Meet Four Leaders Powering Energy Access

Across the world, the clean energy transition is being shaped by people who refuse to accept that energy poverty is inevitable. They are entrepreneurs, programme leaders, innovators and advocates working on the frontlines of energy access.

Several of those changemakers were recognized through our inaugural Energy Heroes Awards, which celebrate individuals and organizations driving real-world progress on energy access, clean cooking and sustainable development.

Their stories are also a reminder of something deeper: when more women lead in energy,  solutions become more inclusive, resilient and grounded in real lives.

A reality close to home

Paola Rodriguez, now General Manager at Soluz Honduras, began her journey in the energy sector there as a consultant.

What she encountered changed her perspective.

“Meeting our customers, most of them women, opened my eyes to the challenges families were facing just a few hours from my own home,” she recalls.

Her work focuses on bringing affordable solar power to families in remote communities, many of whom live in extreme poverty, through innovative financing and results-based subsidies.

For many families, it is their first reliable source of electricity.

Powering opportunity across Africa

Thousands of kilometres away in Mozambique, Javier Ayala, Energy Sector Lead for the BRILHO programme, helps to scale clean energy solutions that expand access for millions.

By the end of 2025, BRILHO had supported the growth of more than 56,000 small businesses and improved access to clean cooking and solar energy for 4.1 million people. 

For Javier, the impact is most visible in everyday moments.

“Seeing women-led businesses thrive because they now have reliable power or children studying at night under solar light reminds me that energy access is not just about technology. It's about dignity, opportunity and hope.” 

The people behind the transition

Across Southeast Asia, Natasha Allen has focused on strengthening the workforce behind decentralized solar systems.

Through training programmes and partnerships, her work helps technicians and communities develop the skills needed to install, maintain and expand solar systems.

But for Natasha, the most powerful impact is what happens after the training ends.

“Many of our alumni are now leading installations, mentoring new technicians or bringing solar power to places that had no reliable electricity,” she says. “The real impact is the growing network of people who now have the skills and confidence to keep that work going.” 

Unlocking climate finance 

For Deborah Fadeyi, founder of ecoWise, the challenge lies in something less visible but equally critical: financing clean energy projects.

Her work focuses on developing digital systems that allow distributed solar projects to participate in carbon markets — unlocking new financial pathways for clean energy deployment.

It’s also deeply personal.

Experiencing energy poverty during childhood shaped her understanding of how essential electricity is to everyday life.

“Energy is a powerful multiplier,” she explains. “When people have reliable access, it unlocks productivity, education, healthcare and economic opportunity.”

Why women’s leadership matters

There’s a single thread connecting these leaders: they are clearing the path for others to lead.

Paola brings first-time energy access to rural communities. Natasha turns technical training into lifelong careers. Deborah takes it even further and builds the financial systems that turn local wins into global scale. Javier shifts perspectives, reminding us that inclusion is not simply about letting people in the door. It’s about redesigning the room so everyone can thrive.

Ultimately, these stories prove that energy systems are only as powerful as the lives they finally reach.