Women in the Energy Transition

As Canada's energy systems change, there is an opportunity to learn from the past and create a new energy economy that includes everyone. Women are especially underrepresented in the energy sector; yet their creative solutions and leadership are fundamental to a climate-safe future. Pembina Institute is elevating women's voices, identifying barriers, and helping develop solutions to ensure gender and social equity in Canada’s net-zero transition.

Banner with Rae-Anne Wadey installing solar panels. Text: Women in the Energy Transition. November 24th: Join us for the second event of our national dialogue series.

The energy transition is a powerful opportunity to address the systemic exclusion of women and gender-diverse people in Canada’s energy sector, which is one of the least gender equitable industries in the country.

Karen Tam Wu and E3 Eco Group at green building tour for Earth Day at King Edward Villa in Vancouver, B.C.  April 13, 2016. Photo: Stephen Hui, Pembina Institute.

It is the largest driver of the national wage gap.

To solve climate change, government tax dollars and private capital need to pour into net-zero sectors. This opens up opportunities for well-paying jobs. That money should do double duty by performing the co-benefit of increasing equity in Canada.

Canada’s pathways to net-zero must put people first, prioritizing systemic change in the economy for the benefit of all.

Women in Alberta’s Energy Transition

Inclusive gender representation in the net-zero transition is but one essential step toward addressing the uneven societal impacts of climate change.

The Pembina Institute is listening to and elevating women's voices to inform a net-zero future that works for everyone in Alberta. Our team is conducting research and convening women to identify and discuss barriers and solutions, all with the goal of enhancing the participation and leadership of women in the net-zero transition.

Putting people, equity and inclusion at the centre of climate action: Pembina Institute Thought Leaders’ Forum

September 2022 Gender Equity Thought Leaders’ Forum: What we heard and key takeaways

 

Equitable Net-Zero: Recommendations for advancing gender equity in Alberta’s energy transition

Women in Alberta's Energy Transition: A review of barriers to participation and leadership

 

Women in Energy Transformation

The Pembina Institute and GLOBE Series have partnered to bring you the Women in Energy Transformation Series, a national dialogue that celebrates the women advancing Canada’s transition to a clean economy and identifies opportunities for more women to get involved.

Women in Energy Transformation: Series Summary Paper

Women in Energy Transformation logo: a white "W" with neon blue and red streaks behind it

 

Women Leading Energy Transformation at COP 27

Women Leading Energy roundtable participantsOn November 14, 2022, the Pembina Institute hosted a roundtable at the Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The roundtable, Women Leading Energy, brought together a diverse group of Canadian speakers and stakeholders with a shared interest in placing equity at the centre of decision-making in today’s and future energy systems.

Read our blog about the roundtable.


Read inspiring stories

Read more profilesExplore the stories of some of Canada’s most inspiring climate leaders on Women in Energy Transformation’s interactive digital platform.


Learn more

“We are living in a time of unprecedented and necessary change.” The Pembina Institute’s Women in Energy Transition Thought Leaders’ Forum happens at a now-or-never moment for advancing equity in clean energy

Blog April 20, 2023- By Kendall Anderson
Our second Women in Energy Transition Thought Leaders’ Forum in Calgary, Alberta. The day took place against a backdrop of significant urgency and opportunity – both for the energy transition and for solidifying the place of equity within it. This year sees many consequential policies and programs designed at the federal level that will form the building blocks of our new energy economy.

Aisha Bukhari

Women in Energy Transformation: Aisha Bukhari “Climate change is the biggest challenge for our generation, and we need all of us – people of all genders, races, sexual identities, religions, socio-economic backgrounds and abilities – to come together to solve it.”

Blog April 6, 2023- By Women in Energy Transformation
Aisha wants ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and she wants the world to adopt a more inclusive approach as it tackles the massive problems of climate change.

Shohreh Sabaghpour

Women in Energy Transformation Profile: Shohreh Sabaghpour "Not only has it been difficult for me as a woman in a male-dominated industry, but it's even harder as a first generation Canadian who had to build her business from scratch."

Blog March 27, 2023- By Women in Energy Transformation
"Not only has it been difficult for me as a woman in a male-dominated industry, but it's even harder as a first generation Canadian who had to build her business from scratch."

Alexandra Tavasoli

Women in Energy Transformation Profile: Alexandra Tavasoli “There is no facet of our lives that the transition to clean energy will not touch."

Blog March 23, 2023- By Women in Energy Transformation
“There is no facet of our lives that the transition to clean energy will not touch."

