The Government of Grenada, through the active participation of Hon. Kerryne James, Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy, and Peron Johnson, Acting Permanent Secretary, reaffirmed its strong commitment to gender-inclusive energy transitions at the Women in Energy Networking Luncheon — a key highlight of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) 2025 held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Held on the margins of the region’s leading energy event, the Women in Energy Networking Luncheon convened female leaders, professionals, and stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to share experiences, forge strategic partnerships, and accelerate action toward a more equitable and resilient energy future for the Caribbean.
Minister James, one of the youngest female ministers in the Caribbean and a champion for climate justice, underscored the critical importance of women’s leadership in the clean energy transition.
“Energy transitions must be inclusive, and we must ensure women are not only participants but leaders and beneficiaries in this journey. Events like these are critical in creating the space for mentorship, strategy sharing, and tangible collaboration,” she stated.
Johnson emphasised Grenada’s integrated approach to embedding gender considerations in national energy policy and climate resilience planning. She highlighted the importance of institutional leadership, access to finance, and targeted capacity-building to support the growth of women-led energy enterprises.
During the event, both Minister James and PS Johnson had engaging discussions with featured speaker Kelly Tomblin, President and CEO of El Paso Electric Company, whose dynamic address highlighted the importance of transformational leadership, courage in decision-making, and the role of women in building purpose-driven organisations. The dialogue explored synergies between corporate leadership and public policy, as well as opportunities for mentorship and knowledge exchange between regional and international women leaders in energy.
Key Takeaways and Collaborative Themes:
- Mentorship and Representation: Participants advocated for structured mentorship and leadership development programmes to support young women in entering and advancing within the energy sector
- Policy Alignment: Gender-responsive policy frameworks were highlighted as a priority for unlocking inclusive participation in national and regional energy initiatives
- Financing and Enterprise Support: Discussions emphasised increasing women’s access to climate and clean energy finance, with support from both public and private sector actors
- Regional Collaboration: Strong support was voiced for the establishment of a Caribbean Women in Energy Network, with Grenada expressing interest in contributing through its Ministry of Climate Resilience
- Capacity Development: A need was identified for greater access to technical training and STEM education for women and girls, especially in project development and clean technology
Minister James and PS Johnson also held productive exchanges with representatives from Caricom, regional development banks, and clean energy firms. Several collaborative opportunities were identified, including technical assistance for mainstreaming gender in energy project design and co-hosting regional knowledge-sharing events.
The Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy remains committed to advancing gender equality in Grenada’s clean energy transition, ensuring that equity and inclusivity are core principles guiding national and regional transformation.
Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy
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