Recognising the contribution women make in the workplace

Women empowered

Energy minister Baroness Verma describes a government initiative to promote women in the energy sector.
When I became an energy minister in 2012, I was immediately struck by the lack of diversity of leadership in the sector. So in June 2014, Laura Sandys and I set up Powerful Women to find a new way to showcase the leadership potential of women in the energy sector and build a diverse pipeline for the chief executives of tomorrow.

At its heart is an ambition for 40 per cent of energy company middle management and 30 per cent of executive energy company board members to be female.

As new research published by PwC and Powerful Women shows, the figures today are stark: only 5 per cent of executive boards seats in the top 100 UK-headquartered energy firms are held by women. When assessed against the Davies Report target of 25 per cent female board representation by 2015, the report found that women account for only 9 per cent of all board seats in the top 100 UK-headquartered energy firms – compared with 21 per cent across the wider UK FTSE 100.

But it isn’t just about gender equality: a more diverse pool of talent will bring fresh perspectives, new ideas and broader experience – all things that are crucial to maintaining the UK’s position in the ever-changing global market, addressing a loss of trust in the sector from increasingly empowered consumers, and helping to secure Britain’s energy future.  

To help deliver this much-needed change, it will require cross-sector collaboration and an increased focus on measuring diversity at every level so that we can really get to grips with making an impact where it is needed most. We also need to shine the spotlight on some of the fantastic female role models that already exist today – like the chief executive of Drax, Dorothy Thompson, BP’s chief scientist Dr Angela Strank, and founder of Good Energy, Juliet Davenport – and where possible highlight best practice.  

Go to: powerfulwomen.org.uk

Waterwomen

In poor parts of the world, it is often women who suffer most because of a lack of access to clean water, says Louise Whiting.

International Women’s Day on 8 March is a timely reminder that 374 million women around the world, one in ten, do not have access to clean, safe water and 1.25 billion, one in three, lack an adequate toilet.

Although much progress has been made in tackling this global crisis, the challenge isn’t getting any easier. Climate change is exacerbating the water insecurity of the world’s poorest people in the world’s poorest countries and making the lives of women and girls – those typically responsible for water collection – even harder. Without safe, clean water close to home, staying healthy is impossible. And without an adequate toilet, diseases spread fast.

The impacts go beyond health. Girls’ education is affected because they are too busy collecting water from distant sources to go to school. Some drop out because there are no private toilets and proper facilities for managing menstrual hygiene at school. Women are unable to work to support themselves and their families, having to spend their time collecting water.

Although they are most affected by water insecurity and poor sanitation, women are often best placed to drive change in their communities, promoting good hygiene and influencing decision-makers.

WaterAid supports communities to prepare for and recover from climate-related disasters, such as droughts and floods. Women have a vital role in this work. Koudougou Aminata, from Basbedo, Burkina Faso, is just one of those women. She measures water levels and warns the community when they are dropping, encouraging people to manage their usage so that there is enough for all, even in the dry season.

This International Women’s Day, visit wateraid.org/uk/iwd and be inspired by more of the women tackling the water and sanitation crisis around the world.

Louise Whiting, senior policy analyst (water security & climate change), WaterAid

Call me an engineer

Fiona Jackson acknowledges the work done by women to promote careers in engineering and energy to other women in the UK.

Gwen Parry-Jones OBE, safety & assurance director, is one of EDF Energy’s best examples of a woman making a huge difference to the energy sector.

Parry-Jones was recently awarded an OBE for services to science and technology for her tireless work inside and outside our business to promote the benefits of science and engineering, encouraging young women, from school to university, to take an interest in our industry sector. Her efforts will bear fruit for generations to come, where we can expect to see more women in senior science and engineering roles.

This award is particularly significant because it demonstrates the value of gender diversity in the success of our company. EDF Energy prides itself on creating an environment where all of our people genuinely have the opportunity to excel and be at their best, knowing their unique contribution will be valued.

Parry-Jones supports and has contributed to the government insight report on building the pipeline of female leaders across the energy industry produced by Powerful Women along with co-founder Baroness Verma, energy minister at the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Along with senior women like Parry-Jones, women at all levels are making a difference in encouraging girls to enter the sciences. Take the example of EDF Energy community liaison officer Niki Rousseau, who is based at Sizewell B nuclear power station near Leiston in Suffolk. She works closely with local schools to mentor and encourage students to take Stem (science technology engineering and maths) subjects. Rousseau is also a member of the Women’s Network Steering Committee and works with the future capabilities and early careers team at EDF Energy to build relationships with diversity networks in schools, colleges and universities.

Fiona Jackson, head of strategic resourcing and employer branding, EDF Energy