Although women make up half of the world’s workforce, they hold less than one-third of the jobs in renewable energy and only 14% of senior management positions in the sector overall. Well-paying jobs in this sector are expected to triple by 2050, with 29 million clean energy jobs worldwide[1]. Given the economic and development opportunities in the clean energy sector, it is imperative to address the gender gap to ensure that women are not left behind in the clean energy transition.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Enhancing Equality in Energy for Southeast Asia (E4SEA) Activity, in partnership with Thammasat University, launched the first-ever Regional Energy Internship Program for Southeast Asia in November 2022. The program increases career opportunities for women in the male-dominated energy sector across by offering internships to students from tertiary-level partner educational institutions in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

In order to expand gender-inclusive energy internship opportunities in Southeast Asia’s clean energy sector, E4SEA is evaluating the impact of the Regional Energy Internship Program so that donors, energy companies, and tertiary education institutions can better design future programs to meet the need of this region’s transitioning energy sector.

To build capacity for future internship programs, E4SEA will organize a knowledge exchange with interns, their energy sector employers, along with other stakeholders. The event will highlight experiences from the E4SEA Regional Energy Internship Program and discuss key insights for increased gender equality through cooperation between tertiary-level educational institutions and energy sector employers.

• Associate Professor Dr. Surat Teerakapibal, Vice Rector for Administration (Tha Prachan) and International Affairs
• Aaron Brownell, Office Director, USAID/RDMA REO
• Rashane Sala-Ngarm, Project Management Specialist, USAID/RDMA
• Lois Varrick, Acting Chief of Party, USAID E4SEA and Chief Executive Officer, CORE International, Inc
  
• Vinod Shrivastava, Lead Advisor, USAID E4SEA
• Student Interns of the E4SEA Regional Energy Internship Program
• Thanisak Jirasirilak, Vice President – Head of Talent Acquisition, B. Grimm Power 
• Gary Tongco, Manager-Competency Development and Assessment, EDC 
• Komkrit Tantravanich,Secretary General,ERC (TBC)
• First Gen 
• Cahyana Eka Putra, Head of Human Capital Division,Geo Dipa 
• Anna Restu Wardhani Knowledge Management & Learning Infrastructure, Pertamina, Indonesia
• Thiraphat Titisottikul, CEO, OneCharge Solutions 
• M. Alkadri Perdana, Head Of International Office, Politeknik Negeri Bengkalis (POLBENG)
• Dr. Eng. Ir. Suryantini, M.Sc., Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Supatra Davison, Prince of Songkla University 
• Nattharinan (Jajar) Trakunkritsin, Project Manager, E4SEA Regional Energy Internship Program, Thammasat University
• Tatthana Swatdiwetin, Office of International Affairs, Thammasat University
  
• Prae Piromya, Deputy Chief of Party, USAID E4SEA
  
• Narin Jeenchuem, Senior Communications and Outreach Specialist, USAID E4SEA