Shoosmiths sponsors first Women in Renewables event with Renewable NI

On International Women’s Day 2023, Shoosmiths sponsored the first “Women In Renewables” event held by Renewable NI, the voice of Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity industry. 

Belfast energy & infrastructure Partner John Palmer, and senior associate Ruth Forbes, have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Renewable NI and are members of several of its working groups. 

Research shows that events relating to renewable energy tend to typically feature male only speakers and a vast majority of male attendees, leading to many women feeling isolated and out of place. As of 2022, women occupy only 27 percent of board seats and 75 percent of UK energy companies have no women in executive director board roles at all (POWERful Women’s Annual State of the Nation – 07 June 2022). 

It is clear there is a long journey ahead to achieving gender equality within the renewables sector. The “Women in Renewables” event was therefore birthed in order to promote diversity in the renewable energy sector, providing a platform for women to come together and share their experiences in the industry.

The event kicked off with a panel discussion, chaired by Ruth Forbes. The panel consisted of a deliberate all-female line-up, in order to champion and recognise the success and talent of women in the renewables sector. Ruth was joined by Louise Cullen, agriculture and environment correspondent, BBC NI; Tamasin Fraser, UK director at ABO Wind; Niamh Kenny, project director, North Channel Wind and Sara Tinsley, planning and environmental consents manager, Energia Renewables. They discussed a range of topics affecting women in renewables including imposter syndrome, barriers in the industry, and how to encourage diversity in the industry, as well as sharing their own personal stories of career progression to levels of senior management and directorship that can too often be reserved for males in this sector. 

The panel discussion was followed by round-table networking, providing a fantastic opportunity for attendees to openly voice the difficulties they have encountered in being female in this sector, and what we can do as a group to encourage and support one another, and encourage more diversity and positive action to achieve gender equality within our own companies. 

This event showcased a need by the women in renewables sector for such an event to take place in Northern Ireland and was warmly welcomed. . The event quickly sold out upon release and 100 women attended from all areas of the renewable energy sector in Northern Ireland, including planning, engineering, legal, and communication.
Shoosmiths has built up a strong reputation of promoting gender equality and diversity, and our sponsorship of, and participation in events such as these, bolsters our commitment to empowering women to achieve their full potential, particularly in underrepresented sectors.