The Energy Leaders’ Coalition comprises sixteen of the leading CEOs from the UK’s energy sector who are making a public declaration to improve gender diversity in their companies and in the sector as a whole. Each recognises that there is a rich pool of talented women in the sector who can make a significant contribution to the growth of their business and to the transformation of the UK’s energy sector to meet the challenges of the coming decades.
Members of the Energy Leaders Coalition (ELC) and the ELC Charter
Louise Kingham CBE, SVP Europe and Head of Country UK, BP
Mark Hartley, Managing Director – Generation, EDF
Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive, Centrica plc
Will Gardiner, CEO, Drax
Miya Paolucci, Country Chair, Engie Group
Alex Grant, UK Country Manager and SVP,Equinox
Cordi O’Hara OBE, President, National Grid Electricity Distribution, National Grid
Craig Shanaghey, Executive President of Projects, Wood
Stuart Payne, Chief Executive, North Sea Transition Authority
Jonathan Brearley, CEO, Ofgem
Each member has signed up to the ELC Charter which can be read here.
Founding members of the ELC:
When the Energy Leaders’ Coalition was formed in 2018, the original 8 members of the initiative also included:
Sinead Lynch, then UK Country Chair at Shell UK
Paul Cowling, then Managing Director of innogy Renewables UK
Matthew Wright, then Managing Director UK, Ørsted
Juliet Davenport, Co-Founder, Good Energy
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion. You can read the ELC’s first report below.
‘Engaging the majority and spotlighting the minority to drive better female representation in UK energy’ Energy Leaders’ Coalition Sixth Annual Report
Report
6 November 2024
In their Sixth Annual Report, published at PfW’s Annual Conference in November 2024, the members of the Energy Leaders’ Coalition set out their progress on improving female representation and workplace culture during the past 12 months. This year’s work by the 14 companies and the two energy regulators has focussed on engaging the majority on the benefits of better diversity, equity and inclusion, and shining a light on women who are having an impact in the energy sector.
With even greater engagement and advocacy from the business leaders on the Coalition, 2024 has seen much more ambitious company targets for female representation at board, leadership and middle management level, more closely aligned to POWERful Women’s 40% by 2030 target, and a renewed commitment to accelerating the pace of change in the context of stalling progress in the sector.
Check out the report for examples of DEI policies and initiatives that are making a positive difference to companies’ gender balance and inclusion; discover where the persistent challenges lie; and find out the ELC’s priorities for the coming year.
‘Investing in the diverse skills, strengths and talent needed for our energy future’Energy Leaders’ Coalition Fifth Annual Report
15 November 2023
In their Fifth Annual Report, published at PfW’s Annual Conference in November 2023, the members of the Energy Leaders’ Coalition set out their progress on improving female representation and workplace culture during the past 12 months. A focus on investing in the diverse skills, strengths and talent needed for the UK’s energy future has seen positive results inside some of the largest energy employers, between them representing nearly two-thirds of the UK energy workforce.
Building on public commitments made last year, 2023 has seen a raft of new and improved company initiatives designed to attract, develop and retain female talent, particularly at middle management level and the ELC continues to offer a safe space for CEOs to share, learn and challenge each other – exploring what works and what doesn’t in an honest way.
Check out the report for a suite of good practice case studies – from new and improved flexible working and family policies and removing bias from recruitment to embedding DEI goals and reporting throughout the business and driving change in the wider supply chain.
‘Achieving a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive energy sector’ Energy Leaders’ Coalition Fourth Anniversary Report
22 November 2022
In the Fourth Annual Report of the Energy Leaders’ Coalition (ELC), launched at PfW’s Annual Conference in November 2022, the UK heads of 16 of the largest energy employers – between them representing nearly three-quarters of the UK energy workforce – publish the progress they are making towards their own and industry targets on gender diversity and inclusion. The report shows that female representation is rising but too slowly and remains particularly poor at executive director level. The Coalition, which also includes the CEOs of Ofgem and the North Sea Transition Authority, pledges to support PfW’s new more ambitious industry-wide target to achieve a gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive industry and sets priorities for 2023. The report also includes inspiring case studies showcasing examples of the workplace policies and initiatives that make the most difference to women and to diversity data.
‘Accelerating gender diversity and inclusion for the Net Zero challenge’ Energy Leaders’ Coalition Third Anniversary Report
30 November 2021
Published 17 days after the end of the COP26 climate talks, ‘Accelerating gender diversity and inclusion for the Net Zero challenge’ is the Third Annual Report of the Energy Leaders’ Coalition, a commitment by the heads of 16 of the UK’s top energy companies to improving gender diversity and inclusion within their own organisations and across the UK energy sector as a whole. The report reviews progress made by the coalition in the past year, including publication of progress each company has made against its own and industry-wide targets on female representation and a pledge to accelerate progress to meet post COP26 and post Covid challenges. The report also features an inspiring set of case studies of diversity and inclusion initiatives that are making a difference.
