LNG production company Atlantic in collaboration with the producers of the Communicating for Influence – Leadership Series, Virtual Business Services and SXD Leadership Communications, hosted the first Women in Energy Breakfast event yesterday (July 13) at the Brix Hotel.
The event, featuring guest speaker and ESG expert, Ms. Rosalind Kainyah MBE was designed to bring together female leaders of the industry to network while sharing an international perspective and engaging in robust discussions on critical issues affecting the sector locally and regionally. It also served to honour the service of Ms. Arlene Chow, who recently retired, after serving as the first woman in Trinidad and Tobago to lead a state-owned energy company.
Ms. Kainyah MBE has a background in environmental law and over thirty years of international experience across not only the energy sector but also private equity, financial services, and manufacturing. Speaking at the event, she described her mission as “simplifying sustainability for businesses.” While sharing anecdotes from her career, Ms. Kainyah stressed that “sustainability initiatives must be tied to an organization’s core business to ensure longevity and impact”. She also encouraged the female leaders in attendance to think globally, while asking themselves how they too can make a difference and in so doing pave the way for other women.
Atlantic’s VP of Corporate Operations and Transformation, Mrs. Toni Sirju-Ramnarine in her opening remarks highlighted the progress that continues to be made within the sector, while underscoring the need for women to celebrate each other saying, “This is ultimately why we created this event; because we saw the need for a space, a forum if you will, where women within the sector have an opportunity to get to know each other a bit better, and share their perspectives on the work they do every day to drive both this sector and Trinidad and Tobago forward.”
Honouree, Ms. Arlene Chow ended the event by speaking candidly of her own career and emphasised the need for the leaders present to “Respect everyone, work hard, have integrity and discipline and never feel sorry for themselves.” In reciting from memory, the Langston Hughes poem ‘Dreams’, she reminded those in attendance to never give up on their dreams, “For when dreams go, Life is a barren field, Frozen with snow.”
Attendees at the event included Ms Penelope Bradshaw-Niles – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs alongside female leaders in a variety of roles from Human Resources to Business Management, Operations and Maintenance, Law, and Corporate Social Responsibility from the major players within the local energy sector. Point Fortin Mayor, Ms. Saleema McCree-Thomas, and Borough CEO, Ms. Donnamay Taylor were also present.