The Global Wind Energy Council (‘GWEC’) and the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (‘GWNET’) are delighted to launch this year’s Women in Wind Global Leadership Program. This year’s program will be the biggest yet with at least 23 participants, from 13 countries.

Having started in 2019 with an initial group of eight mentees, this year the program will welcome almost four times as many spots to women who are working in vital emerging wind energy markets around the world.

Now in its fifth year, the initiative – hosted by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) – helps accelerate the careers of women in the wind industry, facilitating empowerment and career development by providing training, mentorship, knowledge-sharing and fostering a global network of professionals in the industry.

Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO, said: “Delivering a just transition is fundamental to the idea of the energy transition, and that must mean gender diversity and parity throughout the industry. Wind energy can deliver enormous opportunities for clean jobs, clean industry and clean economies, and the benefits must be shared by all.

“It is vital the wind industry ensures there is diversity throughout the industry to drive innovation, improve performance and help accelerate the transition to a renewables-powered future.

“Women in Wind plays a key role in the industry diversifying by working with strategic stakeholders to develop and then implement the principles of gender equality which will drive genuine chance.

“GWEC is delighted to see the Global Leadership Program continue to grow as it begins its fifth year. Delivering gender diversity and parity is at the heart of everything the Global Wind Energy Council does, so we’re all very excited to be working with this year’s cohort – the biggest group of participants yet.”

GWEC Director of Women In Wind, Jeanette Gitobu said: “I am absolutely delighted that this year’s Women in Wind Global Leadership Program will be the largest intake yet. As the energy transition accelerates through this decade it is vital that gender diversity and parity are at the heart of that growth, and welcoming more mentees to the scheme helps the industry do exactly that.

“GWEC and GWNET are absolutely delighted by the diverse group of mentees we have received this year. The program received more than 140 applications this year from across the world, which highlights the enormous interest from women in starting, building and developing their careers in the wind industry.”