Women's Solar Seminar 2013 Dubai

Women’s Solar Seminar 2013
www.csptoday.com/menasol/wss
Meet, Learn & Empower Women
14.00 – 18.30, Hyatt Regency Dubai Hotel | May 13th 2013, Dubai, UAE
In association with MENASOL 2013, we are happy to announce Women’s
Solar Seminar 2013. This year’s Women's Solar Seminar, will provide a
great networking and learning opportunity for senior level executives and
aspiring professionals in the energy industry across the Middle East and
North Africa. You will be able to join in lively debates, share ideas, discuss
today’s business challenges and hear from inspirational women who have
led the renewable energy revolution.
With solar developments and initiatives increasing across the Middle East
and North Africa, there is a great opportunity for women to drive the solar
economies in the region and develop a career in the growing solar industry.
Whether you’re an energy professional or you are aspiring to
break into the industry the Women’s Solar Seminar will provide
with:
• Real life case studies of projects in the region so that get the
inside track on successful CSP and PV plants currently in
operation!
• Technology 101 where you will learn from the leading solar
companies about the innovations, costs and performance
across all solar technologies
• Network with senior level women business leaders who
have established successful energy businesses in the region
and hear how they have overcome today’s business
SUPPORTERS
RESEARCHED & ORGANIZED BY:

Hello Solar friends & colleagues,
My name is Nikita Shree, the Conference Director of the Women’s Solar Seminar 2013, researched
and organised by CSP Today & PV insider.
With the help of 12 very influential, passionate and successful individuals, we will come together
and create a forum for women to meet, guide and empower one another in the solar industry. It is
a very exciting time for renewables and technology in the Middle East & North Africa. But if we
look at the ratio of men to women in these industries, results are shocking.
Women have skillsets that are invaluable for the solar industry to evolve and find more ways to
develop sustainable business models. This event will not only present the opportunities available
to women but how to overcome the issues and challenges women are facing to become success-
ful in any industry.
Time is of the essence! I hope you can join me on May 13th at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Hotel, 1 day
before MENASOL 2013 begins.. And help shrink this gender gap!
At the Women’s Solar Seminar, men and women who are in high level positions will share their
experiences, solar expertise and debate how more women can climb up the career ladder.
You will have a rare opportunity to network with solar and energy experts. In this pack you will
see speakers Merette Elsayed (Carillion Energy), Raed Bkayrat (KUSTAR), Michelle Davies
(Eversheds LLP) and Maha Shirah (SASIA), have answered a few questions in line with their
planned discussions, to give you a preview of what to expect at the Women’s Solar Seminar 2013.
I feel honoured to be able to host a conference with so many high level profile speakers and I
would like to take this time to thank them all for their cooperation as these people are truly
inspirational.
I hope you too get to take part in this exciting event. In order to guarantee a seat at this exciting
event book your ticket today to avoid disappointment.
See you in Dubai!
Best Wishes
Nikita Shree
Conference Director
CSP Today/PV Insider
nikita@csptoday.com
PS. Please do share the information about this great event with your interested friends and
colleagues!

