Women

In association with MENASOL 2013, CSP Today and PV Insider have announced they will host this year’s Women’s Solar Seminar in Dubai, with leading speakers including Mona Ghalayini – Chairman Founder of Arab Society for Environmental and Sustainable Development and Lori Atwater – Senior Project Engineer at SolarReserve.

After the success of Women’s Solar Seminar 2012, this year’s event will take place on May 13that the Regency Hyatt Dubai Hotel. This will take place 1 day before MENASOL 2013 the region’s leading utility scale solar conference and exhibition. This has been an exciting time for solar in the Middle East with the recent inauguration of Shams 1 plant earlier this month, and K.A. CARE’s announcement of 41GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar PV projects by 2032, 25GW and 16GW respectively. Across the region many projects are in planning and development stages.

However where are the women in this dynamic Industry movement? Are their opportunities available? What initiatives or programmes have been put in place for women to follow a career in the renewables industry?

These are the issues being tackled and debated at the Women Solar Seminar. The recent 100 most powerful Arab women announced in Arabian business, includes inspiring figures that have challenged social and business perceptions of women in the workplace. With many of them working in energy and sustainability they show women can drive industries, economies for the good of their respective countries.

The Women’s Solar Seminar is a forum dedicated for women to network, share experiences and put the seeds in place for the next generation of leading business and professional solar women. With speakers confirmed including Mona Ghalayani – Chairman and Founder of Arab Society of Environment and Sustainability, Jo Rowbotham from Enrst Young, Michelle Davies from Eversheds, and + many more. This provides a great opportunity to listen to their personal experiences on climbing the ladder in the Renewables Industry, what problems they have faced as women and how they overcome today’s business challenges.

Nikita Shree, leading organiser said ‘I am very proud to be able to host the Women’s Solar Seminar for the second year. We have received great support and encourage from both men and women that would like to empower women in the industry. The event will provide a great networking and learning opportunity for senior level executives and aspiring professionals in the energy industry across the Middle East and North Africa. We have made it accessible to everyone with a nominal charge so everyone can join in lively debates, share ideas and benefit from a wealth of knowledge and experience in one room.’

To find out more about the agenda, speakers and other details about the Women’s Solar Seminar 2013, please visit: csptoday.com/menasol/solar-index.php