Deep Dive Workshop

Powering the Future: Women, Innovation, and Future Jobs

Wednesday, 10 June 2026 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (GMT+8) Multifunction Hall 5 and 6 Organized by ADB CCGE-CCSD

Overview

Asia and the Pacific is undergoing transformation driven by clean energy transition, technological innovation, digitalization, and growing investments in renewable energy, battery technologies, and climate-resilient infrastructure. These shifts are reshaping labor markets and workforce demands while creating new opportunities across renewable energy, green industries, and evolving critical minerals value chains. However, women remain underrepresented across many technical and leadership areas of the energy sector, while persistent barriers—including unequal access to technical education and skills development, occupational segregation, workplace barriers, unpaid care responsibilities, and restrictive social norms—continue to limit women's participation and advancement in the future energy economy.

At the same time, the transition presents an opportunity to build more inclusive and equitable workforce systems and energy pathways. This Deep Dive Workshop will explore how the clean energy transition and evolving critical minerals landscape are reshaping workforce demands, skills needs, and future opportunities across renewable energy and green industries. Through strategic framing, DMC perspectives, and practical case studies, the session will highlight approaches to strengthen women's skills, leadership, reskilling, and access to future jobs through policies, workforce systems, and innovation pathways.

Agenda

4:00 – 4:05 p.m.

Opening Remarks

Keiko Nowacka, Director, Gender Equality Division (CCGE), ADB
4:05 – 4:15 p.m.

Scene Setting: Gender Equality and the Future of Energy Transition

This scene-setting presentation will provide an overview of how energy transition is reshaping the energy sector and future jobs across Asia and the Pacific. It will highlight persistent gender gaps, emerging opportunities for women in the industries, and practical actions needed.

Emily So, Energy Specialist, ADB
4:15 – 4:25 p.m.

Research Spotlight: Who Is Missing from Energy Policy? Gender Gaps in Asia-Pacific Energy Transitions

This new research highlights the limited integration of gender considerations across energy policies in Asia and the Pacific and underscores why inclusive policy frameworks are essential for building equitable, resilient, and sustainable energy futures.

Elizabeth Kirkwood, Lecturer, University of Sydney (virtual)
4:25 – 5:20 p.m.

Panel Discussion: The Next Energy Workforce: Women, Innovation, and Future Jobs

This moderated discussion will feature DMC case studies on advancing a just energy transition that promotes women's participation in technical and leadership roles. Uzbekistan will present the Ministry of Energy's Gender Strategy 2025–2029 and Action Plan, while the Philippines will share practical experiences, including women-led coal transition initiatives. Panelists will also discuss approaches to strengthen women's skills, leadership, reskilling, and access to future green jobs through inclusive policies and workforce systems. The discussion will be followed by Q&A.

Panelists
Moderator: Jinha Kim, Gender Specialist (Climate Change), ADB

Hershey Dela Cruz, Division Chief/Chief Science Research Specialist, DOE, Philippines

Dikshya Thapa, Senior Manager, ESG, Social Inclusion and Gender, Tetra Tech

Navina Sanchez Ibrahim, Senior Climate Change Specialist (Just Transition), ADB
5:20 – 5:30 p.m.

Closing Reflections: Building an Inclusive Energy Future

Jessica L. Henn, Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development), ADB