Episode Details

Women make up around 3% of on-site trades roles in the energy sector.

At the same time, Australia’s energy transition is facing one of the largest workforce challenges in its history.

So what needs to change if the industry is serious about attracting, and keeping, women in energy?

In this episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar brings listeners inside the conversations from the PowerUp International Women’s Day event in Kingaroy, where more than 150 women in high-vis and their allies came together to share their experiences of working across the energy sector.

Joining Wendy are two women helping drive change across the industry:

Mel Street — electrical tradie, founder of Lady Tradies and Rocking Chicks, and co-founder of the PowerUp network.

Dr Liz Beavis — engineer working in asset and risk management in renewables and co-chair of the Clean Energy Council’s Onshore Wind and Utility Scale Solar Directorate.

Together they unpack the real issues raised by women working across regional and site-based energy roles, including:

• Supporting boots-on-the-ground women in energy
  • Why mentoring and leadership pathways matter
  • Practical barriers still affecting women on site
  • Why the energy transition needs to actively welcome women into the workforce
  • What industry leaders, project managers and colleagues can do tomorrow to help balance the scales

At its heart, this conversation comes back to one idea:

The energy transition will require a massive workforce, and the industry cannot afford to overlook half the talent available to it.

If you work in renewables, engagement, land access, community relations or project development in regional Australia, this episode offers practical insight into building a stronger, safer and more inclusive energy sector.

The energy transition isn’t just about infrastructure.  It’s about people.

Produced at our The Podcast Boss podcast studio in Brisbane