The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program sat down with Aura Andreina Andueza Peña, one of this year’s Participants, to chat about her pathway to renewable energy and issues facing women in the wind sector.
How did you first become interested in renewable energy and joining the clean energy transition?
I had the opportunity to be part of an internship program for one of the largest wind energy producers. This gave me a chance to observe the huge impacts and improvements that clean energy can generate in the multiple geographies where it operates. This experience also allowed me to fully engage with the industry’s commitment to sustainability.
Tell us about your expertise and passion in the sector. For you, what is the next “space to watch” in renewable energy?
Offshore renewable energy generation is, in my opinion, the next “space to watch.” What I am most passionate about is the offshore wind industry’s capacity for reinvention, adaptability, innovation and the huge impact it can make. I find our collective ability as humans to adapt and adjust to the circumstances impressive, but we have a long way ahead to accelerate the energy transition and move forward with the talent transition.
What sort of challenges did you encounter in entering the sector?
Gaining respect and understanding of the business. Coming from a non-STEM background is challenging in this sector, particularly when it comes to knowledge-sharing. It is important to keep in mind that you need to understand the technical basics, even if you don’t have a technical background. This is necessary to be part of the process, and to give your contribution. There are multiple key points that need to be known and understood by all the people involved, no matter what your role in the industry is. We all share the same goal.
If you had to pick one key issue facing women in the wind power sector, what would it be and why?
Gender bias in the social environment is, to me, a key issue we need to work on because that is where networks are built. The gender bias in the social space shapes the way we think and act. Gender challenges should be all treated from the social perspective. Starting from the home, school, and institutional environments, these are all spaces where equality needs to be present. It all starts there, in the way our environments shape our way of thinking.
Finally, what do you hope to achieve as a participant of Women in Wind Global Leadership Program? How will you contribute to the next generation of female leaders in the sector?
I expect to gain awareness about the reality of the women working in the wind industry in emerging markets. I hope this program will provide me with the tools that I need to propose and develop ideas to support gender equality, while also working on our commitment to accelerating the energy transition.
Learn more about Women in Wind’s work to advance gender equality in the wind energy industry here.
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