Tackling the energy transition – a defining challenge of our time
Red Rocket’s women leaders are helping to shape South Africa’s energy transition and the future of leadership within the sector. Engineering News speaks with Pamela Papapetrou, Investments Director, Red Rocket, about her work, the rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape and the opportunities it presents for women. Camerawork and editing: Miko Moodley.
“When I started my career at Goldman Sachs in New York in 2007, renewable energy was still an emerging asset class, heavily dependent on policy support,” says Pamela Papapetrou, Investments Director responsible for transactions, commercial negotiations and driving projects to financial close at Red Rocket.
“Watching the industry transform first-hand has given me a unique perspective on how far it has come and the opportunities that lie ahead.” Last year Papapetrou helped to close deals that will provide 700 megawatts of clean power in Africa.
While the industry has become far more inclusive, “there’s still progress to be made. What gives me confidence is the growing number of talented women entering fields once overwhelmingly male-dominated. My hope is that the next generation spends less time proving they belong and more time simply leading.”
She believes that diversity is a strategic advantage, with different perspectives leading to “better decisions, stronger innovation and more resilient outcomes.” Although research continues to demonstrate the link between gender diversity and stronger financial performance, “women make up only around a third of the global renewable energy workforce, with significantly lower representation in senior leadership.”
With a career that has spanned work across 20 countries, Papapetrou sees significant opportunities for women. “Few industries offer the combination of long-term growth, international opportunity and genuine purpose that renewable energy does. As the transition accelerates, it is expanding across project development, engineering, finance, trading, policy and ESG — creating multiple entry points and pathways.”
Her advice for the next generation of women entering the industry is to “take the difficult assignment, ask questions, dive deep into the content, understand the challenges and complexities and remember that even the youngest perspective can add value at the table.”
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
AirNox (Pty) Ltd is a level 1 BBBEE manufacturer of complete AdBlue® solutions for operators of SCR diesel engines and AUS40 across South Africa...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Sulzer South Africa, established in 1922, partners with critical industries like power, oil & gas, water, mining, and chemicals to boost...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
