WePOWER Conference 2023

The South Asia Women in Power Sector Professional Network (WePOWER) is a partnership of over 31 (and counting) electricity utilities and energy-sector organizations, who collectively work to increase workforce participation of women in energy sector projects and institutions and to promote normative change regarding women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

The 3rd WePOWER Conference will be held from December 6-8, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. This conference is co-organized by the World Bank’s South Asia Gender and Energy Facility (SAGE) and the Asian Development Bank. The Conference will bring together the WePOWER Partners, country officials, and senior management from 35+ organizations, including all the major power utilities in South Asia. The Conference will also include representatives from utilities in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, East Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. The Conference is an opportunity to strengthen the dialogue and cross-regional knowledge-sharing towards increasing the workforce participation of women in the energy sector. Approximately 180 participants are expected to attend.

Objective: The goal of the conference is to get a consensus on i) scaling up the number of WePOWER Partners and their impact, ii) ensuring the long-term sustainability of WePOWER Network, and iii) knowledge sharing of best practices to promote gender diversity in the energy sector.

Conference Highlights

December 6

9:30-11:00 UTC +7

Plenary Session

Just transition and achieving gender equity in infrastructure and green jobs – challenges and solutions

Description: The energy transition in South Asia will create opportunities for growth and equality. It is important to manage the distributional impacts. The distinguished technical panel will discuss the global trends, national and institutional strategies being planned and implemented, and the challenges and multi-sectoral responses to achieving a just transition. The discussion will center on the infrastructure sectors and ensuring that women are not just beneficiaries, but also workers, decision-makers and leaders to combat climate change and spur green growth.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bindu Lohani, Distinguished Fellow, Emerging Market Forum (USA), Distinguished Adjunct Faculty (AIT). Former Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development (ADB).

Moderator: Dr. Demetrios Papathanasiou, Global Director for the World Bank's Energy and Extractives Global Practice, World Bank.

Panelists:

· Mr. Mohammad Hossain, Director General, Power Cell, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh

· Ms. Reema Nanavati, Director, Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA)

· Professor Sudharma Yoonaidharma, Commissioner, Energy Regulatory Commission, Thailand

· Mr. Guangzhe Chen, Regional Director of Infrastructure for South Asia, World Bank

· Ms. Hana Brixi, Global Director of Gender, World Bank

Other sessions:

The evolving energy sector: Jobs and recruitment challenges (2:30-4:00 UTC +7)

Domain experts will discuss the changing jobs roles in the energy sector, and steps to develop a skilled workforce for the energy transition. How can women be recruited/trained/retained for these new jobs?

Speakers:

Dr. Masood Ahmed, Retired Lead Water Resources Specialist, World Bank

Mr. Deepak Rai, Head - Standards and Research, India Skills Council for Green Jobs

Dr. Tripta Thakur, National Power Training Institute (NPTI)

December 7

Institutional solutions for improving gender equity (9:25-10:45 UTC+7)

WePOWER Partners and energy sector stakeholders are implementing various gender activities towards improving women’s representation in their organizations. However, various institutional, regulatory, and societal barriers exist. This session will prepare participants for the Solve-a-thon, which will focus on adjusting the institutional policies and norms for gender diversity. The expert tutors will cover practical solutions that utilities can implement - including Gender Informed HR Performance Management Systems and Unconscious Bias Trainings - to improve their institutional systems and norms.

Speakers

Ms. Hana Brixi, Global Director of Gender, World Bank

Ms. Clare Novak, International Gender Diversity and Inclusion Expert

Dr. Josebe Bilbao-Henry, Senior HR Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist, World Bank

December 8

Helping women transition from STEM education to energy sector jobs (2:00-3:30 UTC+7)

Experts will discuss good practices in supporting transition for students (especially women) into STEM jobs. Effective internship and apprenticeship programs are essential to bring qualified women into the job pool. Following the panel discussion, the WePOWER Internship Module will be launched. This resource, developed by the WePOWER Regional Working Group for interships, will provide a framework for utilities to implement practical steps towards improving or creating their own well structured, gender, and youth-friendly internship programs.

Speakers:

Dr. Ashley Bear, Director of the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine of the National Academies, USA

Ms. Thercy Devika Abeysuriya, Chair, Women Engineers Forum of Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka,

Ms. Amira El-Mazni, Independent Oil & Gas Advisor, former Vice Chairman for Gas Regulatory Affairs in the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS)

Ms. Azia Shoaib, HR Director, Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO), Pakistan

Ms. Tshewang Lhamo, Senior HR Officer, Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC), Bhutan

WePOWER Conference 2023

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