Carolina Novac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, participated in the panel discussion “The Role of Female Leadership in the Energy Transition”, organized as part of the Women in Energy Forum 2026, held under the theme “Accelerating the Green Transition through Leadership and Gender Equality”. The event was organized by Women in Energy Moldova (WEM) and brought together representatives from public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and energy experts.

During the panel, discussions focused on the role of leadership and institutional culture in the sustainable transformation of the energy sector. Participants highlighted the contribution of women leaders to strengthening inclusive governance, developing resilient organizations, and accelerating innovation processes necessary to achieve green transition goals.

In her intervention, Carolina Novac emphasized that including women in the energy sector is not only a matter of equity or representation but a strategic necessity. “The energy sector is not just about engineering skills. It is a complex field that requires expertise in public policy, negotiation, project management, strategic communication, governance, digitalization, and legislative integration,” stated the State Secretary.

In the context of European integration, the volume of legislation that must be transposed, implemented, and monitored is considerable. This process requires multidisciplinary expertise, inter-institutional coordination capacity, and a deep understanding of the EU acquis. Professional and perspective diversity thus becomes a key competitive advantage.

It was also emphasized that a balanced and evidence-based decision-making process is crucial for the sustainable development of the energy sector. The presence of women in leadership positions contributes to more inclusive decisions, greater attention to social impact, and better long-term calibration.

In the context of the green transition and accelerating digitalization, the energy sector faces a growing need for a skilled workforce. Fully leveraging human capital, including through the active involvement of women, is essential to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the energy sector.