The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program sat down with Kelly Grace Alcock, one of this year’s Participants, to chat about her pathway to renewable energy and issues facing women in the wind sector.
Kelly is an Environmentalist and Sustainable Development Practitioner located in Cape Town, South Africa. She is currently completing her Postgraduate Diploma as part of her MPhil Sustainable Development degree at Stellenbosch University. Her experience within the Wind Sector covers feasibility for wind and solar project development and permitting for the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). She is employed by Oxfam South Africa as part of the Global Impact Programme focusing on South Africa’s role in international financial institutions, promoting civic space, engagement, addressing issues of accountability, transparency and mainstreaming women’s rights and women’s economic empowerment. She is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
How did you first become interested in renewable energy and joining the clean energy transition?
South Africa experienced load-shedding for the first time in 2007. I started my Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Development at Stellenbosch University in 2008. My interest at the time was around spatial planning in the context of urban sprawl in Cape Town. In 2014, I completed my Honours degree in Environmental Management at the University of South Africa.
At this stage, the “just transition” moving away from coal toward clean energy was a key topic in the environmental space, and much of the coursework was structured around the ‘food-water-energy nexus’. I was fascinated by renewable energy and how the technology could both drive the global climate change agenda and support local economies. I was specifically intrigued by its potential to stimulate employment creation, as well as providing cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable forms of energy. Upon completion of my studies, I was adamant to be ‘part of the global transition’, I knew that this was the sector I wanted to be part of. Thirteen years later, I am still promoting it in my workplace, and I still base all my research on various themes within its value chain.
Tell us about your expertise and passion in the sector. For you, what is the next “space to watch” in renewable energy?
I started my career in wind and solar project development at juwi Renewable Energies, focusing on project administration and environmental permitting for bidding projects as part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). I was employed initially as Programme Manager, and later on focused more on the coordination of the academic conference WindAc Africa. In my current role at Oxfam South Africa as Programme Officer, I focus on influencing International Financial Institutions, such as Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), to invest responsibly and move away from funding coal through transparent, accountable, inclusive, and gender-mainstreamed processes.
We must create a Green Recovery post-pandemic, and this will require restarting South Africa’s economy with a focus on a green economy, with renewable energy playing a major role. This requires greater inclusion of women throughout the value chain. The South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is urging the private sector to establish training and mentorship programmes for women in sectors where critical skills are required. This is a great opportunity to upskill and empower South African women to be a part of a global shift. I am passionate about skills development within the sector and I advocate that these should not be gender-specific.
What sort of challenges did you encounter in entering the sector?
One of the biggest challenges was the level of experience required to apply for a particular role. In addition, not many organisations were offering internships to recent graduates at the time I was entering the sector. I overcame this by contacting developers consistently, until I eventually landed that first interview and then my first role. I started to network at events with industry professionals working for different developers. I proved my motivation to learn to my manager, and he introduced me to the different legs of our work. His mentorship and my willingness to learn aided my growth.
If you had to pick one key issue facing women in the wind power sector, what would it be and why?
The majority of the engineering, operations and construction roles within the sector are held by men. Women lack proper mentorship into these portfolios. Women seldom have platforms where they are able to voice their priorities and concerns in striving for equality. Instead, we need to hold the industry accountable and aim at greater inclusion and more transparency.
Finally, what have you achieved 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 have broadened my horizons through the program and joined dynamic and empowering conversations. The program equipped me with the necessary tools to overcome many of the challenges that we as women are faced with in the wind industry. I would like to take what I have learned from this year’s participants and mentors, and share the learnings with other women in South Africa who do not have access to this information. I would like to build and widen my network both nationally and Internationally, to further establish my passion and career, and to create spaces where women feel included with equal opportunities where their rights are protected. I would like to gain the necessary knowledge and tools to start my own business within the sector.
Applications for the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program 2021 are now open! Find out more about the Program and apply here.
The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program is delighted to announce a significant expansion for this year’s scheme. In a historic first for the program, applications will now be welcomed from three more emerging markets for wind
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