Meetups and Workshops
women in solar europe
we shine together
nurturing Career growth for women in solar, storage & EV charging
Gender equality not only liberates women but also men from prescribed gender stereotypes.
The solar workforce in Europe is estimated to triple, over a million jobs in total, within the next decade. We cannot afford to miss the talent of more than half of the population.
Women in Solar Europe is a professional network that supports career development for women in the solar, energy storage, and EV charging industries to reach management positions where decisions are made.
Together, we foster inclusive workplace cultures, understand and overcome external and internal barriers that prevent women and minorities from progressing in their careers, promote role models, and work on initiatives to attract a diverse workforce and generate social impact.
our ambassadors
Thalia Valkouma
President & CEO
Faria Renewables
Aga Michalak
Head of Marketing & ESG Europe
Jinko
Carolina Nester
Head of Operations, Iberia
Sonnedix
Claire Gardner
Marketing Manager, Europe
Solis
Noelia Álvarez Marivela
Vice President Solar & Onshore Wind
BP
Maria Sabella
CEO & Founder
Enlight Energy Services
Giorgia Epicoco
Senior EU Affairs Manager I Sustainability Lead
Huawei
Zoraida Bejarano
Head of Talent
NextEnergy Group
Maria Santa Maria
Head of Projects (BESS & H2), Iberia
baywa r.e.
Oana Ijdelea
Managing Partner
Ijdelea & Associates
Camille Zimmermann
Investment Director
Omnes
Mariyana Yaneva
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Policy & Market Design
APSTE – Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity
Chloé Durieux
Partner & CDO
Nexun
Canan Koç Yasar
VP HSSE Uniper Renewables
Uniper
Valentina Scaglione
Asset Management Director
Econergy
Maria Colom
Head of Distributed Solar, Storage & Green Mobility
Engie
Stefanie Driever
Head of People
Youdera
our focus
Career Development
We support women on their leadership journey by helping them overcome barriers and gather leadership skills.
Belonging
We understand the importance of women to connect with other women in male dominated environtments.
Visibility
We facilitate opportunities for women to be recognised as experts in their fields and overcome stereotypes.
Female representation
We foster representation of women in decision-making as a critical factor for innovation in our challenging energy sector.
Business connections
We bring together women who share common values and a desire to make business that has a positive impact in the world.
Social Impact
We work on initiatives that will help attract female talent to our industry that has the power to transform livelihoods across the planet.
our work
Media & Events
Career development support
Courses and Coaching
upcoming events
December 2024
Dec
09
09
December
2024
The Nine,
Rue Archimède 69
Bruxelles, 1000 Belgium
Bruxelles, 1000 Belgium
Free
hear from our members
“The mix of backgrounds, professionally and culturally, was incredibly valuable during this meeting. The vibe in the room felt encouraging, inspiring, and most importantly, SAFE.
I enjoyed the workshop format as it gave us the opportunity to hear about our group's personal experiences with the issues raised in the discussion, allowing us to learn from each other's unique journeys.”
“Good content, nice conversations, interesting people of diverse backgrounds. Most inspiring event!”
“The Meetup was great fun - such a good and insightful event, amazing women and strong energy in the room. Made some great new connections. Very happy and proud to be part of this. THANK YOU for creating this space and network.”
“Was a great event, with amazing attendees, I got so many great insights from our conversations.”
“Very interesting exchange between leading ladies in the industry. Common experiences, solutions, bias, changes, traditions, family, careers, management and what that means for the next generations.”
“The attendees were incredibly interesting women, it was great to connect via workshop discussions. The feeling of belonging was a key for me.”
“I liked the workshop. The conversations were good. It was good for me to hear woman talk about the problems and how they handle it. Also just meeting woman in the industry.”
“I am delighted that such an initiative has been created and thank you for the invitation. It is a great opportunity to expand one's network, to be inspired and empowered, and to discuss issues that are important but often ignored because we are "used to" certain things. I look forward to future WiSEu events!”
OUR PARTNERS
Ecosystem Partners
WiSEu Partners
Talent Partners
Allies & Collaborators
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WOMEN IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY
REPRESENTATION
SOLAR WORKFORCE
%
STEM POSITIONS
%
MANAGERIAL ROLES
%
SENIOR MANAGERS
%
IN THE news
‘Are there enough women in the room?’
PV Magazine, August 16, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Darina Merdassi, the CEO of energy group Decci. She says that, although she entered the energy sector many years ago, she is still one of the very few women on speaking panels, with the "situation not being much better in the audience."
‘It is crucial for our industry to take proactive steps to engage and empower young girls from an early age’
PV Magazine, August 9, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Paula Santolaria Martín, Senior Business Analyst at Schneider Electric. She says diverse teams not only enhance decision-making processes but also cultivate a sense of belonging and unity. “Embracing these two factors is not just a must nowadays, but it also fuels and lightens our ability to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry like Solar PV globally,” she stated. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/08/09/it-is-crucial-for-our-industry-to-take-proactive-steps-to-engage-and-empower-young-girls-from-an-early-age/
‘I was hired while on maternity leave’
PV Magazine, August 2, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Valentina Scaglione, Asset Management Director at Econergy Group. She says Companies should recognize and accommodate the specific needs of women, such as flexible work arrangements. "Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was already working flexibly from home and the office, which positively impacted my well-being," she states.
‘Being a woman in solar is about more than creating your own career’
PV Magazine, July 26, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Soledad Andrade, Business Development and Operations Specialist at Spain's Youdera. She says, in its early days, she was often the only woman in meetings or on-site visits, making it harder to prove her value. However, as more women join the sector, it has become a more comfortable and supportive environment for development and growth.
'Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for attracting more women to executive positions'
PV MagazineJuly 19, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Camille Zimmermann, Investment Director at France-based equity firm Omnes. She says that, when there are women at the helm of companies, it seems there is no problem in finding other talented women to join the ranks of their organizations.
‘Early in my career, I had the tendency to behave and perform like a man’
PV Magazine, July 12, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Mary Riccio-Kjærgaard, CEO and owner of Danish PV installer Risskov Teknik & Solar Aps. She explains how the idea of leadership is still being negatively influenced by cultural stereotypes and says women can accomplish more and go further by simply being “female leaders.”