Professional Women in Energy Forum

Women in the Energy Sector

The Liquid Fuels Charter is the mother of all Economic Charters in South Africa. It is a sign of progress with regard to increasing the Previously Disadvantaged Individuals' (PDI) representation in the economy.

Because of the political climate in South Africa, following the signing of the empowerment charters, representation of PDI's is increasing. This representation however is limited in senior positions, especially women in the oil and energy sector. For middle management women also remain under-represented in the sector.

The pace at which this situation is being changed is also very slow. Partly because women have not been attracted to make a career in the sector and partly because the culture of organisations in the sector appear to have been such that women have not been encouraged to reach (top) management positions.

Transformation challenges faced by the sector are:

• Employment Equity
• Women's empowerment
• Growth in the HD (Historically Disadvantaged) market and areas
• Economic transformation
• Diversity in the whole value chain

WOESA and women employed in the oil and energy sector

WOESA's aim is to ensure that women are increasingly represented in the sector as entrepreneurs either or as employees at all levels of corporate groups.

Some of the WOESA objectives have been to:

• Building awareness amongst women of the oil, gas and other energy sectors as a business opportunity
• Empowering women to understand the energy sectors through training
• Facilitating and promoting business opportunities for South African women in the sector
• Assisting women to access funding in order to grow their economic stake

It is with the above objectives in mind that WOESA together with the support of the oil and gas companies has embarked on setting up a Professional Women in Energy Forum, for women employed in the sector. The Forum is to ensure that women network with each other to strategise and to facilitate women's empowerment within the sector.

The Forum

The Professional Women Energy Forum focuses on women employed in the oil, gas and other energy sectors.

Initially activities will be held where the majority of formal sector participants are to be found. The Forum will have at least one activity each per year in the following three cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

The topics discussed will be linked to issues women are confronted with in the workplace, which enhances or hinders their progress and empowerment. The Forum will further be supported by a website chat room, which will be organised by the WOESA national office.

The aim of the Forum is to facilitate the following:

• Exploring professional and economic development of women in the sector
• Achieving greater diversity in the value chain (women's participation ensured)
• Meaningful job creation and enhancement for women
• Accelerating women's career paths
• Broadening women's understanding of the sector
• Popularising the concept of Sustainable Economic Empowerment for women

Launch of the Forum on 20 September 2005, Johannesburg

The Professional Women in Energy Forum was launched on Tuesday 20 September 2005 by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy Ms. Lulu Xingwana, at Total in Johannesburg. The theme was:
"Sustainable Economic Empowerment in our lifetime"

Membership Professional Women in Energy Forum

Membership of the Forum is open to every woman professional employed in the oil and other energy sector.

The membership fee to the Professional Women in Energy Forum is R1,000.00 per year.

Benefits to members:

• Knowledge sharing
• Access to skills and expertise
• Sharing of information
• Sharing of skills
• Women's lobby
• Access to investments in the sector
• Exposure to business and investment opportunities

For a membership application form, click here.

Please complete the form and fax it to:
Professional Women in Energy Forum
WOESA
(011 880 7474)

For more information on the Forum Click here.