Atlantic Council announces the fourth cohort of the Women Leaders in Energy and Climate Fellowship

The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center recently announced the selection of its fourth class of fellows for its Women Leaders in Energy and Climate Fellowship, which saw Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan be named as the first woman from the GCC to be part of the cohort. The fellowship is a one-year, nonresident program for early- to mid-career women leaders in the energy and climate fields with an interest in deepening their policy expertise and professional development. This year’s cohort will be invited to participate at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi in January 2023, one of the most influential annual convenings of the world’s energy and climate leaders, and will precede the highly anticipated 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) which will be hosted in the UAE. The inclusion of Sheikha Shamma Al Nahyan as a part of the Women Leaders in Energy and Climate Fellowship, Abu Dhabi hosting the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, and the UAE hosting COP 28, showcases Abu Dhabi’s commitment to achieving its Environment Vision 2030.

For a full list of the 2022 fellows, as well as fellows from previous cohorts, visit the Atlantic Council’s webpage: www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/global-energy-center/women-leaders-in-energy.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO & Founder of Alliances for Global Sustainability, stated: “It’s an honour to be part of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center’s  Women Leaders in Energy and Climate Fellowship and subsequently become the first woman from the GCC to be included in this cohort. As Abu Dhabi and the world alike continues to enhance its efforts toward environmental sustainability, climate action and a more circular economy, it’s imperative that we bring tomorrow’s energy and climate leaders together now, so we can work in cohesion for a cleaner future.”

Sheikha Shamma added: “I sincerely look forward to meeting my fellow peers in Washington, DC and working alongside them to enter dialogue and discourse which will be a catalyst to global energy and climate solutions. I will also have the pleasure to welcome them to the UAE for the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum and COP 28, two occasions that have the capacity to change the world for the better.”

“As the fight against climate change intensifies, the need to accelerate the careers of the best and brightest rising leaders in climate and energy policy has never been more urgent,” said Frederick Kempe, Atlantic Council president and CEO. “We are delighted to welcome this year’s stellar cohort of the Atlantic Council Women Leaders in Energy and Climate Fellowship, and we know that they will do great things during their time at the Council and beyond. This year’s cohort joins a growing network of phenomenal change-makers.”

The 2022 Fellowship marks the fourth year in a row that young women professionals will have the opportunity to engage in networking opportunities, professional development, and skills training offered through the fellowship. While the 2020 and 2021 fellowships were held entirely virtually due to the pandemic, this year’s program will incorporate hybrid and in-person events alongside virtual engagements in order to include participants from beyond the Washington, DC area.

The 2022 Fellowship formally began in May and will feature public speaking sessions tailored specifically to the virtual and hybrid environments; opportunities to publish independent analysis on the Global Energy Center EnergySource blog; and virtual networking events with senior industry and government officials. Fellows will have the opportunity to learn from senior leaders in the energy sector, strengthen their voices as women experts in a traditionally male-dominated space, and build a well-rounded understanding of energy and climate policy beyond their areas of expertise.

The Fellowship program is made possible by generous support from RBC Foundation. Fellows are selected independently through a competitive process by Atlantic Council Global Energy Center staff. This fourth class of fellows includes rising leaders from a wide range of sectors and professional backgrounds, including industry, international financial institutions, government, and climate advocacy.