Women in the power and energy industry need to be empowered in business so that policies and strategies represent their needs, says Elizabeth Marabwa, Chief Director at South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources of Energy.

To kick off Day 2 of Enlit Africa 2023, women and men across the energy value chain gathered at the Women in Energy Breakfast to discuss pertinent issues surrounding the inclusion of women in the power and energy sector.

The aim of the session, supported by the Energy Council of Canada, was to consolidate the collective experience, influence and positioning of women in the industry.

Nthato Minyuku, Africa Head of Government Affairs at Siemens Energy, said that this was “to make sure that our daughters, our nieces, our grandchildren are not being pioneers the way most of us are being pioneers now.”

The role of policy-making in women empowerment

During the session, Marabwa touched on the value of policy-making in creating space for women in the industry. She emphasised that it is critical and strategic for women to be included in decision making so they can weigh in on what is just/fair for women.

“It is important for women that when papers and policies are sent out for comment, you participate so that we include your voice and represent [women],” she said.

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Pointing out the structural issues that exist which exclude women from participating, Marabwa said that women in policy must be spokespeople for women without a platform and leave no one behind. “We are the change agents,” she said.

“We need to make sure that we capacitate and reskill everyone who is affected so that we include all women… We need to make sure that our policies and strategies have [women’s] voices and are gender-sensitive,” Marabwa added.

Creating spaces to be led by women

Raksha Naidoo, Chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa and CEO of the Particle Group, said women are objectively better leaders as they lead with empathy and a holistic mindset which bring about great change.

Naidoo also pointed out that there are things that can be done from a Just Energy Transition perspective that can create space for women.

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“It has become so important in any industry that the conversation takes place with the right people around the table and the opportunities are given to the right people who can bring about change,” Naidoo added.

“If we don’t start changing our way of thinking and our narrative, no change is going to happen,” she said.

“It has become so important in any industry that the conversation takes place with the right people around the table and the opportunities are given to the right people who can bring about change,” Naidoo added.

“If we don’t start changing our way of thinking and our narrative, no change is going to happen,” she said.

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Recommendations for Women in Energy

Closing off the session, Phemelo Mitchell, Head of Renewable Energy Business Development at Sasol, said that it is time for women in the energy and mining space to find other women who pull them up and empower them.

She encouraged women not to shy away from networking, but rather to build their platforms through interactive networking spaces and to take an influential role in ensuring that gender inclusivity can be impactful.

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Mitchell also said that allies of women and women themselves need to advocate for family-friendly policies so as not to give discrimination breeding room in the workplace.

“You will never be ready for anything, but you must make yourself ready by aiming and thriving to be in those leadership positions,” she said.

Lastly, she added that women need to celebrate each other’s achievements to uplift and empower each other because creating gender-inclusive workspaces requires a collective effort. ESI