SUPPORTERS
Reserve your seat today - www.csptoday.com/menasol/wss
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
14.00 Introduction to Women in Solar in the Middle East & North Africa
Chair: Lori Atwater, Managing Director, Techni Service Company
Heidi Hafes, Managing Director, CSP Today/ PV Insider
14:15 Leadership and Opportunities for Economic Empowerment of Women
• What does it take to break through the glass ceiling to Chief Executive?
• Why is renewable energy a good choice for a professional woman today and how can the industry
inspire more women to participate?
• Interactive Session – Join a debate and hear real life experiences of how women are overcoming
today’s business challenges and successfully establishing themselves as renewable energy leaders
Speakers: Katarina Uherova Hasbani - Energy Policy Expert
Merette Elsayed - Director, Carillion Energy Mena
15.00 Overview of Solar Developments in the Middle East & North Africa
• Take a look at the evolution of solar in MENA and get behind the press releases to uncover what real
progress has been made
• Which solar milestones have triggered change in MENA? Debate the impact of solar successes and
failures on the future growth of the sector and get the inside track on where and when doors are
open for new projects
• See examples of women participating in leadership roles and how they have promoted the solar
economy and education across the MENA region
Speakers: Heidi Hafes - Managing Director, CSP Today/PV Insider
Maha Shirah - Marketing Manager, SASIA
15.30 Networking Coffee Break
16:00 Bird's Eye View of Solar Technologies – Overcoming Technical Challenges
• What are Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic (PV) solar
technologies and what benefits does each technology offer?
• How is manufacturing different among the three technologies?
• How can storage technologies compensate for the inherent intermittence of solar power?
• What skills must women possess to participate in the ever changing technological landscape?
Speakers: Lori Atwater - Owner, Techni Service Compnay
Raed Bkayrat - Head of Technology & Advancement Group, KAUST
Dr Saghar Khodabakhsh - Associate, White & Case LLP
16:45 Empowerment of Women in Science and Technology
• Understand global changes shaping the future of young women working in science and technology
• Hear how professional women in the solar industry can encourage greater participation from the
next generation of engineers, investors and business women
• Learn about the climate for collaboration among women and what steps need to be taken across
education and policy to develop a strong workforce
Speakers: Aicha Adamou - Expert Consultant, Algeria, Dr Lorraine Charles - Lecturer, KUSTAR
Mona Ghalayani - Chairman/Founder, ASEND
17:30 How to Promote your Business and Attract Talent
• Find out how women can position their skills and experience in a male dominated industry and
develop their careers up to CEO and board level
• Learn about the programmes, initiatives and resources that women can take advantage of to
enhance their learning and career development in the MENA region?
• Discover how to develop and attract a skilled women workforce in the solar industry – set your
business apart by developing a recruitment strategy to inspire more women to work in this growing
industry
Speakers: Michelle Davies - Head of Clean Energy & Sustainability, Eversheds LLP
Anieszka Klich Partner, Chad-bourne & Parke
18:00 Interactive Roundtables and Q&A
• Open Q&A discussion between emerging and seasoned industry professionals that will examine the
next steps to advance women and the solar industry in the MENA region
18:30 Networking & End of Women's Solar Seminar

SUPPORTERS
In the leadup to the Women’s Solar Seminar 2013, a selection of our guest speakers
have shared their thoughts on the issues, opportunities and future outlook
regarding the solar industry in the Middle East & North Africa, as well as presented
ideas on how women can prosper and succeed in the booming renewable energy
industry.
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
Leadership & Opportunities for Economic Empowerment of
Women
First we begin with Merette Elsayed,
the Director of Carillion Energy Services
in the MENA region. Carillion is a FTSE
250 company and is the UK’s largest
independent energy services provider,
and has installed over 25 MW of solar
energy in the UK over the years
What does it take to break
through the glass ceiling to
Chief Executive (CE)?
More and more companies are becom-
ing conscious of the distorted ratio of
men to women when it comes to
leadership positions and are keen to
change this. This is certainly something
women should take advantage of.
Women should also use the fact that
most people are out of their comfort
zone when dealing with a strong
woman and often that can be used as a
tool to achieve your objectives. It does
take more than just the right circum-
stances in order for any person,
irrespective of gender, to become a
Chief Executive. He or she must have
certain qualities such as ability to
achieve and apply sound intellectual
business and commercial skills,
presence, communication skills, plus
the ability to deliver through others in
terms of harnessing performance
through teams and above all conﬁ-
dence. If a woman does not believe she
belongs in a position or that she does
not have what it takes to be a CE then
nobody else will believe it either.
Why is renewable energy a
good choice for a professional
woman today and how can the
industry inspire more women to
participate?
Personally I have been working the
majority of my career within the
construction industry which is a male
dominated environment, this domina-
tion partly stems from tradition. The
beauty of the renewable energy
industry however, is that it is still in its
infancy and the nature of the industry is
still shaping. Timing is ideal and there is
a great opportunity for women to help
inﬂuence the culture of this sector and
ensure that it does not become a
replica of the male dominated
construction industry. These are very
exciting times, the world is going
through a transition phase in sources of
energy which will impact the environ-
ment and certainly politics for years to
come, women must be an active part of
this amazing change and only women
can make that happen.
Merette Elsayed
Director
Carillion Energy Services MENA

