South Asia Women in Energy (SAWIE) Annual Leadership Summit 2024

Monday, 16 December 2024 | New Delhi, India

The 3rd Annual Leadership Summit, organized by SAWIE and supported by USAID, brought together an inspiring group of leaders, including senior officials from the Indian and U.S. governments, industry pioneers, and energy experts from across South Asia. This event was a platform to discuss the pivotal role of women in shaping a sustainable energy future.

Inaugural Session

The summit opened with insightful remarks that set the tone for the day:

  • Welcome Remarks: Ms. Nivedita Mehra, Managing Director – India, USISPF
  • Special Address: Ambassador Eric Garcetti, United States Ambassador to India
  • Opening Remarks: Dr. Steven Olive, Mission Director – India and Bhutan, USAID
  • Industry Remarks: Ms. Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-Founder & Chairperson Sustainability, ReNewCorp; Chairperson, SAWIE

This session emphasized the importance of leadership in driving innovation and sustainability in the energy sector.

Session 1: Stories from the Boardroom

Theme: The Critical Role of Mentoring and Sponsorship
Moderator: Mr. Parikshit Luthra, Chief of Bureau, CNBC TV18
Speakers:

  • Ms. Mansi Madan Tripathy, Chairperson – Shell Group of Companies India & Vice President, Shell Lubricants Asia Pacific
  • Ms. Vartika Shukla, Chairman & Managing Director, Engineers India Limited

The discussion highlighted personal experiences and strategies to mentor the next generation of leaders, focusing on the value of sponsorship.

Session 2: Women Leadership in Renewable Energy

Theme: Opportunities and Challenges
Moderator: Ms. Monali Zeya Hazra, Senior Regional Energy Specialist, USAID/India
Speakers:

  • Dr. Tripta Thakur, Director General, NPTI, Ministry of Power
  • Dr. Rachana Garg, Professor, Delhi Technological University
  • Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI
  • Ms. Gauri Jauhar, Executive Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights
  • Ms. Mahua Acharya, Founder & CEO, INTENT

The panel explored the challenges women face in the renewable energy sector and the opportunities for transformative leadership.

Session 3: Creating an Inclusive Workforce for the Future

Moderator: Ms. Namrata Mukherjee, USAID India
Speakers:

  • Ms. Shalini Sarin, Co-Founder, Elektromobilitat
  • Mr. Ashish Aggarwal, Chief Administrative Officer, Cummins India
  • Ms. Ritika Thakur, Chief Commercial Officer, Honeywell India
  • Ms. Chitra Chhabra, Director – Human Resources, Emerson India
  • Ms. Swati Sahai, Director – Government Affairs, GE Vernova
  • Ms. Kiran Gupta, Chief, Tata Power-DDL

This session focused on strategies to create diverse and inclusive workplaces to drive growth and innovation in the energy sector.

Session 4: Financing Women-Led Energy Ventures

Moderator: Ms. Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum
Speakers:

  • Ms. Mehnaz Ansari, Senior Regional Representative, USTDA
  • Ms. Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia, IEEFA
  • Dr. Suranjali Tandon, Associate Professor, NIPFP
  • Ms. Mani Khurana, Senior Energy Specialist, The World Bank

This discussion revolved around financing mechanisms to support women-led energy ventures, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

Session 5: Fireside Conversation on Future of Leadership

Moderator: Mr. Aaron Schubert, Director, USAID India
Speakers:

  • Ms. Tahesha L. Way, Lt. Governor, State of New Jersey, USA
  • Ms. Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-Founder & Chairperson Sustainability, ReNewCorp; Chairperson, SAWIE

The conversation provided leadership insights on resilience, equity, and sustainability.

Closing Remarks

The summit concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Monali Zeya Hazra, reflecting on the insightful discussions and the road ahead for empowering women leaders in energy.

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