Ahead of International Women’s Day, Rachel Hayes reflects on running Regen’s women in renewables (ReWiRE) network – and on the impact of its mentoring programme, now in its 10th year.
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Ahead of International Women’s Day, Rachel Hayes reflects on running Regen’s women in renewables (ReWiRE) network – and on the impact of its mentoring programme, now in its 10th year.
One of the most powerful things I’ve learned working in the energy sector is that leadership rarely happens alone. Careers are shaped by the people around us – the ones who challenge us, encourage us and occasionally give us the push we need to take the next step.
That’s why mentoring sits at the heart of ReWiRE. For more than a decade, the programme has helped women across the clean energy sector build confidence, expand their networks and develop the leadership skills needed to shape the energy transition.
The transition to a clean energy system is moving quickly. New organisations are forming, new infrastructure is being built, and the sector needs leaders who can navigate complexity, collaboration and change.
Mentoring helps build those leaders. It provides a space to talk openly about career decisions, leadership challenges and opportunities for growth. A mentor can offer perspective drawn from experience, while a mentee brings fresh thinking and ambition.
Often the most powerful outcome is confidence. Simply hearing someone say, “Yes, you can do this,” can be transformative.
Over the years we’ve seen mentoring relationships lead to career moves, board appointments, new collaborations and lasting professional friendships. Many mentors today were once mentees themselves and now return to support the next generation.
This year has been particularly special for me personally. After 10 years of matching others in the programme, I finally have a mentor myself. A huge thanks to Rhian Kelly for guiding, encouraging and challenging me. It’s a reminder that we all benefit from support. I was also recently a guest at a mentoring circle and this is something I’d like to try out more as part of ReWiRE too.
That sense of paying it forward is what makes this community so special.
One of the things that makes the ReWiRE programme unique is how we match mentors and mentees.
Rather than pairing people based solely on job titles or CVs, we start with what we call “chemistry sessions”. These are fast-paced, structured mentoring conversations, a bit like professional speed networking, where mentees meet a range of potential mentors in quick succession. During each conversation, mentees introduce themselves, share their career interests and outline the areas they want to develop. Mentors talk about their experience and the kind of support they can offer.
After meeting everyone, participants share their preferences and we match mentoring pairs based on that alignment. It’s energetic and sometimes a little intense, but it works remarkably well. Many participants say the process itself helps them clarify their goals and refine what they’re looking for in a mentor as well as to build their professional networks.
Once matched, the mentoring relationship typically runs for 12 months, with around six meetings across the year. These conversations are led by the mentee and focus on their goals, whether that’s developing leadership confidence, navigating career transitions or expanding their professional network. Mentors act as a sounding board; they listen, challenge assumptions and share their own experience.
Being a professional in a demanding sector can sometimes feel isolating. You can be managing major projects, leading teams or navigating complex policy landscapes and still find yourself wondering if you’re the only one dealing with certain challenges.
Mentoring and networks help change that. They remind us that others have faced similar moments of uncertainty and that there is enormous value in sharing experience.
A good network doesn’t just open doors. It steadies you when things feel uncertain and encourages you to aim higher when opportunity appears.
This International Women’s Day feels like a good moment to invite more people into that experience.
The next round of the ReWiRE mentoring programme begins with our spring intake on 7 May, where mentors and mentees meet through our speed mentoring format before being matched for the year ahead.
You can find out more and sign up as a mentee or mentor here.
We run two intakes each year, one in spring and one in autumn, and we welcome female mentees, as well as mentors of all genders, from across the energy sector. Whether you are looking to support someone else’s development or would benefit from guidance at the next stage of your career, mentoring can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Mentoring is one of the simplest and most powerful things we can do for each other. A conversation, a bit of encouragement, or sharing experience at the right moment can make a real difference to someone’s confidence and direction.
The energy transition needs capable, confident leaders across every part of the sector. Mentoring is one of the ways we help people step into those roles. It’s also a reminder of why our network is so special. When we come together, whether through mentoring, events, or our recent ReWiRE Summit, we see the energy, talent, and collaboration across the sector, and the impact we can have when we support one another.
You can see the live notes from the ReWiRE Summit, animated as they unfolded, below.
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