Women Energy Leaders (WEL) Program Opening Conference

The Women Energy Leaders (WEL) Program Opening Conference will feature a panel of women energy leaders from the United States, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The discussion will focus on the panelists’ professional journeys and reflections on the challenges they faced, programs or policies that have advanced their professional journey, and the role mentors played in supporting women in the workplace.

The event is intended to introduce the Women Energy Leaders (WEL) program, implemented by the U.S. Energy Association (USEA) with funding from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources’ (ENR) Power Sector Program (PSP) and the U.S. Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund (GEEA). The program aims increase women's leadership in the clean energy sector in Southeast Asia and the Pacific by advancing the professional development of early- to mid-career level women in the clean energy workforce. The event will provide an overview of the project, the mentee and mentorship programs, and answer questions for potential WEL mentees and mentors interested in applying. WEL follows the completion of the predecessor program, Female Leaders in Energy (FLIE) program, funded by ENR and implemented by USEA from 2021-2023.

Women Energy Leaders (WEL) Program Opening Conference #1

Held during U.S. business hours
January 10, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
January 10, 2024 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM Indochina Time (ICT)

SCHEDULE

9:00 AM EST Welcome Remarks

Speaker: Hon. Mark W. Menezes, President & Chief Executive Officer, USEA

9:10 AM EST Opening Remarks

Speaker: Laura Lochman, Deputy Asst Sec for Energy Diplomacy, Bureau of Energy Resources U.S. Dept of State

9:20 AM EST Overview of the Women Energy Leaders (WEL) Program and Q&A for Potential Mentee/Mentor Applicants

Speaker: Nancy Li, Program Manager, USEA

9:40 AM EST Panel: Advancing Women in Energy

Panelists:

Sue Kelly, Member on the Board of Trustees, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (U.S.)

Juliet Homer, Team Lead of the Energy Policy Analytics Team, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – (U.S.)

Donna Priadi, Country Director, Vriens & Partners – (Indonesia)

Anaflor Candelaria, Asset Management AVP, Aboitiz Power Corporation (Philippines)

Dr. Norasikin Ahmad Ludin, Assoc. Prof, Dep Dir at Solar Energy Research Inst, Univ Kebangsaan – (Malaysia)

Moderator: Nancy Li, Program Manager, USEA

10:20 AM EST Moderated Questions for Panelists

10:40 AM EST Summary and Path Forward

Concluding remarks

10:50 AM EST Adjourn

Women Energy Leaders (WEL) Program Opening Conference #2

Held during Southeast Asia business hours
January 16, 2024 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
January 17, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Indochina Time (ICT)

SCHEDULE

9:00 AM ICT Welcome Remarks

Speaker: Andrew Palmateer, Program Director, United States Energy Association (USEA)

9:10 AM ICT Opening Remarks

Speaker: Laura Lochman, Deputy Asst Sec for Energy Diplomacy, Bureau of Energy Resources U.S. Dept of State

9:20 AM ICT Overview of the Women Energy Leaders (WEL) Program and Q&A for Potential Mentee/Mentor Applicants

Speaker: Nancy Li, Program Manager, USEA

9:40 AM ICT Panel: Advancing Women in Energy

Panelists:

Renee Devine, New York Electric Vehicle and Demand Response, Program Manager, National Grid (U.S.)

Ruth Yu-Owen, President, Upgrade Energy Philippines and Co-Founder, Connected Women – (Philippines)

Häly Laasme, Delaware Energy Assistance Director, State of Delaware – – (United States)