One year of Women Driving Change
Reflecting on a year of leadership in energy efficiency
The ETL launched the Women Driving Change series on International Women’s Day in March 2025 last year to shine a light on the women shaping the energy efficiency sector, share their expertise and leadership stories, and make career pathways within the sector more visible. Over the course of the year, the series has featured conversations with women working across policy, manufacturing, design, construction, research and industry leadership. Together, their perspectives show not only the breadth of the sector, but also the value of diverse experience in tackling one of the defining challenges of our time.
Rather than focusing on a single route into energy efficiency, the series explored the many ways women are contributing to change. From senior leadership roles to applied innovation and technical guidance, each interview offered a different lens on what leadership looks like in practice, and why inclusive teams lead to better outcomes.
Charlotte Lee – Setting direction in a changing sector
The series opened with Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK), whose interview set the tone for the series. Charlotte spoke about leading an organisation at a critical moment for decarbonisation, drawing on her experience across policy, certification and retrofit. Her reflections highlighted the importance of representation and long-term thinking as the UK moves towards Net Zero, and her optimism about cultural change within the sector underscored the momentum building behind more inclusive leadership.
Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the HPA UK
Watch the interview with Charlotte Lee on YouTube and read the full article.
Tracy Southwell – Culture, sustainability and organisational change
In the second interview, Tracy Southwell, Former Managing Director of Hobart Equipment Division and current Managing Director of March Foods, brought a manufacturing and foodservice perspective to the series. As the first female Managing Director of a long-established brand, Tracy spoke about leadership within legacy organisations, the role of supportive cultures and the responsibility of industry to clearly signpost opportunities for women. Her insights reinforced the idea that progress is driven not only by individual ambition, but by systems that are designed to enable people to succeed.
Tracy Southwell, Former Managing Director of Hobart Equipment Division
and current Managing Director of March Foods
Watch the interview with Tracy Southwell on YouTube and read the full article.
Emma Brooks – Leading with empathy and resilience
Emma Brooks, Managing Director of Quintex Systems Ltd and Chair of the Foodservice Equipment Association, offered a reflective account of her leadership experiences through challenge and change. From navigating unconscious bias to leading through the uncertainty of the COVID period, Emma spoke candidly about empathy, resilience and learning through iteration. Her interview highlighted how leadership styles are evolving within the sector and how trust and collaboration are central to effective decision-making.
Emma Brooks, Managing Director of Quintex Systems Ltd
and Chair of the Foodservice Equipment Association
Watch the interview with Emma Brooks on YouTube and read the full article.
Kristina Allison – Technical expertise and inclusive decision-making
The conversation with Kristina Allison, Associate Environmental, Sustainability and Net Zero Lighting Capability Lead at WSP and President of the Society of Light and Lighting, brought a strong technical perspective to the series. Kristina reflected on leadership in technical innovation, the importance of standards and guidance, and the role of diversity in improving design and systems thinking. Her focus on mentoring and education emphasises the importance of connecting today’s leadership with the next generation of professionals.
Kristina Allison, Environmental, Sustainability and Net Zero Lighting Capability Lead at WSP /
President of the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL)
Watch the interview with Kristina Allison on YouTube and read the full article.
Caroline Bragg – Policy, research and collaborative leadership
In September, Caroline Bragg, Chief Executive of the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), framed energy efficiency as “the challenge of our time”. Drawing on her experience across policy, research and advisory roles, Caroline spoke about collaboration, evidence-based leadership and the value of working across disciplines. Her interview reinforced the need for diverse perspectives when addressing complex, system-wide challenges and highlighted practical skills and networks that support career development in the sector.
Caroline Bragg, CEO of the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE)
Watch the interview with Caroline Bragg on YouTube and read the full article.
Dr Zainab Dangana – Turning research into real-world impact
The final interview in the series featured Dr Zainab Dangana, Head of Sustainable Technology Services at Wates Group, whose career bridges architecture, research and applied innovation. Dr Zainab spoke about translating research into practical solutions, scaling innovation through collaboration and creating space for others to thrive. Her reflections on visibility and facilitative leadership offered a grounded perspective on how change happens across supply chains and portfolios, not in isolation.
Dr Zainab Dangana, Head of Sustainable Technology Services at Wates Group
Watch the interview with Dr Zainab Dangana on YouTube and read the full article.
More than a moment
Across all six interviews, common themes emerged around collaboration and empathy in decision-making, careers shaped by curiosity and adaptability, and a shared belief that better outcomes are achieved when different perspectives are brought together. Collectively, these conversations show women contributing to the energy efficiency sector in ways that are practical, thoughtful and forward-looking.
As International Women’s Day comes around again, the Women Driving Change series is a reminder that meaningful progress is built over time. Visibility matters, but so do the everyday actions that follow it. Building a more inclusive energy efficiency sector is not a single conversation, but a continuing effort to recognise expertise, open up pathways, and create environments where people feel able to contribute, grow and make a lasting impact.
Further information and resources
To explore the full range of energy efficient technologies featured on the ETL, visit the products page where you can browse equipment by category and identify products that meet independently verified performance criteria.
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If you would like to understand more about how the ETL scheme works, including benefits to manufacturers and purchasers, eligibility criteria and the application process, read our Frequently Asked Questions for clear, practical guidance.