Gemma Hewitt, the lead for our North East hub, joined the panel of a joint energy and transport sector event focused on gender parity on Monday 4 March 2019. Working alongside other sector networks enables us to reach more women facing the same or similar issues in a different, but very much linked industry.
The Women’s Whole Energy Systems Research and Industry Network (The Werin Network) was launched in late 2018 to provide a platform to showcase the positive impact that women bring to the energy sector. On Monday, Gemma met with women from the sector from both academic and professional organisations to discuss the benefits of gender parity in preparing for the energy transition. The event was free to attend and there was a dial-in option for those unable to attend in person.
Gemma commented:
No matter what industry or profession we are in, the topic of gender parity is always a conversation starter. The delegates were engaging, asked great questions and provided useful insight through their own experiences. It was interesting to hear London Underground discussed in relation to the number of female tube drivers and the way recruitment adverts are written. Time was also spent discussing the Apprentice Levy and how we can encourage a more diverse workforce through alternative methods, especially for those who made the decision not to attend University.
It’s great to see the North East hub starting to take off and building partnerships in the region. We look forward to many more successful events in the future.
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