7 Day Campaign: Celebrating Women in Energy
Enas is the Ethiopia Country lead for the The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), where she works closely with the government of Ethiopia to accelerate off-grid energy access and strengthen the government’s ability to implement the National Electrification Plan.
Enas has 15 years of experience in finance, project management and business strategy in Canada and Ethiopia, with intersecting experiences in agriculture, infrastructure development, and innovation from both the private sector and development practitioner lens.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from York University and an MBA from the University of Oxford.
Enas is passionate about holistic transformation, with a clear view that without radical collaboration across all SDGs, centred around women, transformation isn’t possible.
Alem is an electrical engineer and the founder of Modify Electromechanical Systems & Solutions PLC. With over 18 years of experience, Alem has been involved in both grid-connected and off-grid energy projects, always focused on bringing clean and reliable power to communities that need it most.
As one of the few women leading a company in Ethiopia’s solar energy sector, she is breaking barriers and making a lasting impact. Under her leadership, Modify has taken on major electrical projects, from airports and dry ports to stadiums and high-rise buildings. The company has also installed towering 45-meter-high masts for stadiums and dry ports.
In the solar sector, Modify has been at the forefront of importing and distributing solar home systems for off-grid households, installing standalone solar systems for businesses and institutions, and expanding into solar solutions that support productive use. She also serves as a board member of the ESEDA (Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association) working to advance the industry.
Alem is passionate about using energy as a tool for development and continues to push for innovative and sustainable solutions across Ethiopia.
Yodit is a seasoned electrical engineer specializing in utility operations, off-grid electrification, power distribution and customer relationship strategies. She currently serves as the Head of Off-Grid Operation and Customer Relationship Management at Ethiopian Electric Utility, overseeing the operation and expansion of off-grid solar mini-grid systems to enhance rural electricity access.
With over two decades of experience, Yodit has held key leadership roles, including technical support manager for Addis Ababa overseeing 130+ MV feeders, and head for East Addis Region, where she managed several departments that served 226,000 customers with over 1250 km medium and low voltage lines. Yodit also managed 40/60 condominium electrification projects.
In recognition of her contributions to Ethiopia’s energy infrastructure, Yodit has received multiple awards.
Yodit is also a Board Member of EWiEn :Ethiopian Women in Energy, advocating for greater female participation in the sector.
Through her work, Yodit continues to drive sustainable energy solutions and (em)power underserved communities.
Mekdes is the founder and Principal of Mekdes & Associates, a law office that specializes on foreign investment, power & energy, infrastructure development, project finance and PPPs.
Mekdes, through her firm, provides comprehensive legal and regulatory support, working with developers, government entities, and financiers. She has been at the forefront of large and small-scale private development of energy projects in Ethiopia, including the landmark 300MW Aysha I Wind Power Project and the 250MW Scaling Solar IPP project.
Mekdes studied law at Addis Ababa University and holds Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from the University of London and Ohio Northern University.
Beyond her legal career, Mekdes is dedicated to mentorship and women’s empowerment. She offers internships, serves on professional networks, and provides pro bono legal services for women and children.
Mekdes envisions her firm becoming a leading legal service provider in Ethiopia within the next decade.
Meron is the head of the energy information administration and modelling desk at the Ministry of Water and Energy. Her work involves developing Ethiopia’s energy balance statistics through rigorous data analysis.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and a master’s in Management Sciences and Engineering.
Meron oversees the development of energy brief documents with updated information for policy makers, investors, and researchers.
In collaboration with key energy stakeholders such as Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopian Electric Utility, Petroleum and Energy Authority, and Danish Energy Agency, Meron is involved in the development of an Energy Outlook for Ethiopia.
Meron aspires to be a visionary energy planner to deliver accurate and well-informed energy data that supports the achievement of energy development goals.
Aynalem’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of education. From her humble beginnings as a copy typist in Shewa Robit to becoming the Women and Social Affairs Mainstreaming Executive Officer at the Petroleum and Energy Authority (PEA), she has dedicated years into advocating for gender equality in Ethiopia’s energy sector.
Her career is defined by a relentless pursuit of learning, starting with secretarial studies and culminating in a BA in Business Management, along with specialized gender-related training.
Since joining PEA in 2014 as a Mid-Level Gender Expert, Aynalem has been a driving force in empowering women within the organization and beyond. She has supported over 18 women in advancing their education, enabling them to achieve master’s degrees and secure leadership roles.
Recognizing the challenges women face in obtaining professional competency certifications in fields like electrical installation and energy auditing, she introduced targeted training programs, helping over 100 women obtain electrical works competency certificates.
Beyond professional development, Aynalem has worked with the Energy Conservation and Efficiency Division to promote clean energy solutions, improving women’s health and economic opportunities.
Her unwavering dedication is shaping a more inclusive and equitable energy sector in Ethiopia, inspiring the next generation of women in the field.
Tsion is an ICT Infrastructure Manager at Ethiopian Electric Power – የኢትዮጵያ ኤሌክትሪክ ኃይል. She is responsible for managing the organization’s IT infrastructure, including an on-premise data center, 12 regional offices, 40 power plant network circuits, and the headquarters’ network infrastructure.
Her expertise spans LAN and WAN networks, servers, virtualized environments, storages, cloud technology, wireless infrastructure, and data center management (both IT and non-IT).
Tsion has successfully delivered several projects, including the deployment of a state-of-the-art on-premise data center and the supply and installation of network infrastructure including MPLS cloud interconnection for branch offices through telecom.
With a multifaceted career path as an Electrical Engineer, Tsion worked as a System Operation Engineer in the Load Dispatch Center, managing real-time operations, before transitioning into IT. She has also worked as a Distribution and Construction Engineer, rehabilitating voltage drop areas in Addis Ababa.
Tsion proactively engages with new technologies and continuously expanding her knowledge. has completed various professional IT trainings and holds certifications, including CCNA, CCNP, CCNAS, CCNA Cyber Ops, HCNP, Juniper Cloud, and Microsoft 2012 Server.
Tsion holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University, Institute of Technology, and is nearing completion of her Master’s in Information Technology (MSIT) in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from Florida University Southeast.
