Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
As the UAE continues to strengthen its position in clean energy and sustainable development, investing in women’s potential is increasingly being recognised as a key part of that transition.
The WiSER Pioneers Programme, founded in 2015 by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize, is a clear example of organisations placing greater emphasis on mentorship, leadership development and professional networking to help more women build careers in energy, sustainability, and climate-related fields.
The year-long programme offers young women aged 25 to 35 access to tailored educational workshops and global networking opportunities with industry experts, aligning with the UAE’s long-term vision of advancing gender equity across renewable energy, the environment, and sustainable development.
Mentorship
For Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar and WiSER Programme Director, mentorship plays a critical role in helping women succeed in sectors that are evolving rapidly.
“Technical expertise alone is not enough to build a successful career in fast-moving sectors such as energy, sustainability and technology, access to experienced leaders, practical guidance and strong professional networks can make a significant difference to how quickly people develop, build confidence and progress into leadership roles,” Fawwaz told Aletihad.
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Since launching its Pioneers Programme, WiSER has supported 183 women from more than 30 nationalities, creating what Fawwaz describes as a global community advancing sustainability across sectors and regions.
She noted that the programme has also delivered more than 565 hours of one-to-one mentorship, helping participants expand their professional networks, strengthen leadership skills and make informed career decisions.
While progress has been made, Fawwaz said women remain underrepresented in senior leadership positions across energy, climate finance, technology, and infrastructure.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), women account for 32% of the global renewable energy workforce but represent only 28% of STEM-related positions and 19% of senior management roles.
She said many of the barriers continue to be structural, including limited access to leadership networks, sponsorship, capital, field experience and high-profile assignments.
“Addressing these challenges requires deliberate action, organisations need to invest in education, leadership development, mentorship and equal access to opportunity. Doing so strengthens not only individual careers but also the quality of leadership and decision-making across the sector,” Fawwaz added.
UAE Champions Women’s Empowerment
Fawwaz believes the UAE has taken a different approach by making women’s participation part of the country’s broader development model, inspired by the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to create opportunities for women to contribute and lead which has been a national priority for decades.
Today, women are contributing across energy, sustainability, technology, innovation and policy in technical, operational and leadership roles, as well as research, entrepreneurship and international engagement, she said.
Fawwaz added that women now make up 70% of university graduates in the UAE, with 46% specialising in STEM fields.
“Within that broader national landscape, WiSER has helped connect women with the knowledge, networks and opportunities needed to contribute and lead,” she said.
Beyond individual achievements, WiSER has convened more than 4,500 leaders from government, industry, and finance, ensuring women's leadership is represented in conversations shaping the future of energy, sustainability and technology, Fawwaz added.
“Looking ahead, our focus is on expanding partnerships, increasing practical learning opportunities and creating more pathways for women to contribute to the sectors that will shape future economic growth,” she noted.
Gaining Sustainability Experience
For Wedad AlMarqoozi, Head of Sustainability at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and a WiSER Pioneer, one of the biggest remaining challenges is representation at senior levels.
“As you move up the leadership ladder, representation can still become less common. When there are fewer women in senior positions, it can be harder to find role models, sponsors and mentors who have navigated similar experiences,” AlMarqoozi told Aletihad.
She added that organisations are increasingly recognising inclusion as essential to success, particularly in the UAE, which was encouraging for her.
AlMarqoozi indicated that one of the biggest measures of success is seeing the growing number of women who are now leading sustainability and clean energy initiatives across the UAE and beyond.
“While there are many individual success stories, the collective impact is even more powerful,” she said.
As a WiSER Pioneer, AlMarqoozi said the programme’s practical exposure to sustainability and climate-related projects has complemented her work in supporting industries as they transition towards net-zero targets.
Lead and Inspire
Salamah AlHajeri, another WiSER Pioneer, Youth Representative and Board Member at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, and Senior Engineer at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, also credits mentorship with accelerating professional development.
AlHajeri said women continue to face limited visibility, unclear career pathways and fewer sponsorship opportunities, despite strong performance.
“Having leaders who advocate for your growth can make the difference in reaching leadership roles,” she told Aletihad, noting that women are now playing a much larger role across engineering, research, policy and leadership.
Reflecting on her own experience, AlHajeri said WiSER strengthened her commitment to contribute at the intersection of energy, sustainability and artificial intelligence.
“Through mentorship, roundtables, conferences and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, I gained the knowledge and exposure, and now I am working to inspire more women to enter these fields,” she added.
