A panel discussion reviewing the current number of women working in leadership positions and the factors contributing to the glass ceiling will be held next month

The discussion is part of an exclusive series of the 2014 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) Middle East Petroleum Club (MEPC) events and initiatives dedicated to women in the energy sector.

The panel discussion will take place on October 13 at Li Beirut, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The forum on the “Women in Industry” series, ‘Achieving CEO or member of the board status’, will review women working in these positions and look at the factors contributing to the glass ceiling, including cultural attitudes and male-dominated environments.

During this year’s first panel discussion on “Women in Industry”, the challenges facing efforts to bridge the gender gap in the oil and gas sector were addressed.

Numerous reports have shown the critical role of gender diversity in meeting business goals, from sourcing talent pools to increasing profitability. However, a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers in association with the Women’s Oil Council looked at the 100 largest listed oil and gas companies in the world and found that only 11 per cent of board seats were held by women.

The study shows that while it is clear why women play a pivotal role in the energy sector, achieving progress remains a challenge.

 “Oil and gas companies can retain women in their sector by offering them leadership positions and growth in their career,” said Souad M. Al Hosani, president and founder of Nexus Business Services. “Leading and mentoring are two important challenges that need to be looked at for women in the oil and gas sector.”

These challenges go beyond the borders of the Middle East and are faced by the industry worldwide, according to experts.

The forum is of critical importance in light of new employment trends showing a growing number of women graduates considering the energy industry for long-term career opportunities.

Women account for 50.7 per cent of graduates in Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) and math-related courses across all institutions, and 56.8 per cent in government universities in the 2011-2012 academic year, according to a recent report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ‘UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering’ (STE)

The report showed that among those studying STE and mathematics (Stem), and wanting to stay in STE in the UAE, the energy sector was the second most attractive industry to work in (17 per cent) after green technology (22 per cent).

However both professional and cultural barriers continue to prevent women from making a smooth transition from university into the workforce. According to the EIU report, 60 per cent of Stem respondents with experience working in an STE environment believe that female employees face obstacles when trying to manage work-life balance, and 66 per cent of Stem respondents see cultural issues as a barrier to women in those fields.

Conference Director Claire Pallen said: “We are very excited to be hosting an official series of Women in Industry events as part of Adipec 2014. We are dedicated to engaging with and creating a community for women working within the oil and gas sector, whether that be engineers, administration personnel, or senior managers.

The series will conclude with a landmark event at Adipec 2014 that will feature live on-stage interviews with women, outlining their journey to success in their fields.

The session will take place at the MEPC Theatre on November 11, and will offer attendees a networking opportunity where they can share their thoughts and ideas.