Advocacy group Women in Renewable Energy hosted a panel discussion and networking event September 5 aimed at increasing women's participation and leadership in the energy sector. The event sought input on ways to advance women's participation in the energy sector, including in the cleantech industry, and promote female role models in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Keynote speaker Dr. Imogen Coe, Dean of Science at Ryerson University, commented that in countries with developed economies, like Canada, the most important resource and the largest component of wealth is human capital. It’s the biggest driver of growth, she said, and “until we provide full access for that brainpower, we are not taking full advantage of that resource.”
OWA President Paul Norris and Board Chair Heather Ferguson signed on to the Equal by 30 Campaign September 5. At the podium: Ainslee Emerson from NRCan.
At the close of the event Paul Norris, President of the Ontario Waterpower Association, joined some thirty other Canadian and international signatories in signing the Equal by 30 Campaign, in committing to work toward equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women in the clean energy sector by 2030. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) also signed on.
See also the related story on equity initiatives related to the G7 Ministerial meeting in Halifax, elsewhere in this issue of IPPSO FACTO.