‘Greater diversity reshapes expectations’: Women in Energy Storage Network on strengthening and empowering an inclusive industry

WinES will host a special session at the Energy Storage Summit 2026 next week in London, ‘Operating at the top – getting to the senior leadership team and beyond,’ at 12:40pm on Wednesday, 25 February. Points of discussion will include pathways to senior leadership, overcoming barriers to progression, building influence and visibility and more.

The committee comprises technical, legal, financial, market and policy experts and professionals including: Louise Dalton of CMS, Sabrina Polito of Constellation, Rosalind Smith-Maxwell at Quinbrook, Nikke Bell at Centrica, Shaniyaa Holness-Mackenzie at Modo Energy and Georgina Morris-Rowbottom from Zenobē.

How would you describe WinES, and what motivated its creation?

WinES is a community built to empower, elevate and connect women across the energy storage sector. We founded it in 2024 because, despite the sector being relatively young and fast-growing, women—especially at senior levels—were still significantly under-represented. We saw incredibly talented women entering the space, developing deep technical and commercial expertise, yet not always being visible, platformed or connected to one another.

Our motivation was simple: to create a space where women can learn from each other, build confidence, gain visibility and ultimately help shape the future of this industry.

WinES now brings together more than 1,600 members, and our mission remains rooted in collaboration, knowledge-sharing and increasing representation.

Are there examples where WinES organisers or members have been surprised by working cultures in energy storage?

Every organisation is different, but we do see contrasts. Many companies are making thoughtful, genuine strides in building inclusive cultures—creating visible pathways for women, encouraging female speakers, and actively engaging with us to diversify panels or fill senior roles. That progress is encouraging.

At the same time, we occasionally hear from women who have felt overlooked, underestimated or excluded—often unintentionally. It reflects the fact that the sector grew quickly, with many companies building teams rapidly without always embedding inclusive practices from day one.

These stories reinforce why WinES matters: they highlight the need for networks that provide support, visibility and opportunities for women to thrive and lead.

What does WinES bring to help rebalance the dynamic when women feel patronised or not treated as equals?

We hear this too, especially from women at earlier stages of their careers. WinES helps counterbalance that dynamic in several ways:

• Confidence-building through community.
• Creating speaking opportunities through our events and training programmes.
• Normalising women’s expertise by showcasing female leaders across technical, commercial and policy fields.

Ultimately, WinES helps women feel seen, valued and empowered to take up space—without apology.

Is WinES about bringing women into the sector or raising the profile of those already here?

It’s both. We want more women to join the sector, and we want those already in it to have clear pathways to visibility and leadership. Our outreach includes:

• Events that highlight female expertise at every career stage.
• Collaboration with industry groups to increase representation.
• Public speaking training in partnership with major conferences.
• Supporting broader initiatives like ReWiRE and the Women’s Energy Network Alliance.

What can you tell us about the community element of WinES?

Community is at the heart of WinES. Energy storage is a young, fast‑moving sector, and people often find themselves navigating it without traditional support structures. WinES fills that gap by creating spaces to connect and collaborate, building a cross‑sector network across development, finance, policy, optimisation, legal and engineering, and by offering a supportive environment for mentorship, advocacy, and career development.

Women progress faster and with greater confidence when surrounded by a strong, empowering community—and that is exactly what WinES provides.

Can initiatives like WinES help other underrepresented groups in the industry?

Yes. While our mission focuses on women, the ripple effects extend far wider. Greater diversity in panels and leadership reshapes industry norms and expectations for everyone.

We hope to do more collaboration with networks supporting other underrepresented demographics. The more we normalise inclusion, the more doors open across the industry.

What’s next for WinES after winning the 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Award?

The award was a wonderful moment for our community—not because WinES needed validation, but because it brought visibility to our mission.

In 2026, we will extend our public speaking training programme, deepen collaboration with major conferences, expand our events programme, build partnerships with companies committed to representation and continue growing a supportive, inclusive community.

The award was a milestone, but the momentum that follows is what truly matters.

Find out more about Women in Energy Storage Network (WinES) from the group’s LinkedIn page.

Additional reporting by Molly Green.

Energy-Storage.news publisher Solar Media is hosting the Energy Storage Summit EU 2026 in London, UK, on 24-25 February 2026 at the InterContinental London – The O2. See the official website for more details, including agenda and speaker lists. Also, ESN Premium users can get a 30% discount.