Women in Energy France: Unlocking the Full Power of the Energy Transition

	Laurie-Anne CLEMENT CHARPENTIER		Emanuela BUCCAFURRI		Sarah NASR

 

As France accelerates its energy transition, one truth becomes increasingly clear: no sector can reinvent itself without fully harnessing all available talent. The transformation of our energy systems—toward greater electrification, digitalisation and decarbonisation—demands innovation, creativity, and leadership at every level. Yet women remain underrepresented across technical and managerial roles, limiting not only their own opportunities but the industry’s potential for progress.

Women in Energy France was established to address this challenge. Its purpose is to champion gender diversity and provide women with tools to advance, lead, and shape tomorrow’s energy landscape. More than a professional network, it acts as a catalyst for cultural change at a time when the sector needs it most.

 

The mission is clear: support women’s professional development while encouraging the industry to rethink how it recruits, retains and promotes talent. In 2025, this commitment translated into a series of impactful initiatives that brought together leaders, experts, and young professionals. High-level dialogues such as the February session with Yara Chakhtoura, President of Siemens Energy SAS & Siemens Gamesa Renewable France, offered insights into leadership during the energy transition, while later in the year, exchanges with experts like Maud Merley from RTE highlighted international collaboration and technical standardization within CIGRE.

Dedicated sessions showcased innovative projects, including the April discussion “Regards croisés de femmes : évoluer dans le secteur de l’énergie en Europe,” featuring Marcela Mantilla and Louise Rohmer and complemented by a video message from Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy addressed to Women in Energy France. In May, the focus turned to offshore wind with the WATTer project, and in June, the network spotlighted its alternates and apprentices, reinforcing the importance of preparing the next generation. Partnerships also played a key role: in March, Women in Energy France engaged with Women in Nuclear Italy through an exchange led by Céline Conreau and Aurora Pinto, strengthening ties between communities committed to diversity in energy.

 

On October 16, WiE France took part in the CNF conference at INSA Lyon, highlighting the critical importance of diversity in the energy sector. Through a retrospective of WiE’s initiatives and a panel featuring women from RTE and EDF, WiE France addressed key challenges around recruiting and retaining women in technical and strategic roles, sharing concrete examples of representation within these companies. The numbers show an encouraging trend: the proportion of women at CNF has grown from 11.59% in 2020 to 14.80% in 2025. Beyond the statistics, it’s the inspiring stories that stand out, experts actively contributing to technical committees, managers supporting and fostering their teams’ involvement, and a shared conviction that diversity is a powerful driver for achieving the energy transition. The message was clear: to young female engineers, your place is here—help us build the future of energy. And to all stakeholders: let’s work together to create inclusive and innovative perspectives for the industry.

 

Finally, in a world where “you can’t be what you can’t see,” Women in Energy France regularly highlights the contributions of women shaping the energy ecosystem—engineers, project managers, researchers, and executives—sending a clear message: women belong in energy, and their achievements are central to the industry’s success. For younger generations, these stories spark ambition and broaden the horizon of what feels possible. Looking ahead, the network aims to strengthen outreach to schools and universities, dismantling outdated stereotypes and attracting new talent to a sector full of meaningful, impactful careers. The energy industry stands on the brink of historic transformation. To succeed, it must fully embrace the power of diversity. Women in Energy France is helping lead the way—ensuring that women are not just participants in the transition, but key architects of it.