Paisley Sim

Women in Energy Transformation Profile: Paisley Sim "The main challenges that I’ve faced are finding opportunities to grow as a policy-thinker and researcher. Finding mentorship along the way has been key."

Blog March 17, 2023- By Women in Energy Transformation
Paisley is an interdisciplinary generalist with a career rooted in research, policy, and community-engagement. Her wide-ranging background serves her well at The Transition Accelerator, where she is helping to create an industry- and labour led coalition to support increased electrification.

Electrical engineer designs lighting shows

International Women’s Day: Now is the time to act on equity The energy industry remains one of the least gender diverse industries and one of the biggest contributors to the gender gap in Canada

Blog March 8, 2023- By Kendall Anderson
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women championing clean energy in Canada, but it should also be a time to take stock of the work still needed. Women are significantly underrepresented in many of the areas that will be affected as Canada builds out a low-carbon economy, including energy, natural resources, buildings and transportation.

Binnu Jeyakumar is the Electricity program director at the Pembina Institute

Women in Energy Transformation Profile: Binnu Jeyakumar “As we usher in a new energy economy, we have the chance to make sure we don’t perpetuate those wrongs.”

Blog March 7, 2023- By Women in Energy Transformation
“I feel like the energy sector, to date, has been great for growth and prosperity but there are some very endemic issues around social inequity. And I feel, as we usher in a new energy economy, we have the chance to make sure we don’t perpetuate those wrongs.”

Colleen Lenahan, Shell’s Commercial and Business Development Manager at Scotford

Women in Energy Transformation Profile: Colleen Lenahan “It’s both a great privilege and a great responsibility to be a part of the energy transformation”

Blog Feb. 28, 2023- By Women in Energy Transformation
The Pembina Institute presents a series of interviews that celebate women advancing Canada’s transition to a clean economy and offer their insights into the opportunities to make the net-zero future one where all Canadians can participate and lead. Here is Colleen Lenahan, Shell’s Commercial and Business Development Manager at Scotford.

Heather Campbell and Calyssa Burke on stage at the Women in Alberta's Energy Transition event

Being a Woman in Alberta’s Energy Transition What it’s like to be both the question and the answer

Blog Oct. 4, 2022- By Calyssa Burke
On September 15, 2022 the Pembina Institute held a forum to share knowledge and discuss how to action the recommendations outlined in our Equitable Net-Zero report. The dialogues brought to life the words of the report and my research on women’s issues in energy over the past few months. To fully centre and advance gender equity we need to be intersectional, call out injustice and rebuild our structures to meaningfully include all people.

Kehkashan Basu, founder of the Green Hope Foundation, at a public speaking engagement. Photo by United Religions Initiative.

Canada’s climate leaders say no one must be left behind in the energy transition Inclusiveness and urgency front-of-mind for women leading the way to net-zero

Blog Sept. 23, 2021- By Pembina Institute

Two themes emerge when speaking with some of Canada’s most inspiring women in energy: the need to act with urgency, and the need to ensure no one is left behind. In this piece, women share their perspectives on why a just and equitable energy transition is important to them. Join the Pembina Institute and GLOBE Series on Sept. 29 to hear more.

Spire Landing, Passive House rental apartment building, under construction at Fraser Street and East 57th Avenue in Vancouver. July 6, 2018. Photo: Stephen Hui, Pembina Institute.

To reach climate goals, we need to break down gender barriers The Pembina Institute launches the Women in the Energy Transition program with a dialogue series on Sept. 29

Blog Sept. 16, 2021- By Pembina Institute

Canada’s net-zero transition provides the opportunity to create a future that includes everyone. Tackling job barriers for women is critical to make sure everyone can benefit from the emerging energy economy. That’s why the Pembina Institute has launched a wide-ranging inquiry into gender equity barriers in Canada’s energy industry, kicking off with live interviews with women climate leaders on Sept. 29.

Our partners

 Globe series, Young Women in Energy, Women's Centre of Calgary, WAGE Canada

The Pembina Institute wishes to thank Women and Gender Equality Canada and the McConnell Foundation for their generous support.

Stay updated

Sign up for the Pembina Institute’s newsletter below to receive updates on our gender equity events, reports, and resources.

Banner image: Rae-Anne Wadey installing solar panels. Photo: David Dodge, Green Energy Futures

Subscribe

Our perspectives to your inbox.

The Pembina Institute endeavors to maintain your privacy and protect the confidentiality of any personal information that you may give us. We do not sell, share, rent or otherwise disseminate personal information. Read our full privacy policy.