Amna Bezanty
To mark International Women’s Day 2023, three particular women stand out across accountancy, sustainable and the renewable energy industries, all which deserve recognition for their achievements and contribution. Read their personal stories and what being a woman in the workplace means:
First up is Amna Bezanty, Strategy Lead at Kew Technology. Beyond her role in sustainable energy, Amna has played a key role in the successful delivery from construction into operations of KEW’s first-of-a-kind pressurised advanced gasification plant – the Sustainable Energy Centre – and continues to play a key role to back its development in becoming a global ‘Centre of Excellence’ platform for innovative waste-to-fuels development. Day to day she manages core corporate affairs, strategic, commercial and project development; with her role accelerating the growth of KEW Technology for a world beyond fossil fuels through re-inventing waste-to-energy.
Amna is passionate about diversity in the workplace and what can be done to encourage more women into the sector.
Amna explains, “Notably, the energy and waste sectors are traditionally under-represented by women. I strongly believe the two sectors will combine in a compelling circular economy context, meaning this area of the sustainability infrastructure is at the intersection of two market (r)evolutions. Therefore, solid female representation and empowerment in both the energy and waste sectors is important as it will significantly contribute to the skills development of the diverse and inclusive workforce needed to enable this energy transition.
“Hopefully I am living proof that you can enjoy a highly rewarding career straight out of university which is making a difference to the climate challenge ahead. I’m fortunate to have the support of a great employer who advocates women in business and encourages me to succeed every single day in a male dominated industry.”
Next to profile is Alex Hughes, Scheme Manager at MCS, the certification body that defines, maintains and improves quality by certifying low-carbon energy technologies and contractors in the UK.
Alex is proud to work for a company that champions its talented women to forge long-term, lasting careers in renewables by creating dedicated routes to senior roles and encouraging the development needed to get there. As a young woman in the early stages of a renewables career, MCS invested significantly in Alex’s learning and development. She was enrolled in the Future Leaders course, which has equipped her with the tools needed to be an effective leader in the net zero economy.
Currently, women make up over 60% of the MCS team – something the business is particularly proud of and recognises isn’t the norm for the growing renewables sector.
Alex comments, “Our industry is male dominated, however I’m proud to work for a company bucking that trend. MCS is 60% female led, one of the biggest reasons to celebrate International Women’s Day for me personally.
“It’s also an important day in the calendar to just stop and recognise the contribution women are making both individually and collectively across the sector. I work alongside so many who inspire me and support me every single day.”
Finally, the spotlight falls on Michelle Ferris, Partner and Head of Charities at chartered accountancy firm, Albert Goodman.
Michelle started working in the accountancy firm when she left university and began life as an audit trainee. After a couple of years, she realised that she loved auditing and finding out about how businesses worked, but what particularly grabbed her was charities and the not-for-profit sector. Michelle was very fortunate to work with a partner who had faith in her and worked with her to develop that passion.
That was in 2008 and she hasn’t looked back! Michelle was promoted to partnership in 2021 – the first partner at Albert Goodman to focus entirely on the charity and not-for-profit sector.
During that time, Michelle has had two children, who are still both at primary school, and she’s learnt more about what it means to be a female in business during the last seven years than she has at any other point in her career.
Michelle says, “Women often end up in some kind of caring capacity over their lifetime (if not children it’s often parents or other responsibilities), and what she’s truly passionate about is making sure that they see that the two can mix.
“Women bring so much to the workforce – I’m able to be me whether I’m at home or at work and that brings different perspectives, opinions and a wider frame of reference and experience.
“I’m really lucky to be part of a firm that has always valued my differences and acknowledge the importance of diversity and I feel incredibly strongly that I want to leave the firm a better place for my oversight and involvement – to continue a legacy that has been set by others to develop women into whatever they want to be. That doesn’t have to be leadership – it could be something as seemingly simple as maintaining a balance of a fulfilling career with picking your kids up three days a week (which most mums know isn’t always that simple!).”
