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Women light the way for SA’s energy future

31st July 2025

     

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Despite steady progress over the past decade, women remain underrepresented in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, particularly in technical and executive roles. While anecdotal evidence suggests the picture is slowly improving, deep structural challenges remain. According to a 2020 study by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), these challenges often fall into three categories: barriers to entry, barriers to retention, and barriers to advancement.

Yet across the country, women are steadily rewriting this narrative. Mulilo, a leading South African independent power producer (IPP), is at the forefront. With three of its seven C-suite executives being women, Mulilo is making meaningful strides toward gender representation in a traditionally male-dominated sector. Meet the women leading the change.

Irma Pienaar: From quantity surveying to energy leadership 

“I was contacted by a recruiter just as a major capital expansion project in the Cape Town harbour was coming to an end,” recalls Irma Pienaar, now Chief Operating Officer at Mulilo. “Even in the early days, the industry recognised the value of quantity surveying as a skillset.”

Starting her career in supply chain, Pienaar has since worked across quality, project management, and organisational roles within the energy space. However, her path has not been without challenges.

“There are many barriers for females generally, but specific to our sector, it is the shortage of females within STEM. We need more targeted initiatives to promote these fields for females. I also believe that senior female leaders must take a more active role in sponsoring and mentoring women.” She says There is still a pay gap in many organisations in the energy sector, and there’s no requirement to report transparently on it.”

Her advice to aspiring female professionals: “Don’t feel that you need to change yourself to advance in the industry to become more like your male counterparts. You bring tremendous value with your diversity. Don’t trade that for anything.”

Avra Moodley: A legal mind turned energy advocate 

With more than two decades of experience in law, Moodley, General Counsel at Mulilo, didn’t plan to enter the renewable energy sector. “I did not start my career thinking, ‘I'm going to be a renewable energy lawyer.’ It was certainly not a sector which was in existence at the time. My journey was more organic.”

After years in legal advisory and in-house roles, Moodley became increasingly drawn to systemic national challenges. “As I furthered my studies, I became increasingly aware of South Africa's energy crisis and the budding public procurement for renewable energy projects,” she recalls. “As a lawyer, I have always been drawn to complex, systemic problems, and I saw that our energy sector was at the heart of so many issues, including economic instability, access to energy, and the development of national infrastructure.”

While the sector has matured, she says gender hurdles remain persistent. “The energy industry can be very demanding, with long hours and travel to remote sites. This can be particularly challenging for women who are often expected to bear the primary responsibility for caregiving at home.”

Moodley offers this advice: “As a woman, you bring a different perspective to the table. Your emotional intelligence, collaborative spirit, kindness, and attention to detail are assets.”

Seithati Bolipombo: Championing commercial solutions with social impact 

For Seithati Bolipombo, Chief Commercial Officer at Mulilo, the path to renewables was inspired by purpose. “I had an epiphany on my way back from one of my unsuccessful Africa transactions. I had this moment where I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be an ‘architect of Africa’s development by leveraging my skills in finance.”

She was soon headhunted into Scatec’s Sub-Saharan Africa team eventually moving to Mulilo, where she now leads capital raising, commercial strategy, and social impact. But she’s clear-eyed about the sector’s gender dynamics. “There’s pressure to ‘fit the mould’ – be an Engineer, wear chinos, or adopt a persona that doesn’t really reflect who you are,”. She also shares Avra’s views on long hours and the demand on time. She further shares that “Even when women are brought in, being a voice in the room or having a seat at the table without being boxed in because you’re female remains a challenge.”

Still, Bolipombo remains optimistic about the future. “You don’t need to be an Engineer to contribute meaningfully. You can be in banking, insurance, or legal advisory - many disciplines have a role in the renewable energy sector.”

Her advice is resolute. “Believe in yourself. Once you’re in, the best way to learn is through building relationships. So, be curious about people, the industry, forge connections and learn the language of the sector.”

Powering a just and inclusive energy transition

Mulilo is walking the talk. Alongside strong female representation at leadership level, the company’s graduate programme has a 45% female representation, and its Employment Equity & Skills Development Committee actively supports female advancement.

However, lasting transformation requires more than policy - it demands visibility, accountability, and a deliberate shift in organisational culture. As Mulilo demonstrates, the energy sector doesn’t need women to conform to outdated norms. It needs them to lead the charge into a more inclusive, equitable future.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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