The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has launched what is billed as a major milestone to strengthen the participation and leadership of women in the field of sustainability in the MENA region. EmiratesGBC Women’s Network (EWN) is said to be an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices.
According to a statement, EWN will serve as a platform for networking, mentoring and knowledge-sharing for women across the region. The forum will be chaired by Farah Yassine, vice chair & board member of EmiratesGBC and led by a steering committee to support its overall direction as well as future plans.
EWN aims to increase engagement and support female sustainability professionals, thereby promoting inclusivity, diversity and women leadership. It will organise networking events and meetings in the first year with planned growth to include a mentorship programme and competitions to upskill women, the statement said.
“At EmiratesGBC, we work towards building a strong platform for all to support governments and industry stakeholders in the MENA region with their long-term sustainability goals. EWN will serve as a great opportunity to the women to enhance their skills, network with senior leadership working at various organisations and learn more about sustainability and green buildings in the region,” said Ali Al Jassim, chairman of EmiratesGBC.
The EWN will leverage EmiratesGBC’s network to support and encourage women in the field of green buildings. The platform will celebrate the achievements of women in the built environment across all levels including senior positions in public and private sector and non-governmental organisations in the UAE, Al Jassim added.
Yassine concluded, “EWN is being launched to accelerate our progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Five – achieving gender equality and empowering women – especially in the sustainability sector, which plays a central role in supporting other SDGs such as affordable and clean energy for all. With a number of women already driving sustainable development programmes in the region, the network will support them to excel further through EmiratesGBC’s capacity building initiatives.”