Inspire, Motivate and Empower Women Engineers

The Chair of WIE2018, Ruomei LI made a brief introduction and opened the forum.

The CIGRE President, Rob STEPHEN made a brief introduction and opened the forum. He pointed out that, diversity has been regarded as an important issue in current situations, yet it is focused more on cultures and countries but less in gender. Gender diversity is essential. Women’s participation in working groups are gradually growing. He said the best thing about CIGRE is that we've got a global network. When we start WIE in one national committee, we can immediately get the network going into other national committees with other women in engineering. He believes the WIE event is critical, and hopes we can come to some solutions and suggestions on how to increase the momentum and get more diversity in our working groups, in order to make better products.

The UNESCO Engineering Programme Specialist, Rovani SIGAMONEY mentioned that there is a decline in university intakes in science and engineering with even fewer girls and women. Women are consistently underrepresented in engineering. She pointed out that, to ensure the attraction and retention of youth, especially young women in the STEM, we need to reflect on how science is brought to the classroom and at the age at which youngsters are introduced to science. UNESCO’s programme in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) provides one possible example on doing this. AS the logo of our UNESCO-L’Oréal For Women in Science programme puts it, “The World needs Science, Science needs Women”. There is great potential in terms of brilliant, enthusiastic, young women who would make excellent future role-models and leaders in Science, Engineering and Technology.

The CIGRE Vice President and Technical Committee, Mark WALDRON mentioned that when the discussion about women in engineering started, we really need to think what to do. It is an issue about making absolutely sure everybody to have the opportunity to overcome the barriers and achieve the potential they have got.He suggested that we can do role-modelling, mentoring, and practical stuff to get people together to share experiences. He pointed out that about 25% committee chairs are women. They have the talent and the drive. They are in their positions because they are the right people for the job. There is still plenty of things like this to do, sharing, talking to people who have already succeeded in the organization. We are getting there. We are making progress.

The IEEE PES Past President and CIGRE USNC Vice President, John McDONALD mentioned that in GE they’ve started women’s network. Women form smaller groups and meet every month for lunch or learning sessions. He said it is important to have large group but also smaller groups that they can be more active. He believes that two things are important in encouraging women in engineering. The first thing is setting up female role models for female students so that they can see how someone can be successful. Mentoring and reverse-mentoring programs could be good examples. The second thing is to start getting students into engineering in high school ages.He shared his experiences that 6 years ago there’s a program in GE mentoring 40 high school boys and girls doing exploring programs for 9 months per year. He noticed that in some countries, the participation of women in engineering are much higher, Tunisia for example, 2/3 engineering students are women. In the end, he pointed out that in the next 5 years, 40% of employees and 60% of executives will be retired. So there’s a great opportunity for young females.

Khayakazi DIOKA from ESKOM made a brief introduction of the four keynote speakers and host the keynote Speech session.

Philippe ADAM, the CIGRE Secretary General, presented the “Women members in CIGRE, Status, Challenges and Prospects”. He compared the data of CIGRE women members in 2017 and 2018. It showed that the number of women members in different positions didn’t change too much in the last two years. More work needs to be done to make the CIGRE data base more reliable, especially the data from NCs. Central Office will continue to support the promotion of WIE initiatives. For instance, encourage WIE network in NC, host WIE forum during each CIGRE Session and publish more articles on national and regional WIE events through CIGRE media (Electra, website and newsletters).

Claire LAJO IE-MAZENC from RTE, the Chair of French WIE, presented “Why diversity is really needed in our very fast changing energy world?”. She said that there is still very few female top manager or senior expert in engineering companies. More diversity is needed. The French WIE network is established to inspire women portraits, to coach students and to promote young female engineer. A more diversified electrical system will provide more creativity and innovation, better communication and social balance for both Women and Men. It will also give larger range of feelings and skills to find better solutions and achieve more efficiency for companies. At last, she said “Let’s shape a better future Energy World all Together.”

Carla DAMASCENO PEIXOTO, UNOPS Consultant, presented “Breaking Barriers with Energy”. She started with her personal story of her study, family and job. She enjoyed her life and work as an engineer. She talked the first WIE seminar in Brazil. She pointed out that women need to invest on continuous knowledge and transform challenge barriers into good opportunities to improve yourself. CIGRE could help as a source of exchanging knowledge from experts all around the world, good technical

documents with best practices and recommendations. At last, she said "You cannot always jump the barriers. Sometimes go around them!"

Alaa Fawzi Al Kiyumi from Oman Electricity Transmission Company presented “Women’s growing leadership role in the GCC”. She said that female is hesitant to study engineering due to various reasons: workplaces, environment, culture, intelligence and recruitment. She presented 6 Things Successful Women in STEM Have in Common: confident, claim credit for ideas, invest in peers network, build up protégés, be authentic and hone your brand. CIGRE and GCC CIGRE can play the role of helping female achieve these points. She also introduced the information about the GCC CIGRE where only 9% is female. At last, she said “I believe great women and great men shall walk side by side with equal opportunities for a better future.”