Shaping the Future of Wind Energy - Meet the Class of 2023

In order to advance the role of women as agents of change in society and promote best practices within the wind industry, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) partnered with the GWNET: Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition ) to launch the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program in 2019.

The program is designed to accelerate the careers of women in the wind industry, support their pathway to leadership positions and foster a global network of mentorship, knowledge-sharing and empowerment.

The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program welcomed its 5th Cohort on Friday, 24th March 2023. Women in Wind Blog?here .

The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program (WiW) welcomes its Class of 2023, comprised of 23 emerging leaders in the wind energy sector from diverse backgrounds.

• The program aims to address the underrepresentation of women in senior positions by empowering emerging leaders, particularly women, to become agents of change in the industry.
• Achieving gender equality is a strategic priority for growth and success in the wind energy sector, and the program aims to create a more diverse and inclusive industry that can drive positive change and innovation in the transition to renewable energy.

Every year, WiW identifies the wind sector’s most promising emerging leaders. This year, we are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2023 into our community of outstanding policymakers and thought leaders addressing the wind sector’s most pressing problems and driving innovation for positive change across the entire value chain of wind.

The selection process is rigorous, with an open call for applications, a standardized evaluation process, and final selection based on professional achievements, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing gender diversity. Through this process, the program aims to empower emerging leaders, particularly women, to become agents of change in a rapidly evolving industry. Meet the full class of 2023 here: https://gwec.net/women-in-wind/about-the-program/participants/ .

The wind sector is approaching a significant milestone this year with?1 terawatt of?installed capacity worldwide, thanks to the dedication of governments, businesses, and communities to renewable energy. However, a diverse and inclusive workforce is also essential for the sector’s success. Hiring, retaining, and advancing women in the industry is critical for a sustainable and equitable energy transition. Women bring unique skills and perspectives to the industry, and diverse teams have been shown to be more effective and innovative. Achieving gender equality in the wind sector is not only a matter of fairness but also a strategic priority for growth and success. Creating an environment that supports women’s career development and fosters a culture of inclusion and diversity is crucial for the industry’s future.

The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program was created to address the gender imbalance in the wind energy industry and empower women to take on leadership roles. Women are underrepresented in the sector, comprising only a small percentage of the workforce, especially in senior positions. This underrepresentation not only limits career opportunities for women but also hinders the industry’s potential for growth and innovation. The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program aims to change this by identifying and supporting talented women in the industry and providing them with the tools, resources, and network they need to excel. By doing so, the program aims to create a more diverse and inclusive industry that can drive positive change and innovation in the transition to renewable energy.

Here's what some of our participants had to say:

"There is no unbiased decision making without diversity, it is only through the power of different voices that we can truly achieve progress in a sustainable manner."?- Carolina Calvo Pose Santos Neves (Class of 2023)

"When individuals from diverse backgrounds come together, they bring a variety of perspectives and experiences to the table, leading to increased creativity and innovation. This can result in new ideas, approaches, and solutions that may not have been possible without a diverse team" - Felista Mana (Class of 2023)

Here are few insights about this year’s applicant pool:

• We received over?140 applications, most of which came from nationals or residents of India, Brazil, Vietnam, Argentina, and Kenya.?Strong representation was also seen from Mexico, Philippines, and South Africa.?

• Close to?half of the applicants for 2023 submitted?video introductions?– a great way to personalize their applications, share more of their character and introduce themselves in an increasingly virtual world.
• Around?4% of applicants indicated that they hold a PhD degree,?while more than 76% indicated that they hold a Master’s degree.
• Around 51% of applicants indicated expertise in engineering?(wind turbines, systems, etc.), while more than 45% indicated expertise in stakeholder management for project development. An overview of the areas of expertise indicated by our applicants is below (applicants were able to select more than one area of expertise).
• Interestingly, this year a?greater proportion of applicants indicated expertise in offshore wind?(40%)?reflecting the rapid growth of the offshore wind market.

We express our deep appreciation to all of those who supported and participated in the application process for the 2023 edition of Women in Wind Global Leadership Program. We will be hosting our kick-off webinar in April to welcome the new class to our community. Stay tuned, and keep following our journey here and on social media at #womeninwind .

Interested in learning more about the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program? Contact [email protected] for more information.

Follow along on social media:?Instagram ,?Twitter , and?LinkedIn .

About GWEC

GWEC is a member-based organization that represents the entire wind energy sector. The members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organizations and institutions in more than 80 countries, including manufacturers, developers, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies. See more:?gwec.net/ ?

About GWNET

GWNET empowers women in energy through interdisciplinary networking, advocacy, training, and mentoring. GWNET seeks to address the current gender imbalances in the energy sector and to promote gender-sensitive action around the energy transition in all parts of the world. See more:?globalwomennet.org/