SUPPORTERS
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
Attracting Talent & Promoting Your Business
Michelle Davies, Head of Clean Energy &
Sustain ability at Eversheds LLP, listed as “a
leader in renewables” by The Lawyer Hot
100 Lawyers 2012 and was recently named
as being one of the top 100 people in
global wind power by A Word About Wind,
will be discussing ways in which Women
can promote and attract talent at the
upcoming Women’s Solar Seminar. CSP
Today asked Michelle the following
questions;
How to develop and attract a
skilled female workforce in the
solar industry?
I am not sure you need to do much more
than make women aware that:
1. You are an employer which doesn't
discriminate;
2. You provide and encourage a work
environment which supports and
motivates all employees and that
women are very much a part of this;
3. You reward men and women
equally; and
4. You have some good examples of
women at all levels (and
importantly senior levels) to
demonstrate points 1 to 3.
It is important that employers not only
implement this in practice but also that they
let people know. My firm has a high
percentage of women at all levels in the
business. Our FD for example is a women
and some of the highest earning partners
are women. The Financial Times recognised
us as being one of the Top 50 best places to
work for women.
Supporting women and having women
play a key role in our Firm's strategy is in
Eversheds' DNA. But not because we see
women as being particularly special. It is
because we treat men and women equally.
How can women position their
skills and experience in a male
dominated industry and
develop their careers up to CEO
and board level?
I am not sure that women need to do more
than do the job they have been employed
to do exceptionally well and to be as much
as possible team player as possible.
I have noticed three areas where women
do not excel as much as their male
colleagues. These are as follows:
Internal networking Women often do not
understand the need to cast a wide net
across the whole business and make helpful
contacts.
Finding a way to let those who are making
decisions about your future know about
your successes but in a way that does not
appear self promotional and finally
standing up for yourself but in a non
aggressive and non emotional way.
Men and women are different. This is what
makes the work environment interesting. It
should not be seen as a difficulty or a
challenge but as an advantage. For
example, on the whole, and I appreciate
that this is a general statement, women are
more emotional than men. This can be
problematic because at times in business it
is important to take the emotion out but it
can also be hugely beneficial.
Emotional intelligence is in my view a
prerequisite to sensitivity which in turn is
necessary for perception. Having a good
sense of how people feel, are motivated
and are demotivated is a valuable asset
both internally with employees and
externally with customers.
For women to succeed, it is helpful to
understand these differences and use them
for the benefit of the business as a whole.
Michelle Davies
Head of Clean Energy & Sustainbility
Eversheds LLP

SUPPORTERS
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
Solar Technology in the MENA region
Set to discuss the solar technologies, Head
of Technology Application and
Advancement group for King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology, we
asked Raed Bkayarat the following
questions:
Which solar technology is most
suited to the energy market &
conditions in Saudi Arabia?
The question is not which technologies
work better than others but more so which
technologies work best in certain locations
in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a vast
country with varied climates from dry and
extremely hot to hot and humid and there
in between. Some technologies require
direct solar irradiation (DNI) like CPV or CSP
and hence are better suited to the north
west region of Saudi Arabia or on the west
coast. Photovoltaic technologies (PV) suffice
with Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) and
hence work on either side of the country. In
extremely hot climates, its better to use PV
technologies that have a lower
temperature coefficient and less
degradation with heat.
There are several factors affecting a solar
technology performance and its a matter of
choosing the better technology for a
specific location
What are the main issues and
implications of implementing
solar power in Saudi Arabia?
There are several issues that represent a
challenge for large scale solar deployment;
man power development is the first issue,
especially developing local manpower that
can sustain the project in an efficiency
manner. Secondly, handling environmental
issues like dust and temperature is the
second issue, there are several technologies
and mechanisms developed already or in
development that can mitigate these
issues. Thirdly, a clear support and
implementation mechanism from the
government to incentive and support the
private sector go localize and build a viable
solar economy in Saudi Arabia
Raed Bkayrat
Head of Technology Application
& Advancement Group
King Abdullah University of Science
& Technology

SUPPORTERS
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
Solar in Saudi
Maha Shirah, Marketing Manager for Saudi
Arabia Solar Industries Association shares
her thoughts on women’s status in the
Saudi Arabian region and discusses whether
CSP and PV will be best for Saudi Arabia.
From a females perspective
please share the opportunities
and issues for women to
prosper in the Saudi Arabia Solar
Market?
Saudi Arabia is going through a lot of
changes and infrastructure developments
and as everyone knows that one of its plans
is generating at least third of its electricity
power via solar industry by 2030. A new
market and great opportunities await those
who specialize in this industry, however,
not many Saudi men, not to mention even
fewer Saudi women work or have
experience in such a field. This is down to a
lack of specialized proper educational
institutes in Solar industry, in Saudi Arabia
specifically and MENA region generally.
Even though we have good engineering
schools, none accept women or have a
female section. Only recently, the King
Abdulaziz University in Jeddah announced it
is accepting females in both the electrical &
industrial engineering departments (late
step in my opinion). Lastly and more
honestly, not many Saudi women have a
lack interest working in the land fields as
engineers or technicians, but this may
change with time and great compensations.
In your view, will Saudi Arabia
be primarily a PV or a CSP
market? Which suits the market
more?
Both PV and CSP will have a market in Saudi.
Most likely PV will be used on more
installations since CSP is better suited for
large scale installation. Overall power mix
in KSA from PV vs CSP will be decided over
time. Both technologies have good
opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The K.A.CARE
white paper proposes mix of PV and CSP.
Success of early pilot projects in KSA will
determine the future renewable energy
mix in the KSA.
Maha Shirah
Marketing Manager
SASIA