‘Bringing gender diversity and inclusion commitments to life’ Energy Leaders’ Coalition Second Anniversary Report
1 Oct 2020
Two years on from its establishment, the Energy Leaders’ Coalition – now with 14 members from the leading companies in the UK energy sector – has published its second anniversary report. It reviews progress the companies are making against their targets to improve gender diversity and inclusion within their own organisations and across the energy sector as a whole. It reveals the good work each organisation is doing in case studies that others can learn from. – ‘recipes for inclusion’. And it sets out plans for year three to overcome remaining barriers in a shifting world.
‘Positive Steps Towards Gender Balance’ Energy Leaders’ Coalition First Anniversary Report
16 May 2019
In May 2019, the leaders of eight of the UK’s top energy companies – competitors who between them represent 56,000 employees – came together to address an issue that matters to them: gender balance. Why? Because the energy sector is facing an unprecedented transformation – into a smarter, more flexible, low carbon energy system with new customer expectations – and these business leaders no longer want to miss out on a significant pool of female talent and expertise.
So what has the Energy Leaders’ Coalition achieved in its first year? This anniversary report sets out the research the companies have done over the past 12 months to identify barriers to gender balance and some of the initiatives they are already implementing internally to feed the pipeline of future female energy leaders. It also sets out what their plans are for year two and the positive steps they are committed to taking towards better gender balance.
Read the Press Release of the anniversary report here.
Duncan Clark, Head of Country, UK, Ørsted
“The ELC helps me to understand whatever challenges we see with diversity, inclusion, and gender within Ørsted in a broader context of the energy industry. It represents a safe space where companies can come together to share best practice and learn from one another. Energy has some long-standing imbalances to address. We’re all in this together and in coalition we are able to provide stronger leadership. Our industry and its leadership community must transform. Key success factors are attracting talent and developing effective, high performing teams. Diversity is key to both. It’s a vision that we share with other members of the ELC and we’re more effective driving towards that vision collectively.” Duncan Clark, Head of Country, UK, Ørsted
Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive, Centrica plc
“At Centrica, we’re on a journey to make sure that all colleagues feel welcome and can thrive. We know that by creating a more diverse workforce and a truly open and inclusive working environment that values and leverages the benefits of that diversity, we will win as individuals, as a business, as a sector, and as a society. It’s clear more needs to be done to attract, retain and develop women in the energy sector. I’m therefore delighted to join the Energy Leaders’ Coalition, as I passionately believe that we achieve more by working collectively than individually.” Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive, Centrica plc
John Evans, CEO, Subsea 7
“At Subsea7, as a global business where around 50% of our workforce operates offshore, achieving gender balance is significantly more challenging than in onshore environments. Being part of the ELC has provided a unique platform for learning, networking, and challenging each other as CEOs, holding each other accountable. Within Subsea7, we are evolving our approach by sharing best practices and learning from each other’s experiences, both from our leaders within Subsea7 and the ELC. This supports our goals of creating an inclusive environment and increasing female representation in our leadership positions, both on and offshore. As a member of the PfW ELC I have witnessed firsthand how our combined efforts to address gender balance and inclusion are making a tangible difference to the future of energy in the UK.”
Michael Lewis, CEO of EON UK
“At E.ON, we believe our people are crucial for the future success of our business and critical to achieving our UK purpose of leading the energy transition. I’m proud of the work being done across E.ON to improve the diversity of our workforce and pledge my personal commitment to making sure that we continue to create a culture where everyone’s welcome, can be themselves and achieve their full potential. Joining the Coalition helps us to challenge ourselves to keep improving and working towards our goal of achieving gender diversity at all levels.’’
Simon Oscroft, CEO, So Energy
“Being on the ELC has provided me an opportunity to hear a wide range of approaches on how we can tackle our industry’s biggest challenges. Hearing from others about what has and hasn’t worked in their business has been tremendously helpful in creating our own policies aligned to creating a more inclusive workplace. It’s fulfilling to work as a team to drive positive change within the sector, putting into practice our belief that diverse perspectives bring better solutions to our mission of a greener future.”
Alistair Phillips-Davies, CEO, SSE Plc
“I have had the privilege of chairing this year’s ELC and have learnt directly from the external thought leaders about the practical efforts we, as CEOs, can take. The need for better gender balance at SSE has never been in question, however this year’s ELC leaves me better informed and able to take action on what that practically requires from me and my senior leadership team in the everyday.”
Craig Shanaghey, Executive President of Projects, Wood
“At Wood, our commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion throughout our organisation remains unwavering. As a visible and inclusive leadership team, we recognise that having a workforce reflective of the local communities we serve is essential, not optional. I am grateful for the opportunity to share learnings and challenges with peers on the Energy Leaders’ Coalition as we collaboratively shape the future.”
