cheered for IESA and IEGF to have organized such a roundtable. 

Following the roundtable a firechat was conducted. The speakers for the fireside Chat were Ms. Renuka Gera, Director of Industrial Sector & Products, BHEL, Ms. Seema Saxena, Chief Engineer, Central Electricity Authority, Ms. Jyoti Parikh, Executive Director, Integrated Research and Action for Development, Ms. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, CEO, Kinetic Green, Dr. Rashmi Urdhwareshe, President, SAE, and Former Director, ARAI

The key points of discussion were:

• Empowering women workforce in Energy, Transportation and Technology space
• Offer solutions to women’s leadership and employability.
• Advancing women’s leadership: Time for change
• Addressing urgent issues in the energy transition and zero emission vehicle
• How can policy decisions impact opportunities for women
• How do energy partnerships work? how do they enable women?

50 Influential Women Leaders in energy space focusing on energy storage, electric mobility, and the green hydrogen industry were felicitated.  The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) believe Empowering women in the energy sector is not only a matter of gender equality but also essential for achieving a sustainable and inclusive energy transition. By embracing the talents, perspectives, and contributions of women, the sector can drive innovation, enhance economic growth, and ensure that energy solutions meet the diverse needs of society. Through concerted efforts to address barriers and promote gender equality, we can build a more resilient and equitable energy future for all.