SUPPORTERS
Learn from the energy and solar experts and overcome business challenges
You will hear from and meet with senior level executives leading the way in the
energy industry, with a mix of international experience and invaluable local
expertise. But not only this, we have also guaranteed only the very best speakers to
take to the stage and present analyse, debate, deliver and discuss your biggest
challenges.
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
Women’s Solar Seminar Moderators 2013
Women’s Solar Seminar Speaker Line-up 2013
Heidi Hafes
Managing Director
Aicha Adamou
Expert Consultant
Union of Professional Renewable energy, Algeria
Presentation: The woman, a full partner in the ﬁeld of renewable
energy in the MENA Region. Issues, challenges and prospects
Anieszka Klich
Partner
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Katarina Uherova Hasbani
Energy Policy Expert
Presentation: Leadership & Opportunities for Economic
Empowerment of Women
Dr Lorraine Charles
University lecturer
Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research (KUSTAR)
Presentation: Empowerment of Women in Science and Technology
Lori Atwater
Director
Techni Service Company
Presentation: Bird's Eye View of Solar Technology

SUPPORTERS
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:
Women’s Solar Seminar Speaker Line-up 2013
Maha Shirah
Marketing Manager
SASIA
Presentation: Overview of Solar Developments in Saudi Arabia
Merette Elsayed
Director
Carillion Energy Services MENA
Presentation: Leadership & Opportunities for Economic
Empowerment of Women
Raed Bkayrat
Head of Technology Application and Advancement Group
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Presentation: Bird's Eye View of Solar Technologies
Dr Saghar Khodabakhsh
Associate
White & Case LLP
Presentation : Bird’s Eye View of Solar Technology
Michelle Davies
Head of Clean Energy and Sustainability
Eversheds
Presentation: How to promote your business and attract talent
Mona Ghalayani
Chairman/Founder
Arab Society for Environment and Sustainable Development
Presentation: Empowerment of Women in Science and Technology
• Access to full conference & networking area during the
conference
• Access to the pdf presentations 2 weeks after the event
• Access to delegate list of all attendees at Women’s Solar
Seminar 2013
• Access to refreshments on arrival and during the event
Pass Type
Register today to secure your place!
Price
€30

SUPPORTERS
• Meet solar business leaders: Interact with CEO’s , government, associations &
solar professionals in the renewables and technology industry. Women’s Solar
Seminar 2013 will give you the opportunity to discuss, share and receive
guidance to help you achieve your professional goals
• Only solar seminar in the MENA region: Focusing on ways to empower women in
the renewables industry . You will be part of an established networking and
learning hub to meet and discuss opportunities available to women within the
renewable industry.
• MENASOL 2013: For as little as 30 euros, not only will you be able to attend
Women’s Solar Seminar 2013 but discount is available for those also looking to
attend the MENASOL 2013 conference. Book your tickets today, as limited seats
are available.
ALSO...
All women attendees will be given a discounted pass to attend the MENASOL 2013
– the 2 day solar conference and exhibition that will focus on how to ‘’Get robust
market entry strategies to grow your MENA solar business and develop a lucrative
pipeline’’ which will also take place at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Hotel,14th May -
15th May.
For more information on MENASOL 2013 speakers, agenda and event overview
download the brochure here
I look forward to meeting you all in Dubai!
Nikita Shree
Conference Director
+44 (0) 20 7375 7215
US toll free: 1800 814 3459 ex 7215
nikita@csptoday.com
RESEARCHED &
ORGANIZED BY:3 Great reasons to attend the Women’s Solar Seminar?
Monday 13th May 2013 1
4.00 – 18.30
Hyatt Regency Dubai Hotel Dubai,
UAE

Women's Solar Seminar 2013 Dubai

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