Louise Kingham, UK Country VP, bp
“At bp, we see DE&I as a business imperative as well as the right thing to do. We are determined to maintain our focus on DE&I and nurture inclusive, representative workplaces as we navigate our business through the energy transition. Being part of the Energy Leaders’ Coalition gives us the opportunity to share best practice, collaborate with and learn from other organisations on similar journeys.”
Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax
“The ELC allows me to work collaboratively with senior leaders in other organisations to drive positive change within the energy sector. The regular meetings have challenged my thinking on the issues facing DEI, including how we engage men in equity as well as continuing to recognise women. We have had some great discussions that have led to actions that benefit everyone. In our sector, it’s important to take the time to celebrate and recognise women in all walks of life and acknowledge where we need to improve. Our ELC commitments inform our practices and processes, to ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to be successful in their work and to have equal access to opportunities and growth – personally and professionally. I’m proud of the steps we’re taking for all colleagues at Drax.”
Miya Paolucci, UK Country Manager and VP Member GEMS Executive Committee, ENGIE
“The ELC serves as an excellent platform for generating insightful ideas and practical strategies to drive change within our organisation and across the industry. It is a supportive peer network that fosters collective engagement to achieve gender parity. Leadership commitment is key to lead the transformation at pace! When leaders of large organisations publicly commit to gender parity, it raises awareness on the need to attract and develop top female talents to address the many complex and thrilling challenges our industry is facing.”
Cordi O’Hara OBE, President, National Grid Ventures, National Grid
“Being part of the ELC provides me with a unique opportunity to use my influence to shine a light on all things DEI. I can showcase the great initiatives National Grid is undertaking, discuss the challenges we are still facing and learn from the best practices of others. Exchanging ideas with other industry leaders helps us all continuously improve our DEI efforts. Leadership commitment and accountability on this issue brings immense positive value to our business. Creating an inclusive culture that embraces diverse perspectives enables us to achieve our energy ambitions more effectively. When more people are involved, we are able to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and make better decisions.”
Juliet Davenport, CEO and Founder, Good Energy
“I’ve seen first-hand in Good Energy that a diverse workforce, and a gender balanced board, make for a better business. Not only that, there’s also evidence that gender diversity could be a part of our switch to a greener future in the energy sector — we know that sustainability focussed businesses tend to be more balanced. That’s why, whilst it’s positive we have seen some progress in women moving into senior positions in energy, it’s absolutely crucial that this change continues to accelerate.”
Keith Anderson, CEO, ScottishPower
“Visible leadership is about listening and learning then applying that to action. That’s why we’ve created our Executive Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a group of senior executives who lead by example championing the importance of diversity across their businesses. We still need to make improvements to reach our aspirations for gender equity but we know that the passion of senior leaders driving the changes required is critical to achieving sustainable improvement in our female representation across our senior and middle management teams.”
Tom Glover, UK Chair, RWE
“I am proud to be a visible leader for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within both RWE and the broader industry. On a personal level being a member of the ELC has offered me a deeper understanding of the topic, impacting how I lead and advocate inclusively and enabling me to make impactful interventions at critical moments. The pragmatic nature of the ELC also means we can drive strategies which make a difference across the sector and in RWE.”
Simone Rossi, CEO, EDF Energy
“The ELC provides a key opportunity to learn from each other. By inviting diverse thinking, we make the best decisions taking positive action to further build inclusion. Leadership commitment demonstrates leaders as learners, with curiosity to learn more and take action. Through strong aligned commitment we can also set ambition and direction to achieve a more equitable and inclusive environment for our people. Together we’re on a journey, but it’s one we’re committed to take.”
Alex Grant, UK Country Manager and SVP, Equinor
“At Equinor, we strive to ensure that all our employees reach their full potential, and we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an industry, we know that we need to do more to ensure that women are better represented, and I am very pleased that we have joined the POWERful Women’s Energy Leaders’ Coalition to help drive this.”
Parminder Kohli, UK Country Chair, Shell UK
“POWERful Women’s ELC is a key driver as we work to achieve gender equality in the Energy Industry. We want to work alongside our peers to create an inclusive environment where women from all backgrounds, and at all stages of their careers, feel that they can thrive in our industry. The ELC allows us to share successes, best practice, and reflect on where we need to focus our future efforts. We all understand the value that diverse and inclusive teams can bring to a company and we remain committed through our own business, and as an ELC member, to continue to drive for gender equality”
“At Cavendish Nuclear we recognise that diverse teams generate better ideas, better decision making and better business outcomes. This is why Cavendish Nuclear has pledged its full support to the Nuclear Sector Deal commitment of 40% of women in the nuclear sector by 2030. As part of this, we are proud to be joining POWERful Women’s Energy Leaders’ Coalition, to work collaboratively to inspire more women to consider a career in the energy sector and in engineering.”
Read the press release of the launch of the Energy Leaders’ Coalitionhere.