Women in energy sector dialogue inspires
WHILE an enabling environment must be created for women to access opportunities - particularly within sectors critical to the growth of the economy - they must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to carve their spaces within these sectors.
This was among the sentiments shared by female leaders in the energy sector who participated in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone's (RBIDZ) Women in Energy dialogue on Tuesday.
The webinar unpacked various opportunities as well as the need to balance the gender scale in this maledominated field.
RBIDZ executive manager for corporate services Nombuso Nsele said the engagement was to empower and educate to help increase the participation of women in this industry.
Delivering a presentation during the webinar, chief director for the Programme and Projects Management Office at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Elizabeth Marabwa highlighted opportunities within energy and shared challenges confronting women in the sector. These include lack of access to information.
"This is particularly evident in procurement opportunities," said Marabwa. "Access to finance is also another challenge and, at times, even when women have the desire to get into business, many do not have the requisite skills. "Enterprise development is therefore critical to support women."
For women already in leadership positions in the sector, Marabwa said mentorship programmes are important to ensure they remain in these positions and expand their roles even further. "Be in informationsharing spaces, be in forums and form strategic partnerships to access this information which will assist you to tap into the different markets," said Marabwa.
Independent consultant in gender and the green economy, Valerie Geen shared insight on the transition into green energy and the role of women.
"It is apparent that there is a big transition coming - irrespective of whether we say we want to hold onto coal, or our economy is breaking down - this is a change that is inevitable and we must be prepared.
"We have witnessed transitions in other sectors and we are fortunate that in the energy space, we can see the train approaching and we can prepare for it.
"Our responsibility as women is to read, to listen to the impacts this is going have, and even educate our girl children to become artisans and engineers.
"If you are a lawyer or accountant, for example, consider what your role is going to be if you are going to be involved in the financing of a renewable project, " said Geen.
Other expert panellists included programme management specialist at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, Ayanda Mvimbi, nuclear specialist Princess Mthombeni, and Paige Bowen, a sector analyst for manufacturing and renewable
energy.