Women in Green Hydrogen (WiGH) has had a transformative year in 2024, marked by significant achievements, global engagement, and increased advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the green hydrogen sector. As a vibrant and growing network, WiGH’s mission is to increase the diversity and number of women in the industry by providing a platform for connection, empowerment, and change. This report highlights key achievements in 2024 and provides a strategic outlook for 2025 as we work towards a more inclusive and equitable future for the green hydrogen sector.
2024: Year in Review
1. Expanding Global Reach
WiGH experienced remarkable growth in 2024, reflected in its increasing global presence.
The Africa Chapter was officially launched during the Global Africa Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek. This milestone event featured inspiring contributions from leaders such as H.E. Madam Monica Geingos, First Lady of Namibia and Hon. Tinne Van der Straeten, Energy Minister of Belgium.
The launch of the WiGH Brussels Hub in September 2024 brought together 50 women and established a platform for collaboration in Europe’s hydrogen capital.
In the Latin American region, the LATAM Chapter expanded to seven countries, bringing together women for example in a breakfast session at the 2024 H2LAC conference in Chile.
The South Asia Chapter will be launched in February 2025 in Gujarat, India.
2. Driving Engagement through Events
The Women in Green Hydrogen events team organised over 15 global events to provide networking and training opportunities for the network. WiGH was present at major conferences, such as the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam, the European Hydrogen Week in Brussels, and HyFCell in Stuttgart. Chapter highlights included a Power-to-X roadshow in Cape Town, a leadership soft skills workshop in Mexico, networking events in Stockholm and a career development mentoring event in Cape Town.
To provide also informal exchanges and low-threshold activities, members organised meet-ups through local WhatsApp and LinkedIn groups, for example in Munich and Brussels.
The events team has grown significantly, with new volunteers bringing motivation and additional capacity to its activities. Special recognition is due to Patricia Wild for her years of dedicated leadership, and to Kathrin Ebner, who took over the role of Event Lead in August 2024.
3. Advancing the Mentorship Program
The Mentoring Program, initiated in 2021, continues successfully in 2024. The third round concluded with 191 mentors and mentees from 48 countries. Online networking events in January and May strengthened bonds beyond the mentor-mentee relationships. In September, the fourth round launched with 163 mentees and mentors from 47 countries. This round features coaching sessions led by certified professionals and workshops on public speaking and personal branding, increasing the benefits for mentors and mentees in the program.
Highlights of the 2023/2024 round included mentor sessions with Sasha Twining, Event & Debate Host and Chair and coaching opportunities with Rosa Puentes, Origination & Business Development Green Gas and Professional Coach, providing mentors and mentees with actionable career strategies. The new WiGH Africa Chapter has significantly increased the participation of African women in the program and developed new ways of matching mentees and mentors regionally to foster local networks.
4. Promoting Research, Advocacy, and Partnerships
Women in Green Hydrogen deepened its advocacy and thought leadership in 2024. Women in Green Hydrogen partnered with Horizon Educational on the H2 Grand Prix to encourage girls into STEM education. The new annual ‘Women in H2 Innovation’ award was presented for the first time at the European Hydrogen Week in November 2024, celebrating female innovators. Partnerships with Hydrogen Europe and UNIDO also advanced capacity building initiatives and the dissemination of best practices in inclusivity, for example a study tour to Hyiron in Namibia.
A strategic reassessment of the partnerships resulted in the development of guidelines to prioritize long-term collaborations, emphasizing capacity building, professional development, and tangible outcomes through workshops and reports with current and future partner organizations.
5. Strengthening Organizational Structures
To support its rapid expansion, WiGH focused on strengthening its internal structures in 2024. A task force developed a Theory of Change to streamline approaches to working with foundations and trusts. Women in Green Hydrogen implemented formal volunteer and ambassador agreements, set up a PayPal account for private donations, initiated the process of becoming a charitable entity under German law, and developed a comprehensive fundraising and financing strategy. With greater alignment of chapters, events, and board initiatives, the network is now able to maintain cohesion and leverage synergies.
Strategic Outlook for 2025
Building on the successes of 2024, Women in Green Hydrogen has set itself ambitious goals for 2025 to increase its impact and reach. The network plans to increase mentorship opportunities, with a greater focus on career coaching opportunities and workshops on topics such as personal branding. Women in Green Hydrogen also plans to publish the first gender report specific to the hydrogen sector to address inequalities, launch a global campaign for diversity in the sector and collaborate with four regional Hydrogen Hub Summits. The organization will expand its event offering, with a planned presence at over 15 global conferences and new initiatives to support women entrepreneurs in the hydrogen sector.
1. Scaling Mentorship and Professional Development
Women in Green Hydrogen plans to expand its mentorship program in 2025 and offering workshops on topics such as leadership skills. Mentors and mentees will be matched within a geographic region to enable them to build stronger local networks. More coaching opportunities will complement the mentor-mentee support and networking.
2. Amplifying Advocacy and Research
WiGH plans to publish the first hydrogen-specific gender report, which will provide insights inequalities in the industry, identify opportunities for improvement and propose actionable interventions. To support organizations in increasing their gender and diversity ambitions, WiGH will develop comprehensive policy recommendations and toolkits for embedding inclusive practices in operations and leadership structures in 2025.
3. Enhancing Global Representation
Women in Green Hydrogen aims to expand its online database of women experts and increase their visibility to event organizers and all stakeholders seeking hydrogen experts. The network will partner with four annual Hydrogen Hub Summits in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, providing forums for collaboration and advocacy. In addition, WiGH will organize several networking events at major global conferences, furthering its mission to connect and empower women in green hydrogen.
4. Strengthening Partnerships
Key collaborations with the Hydrogen Council and ONS Hydrogen Conference Norway 2026 will be formalized. Both partnerships will focus on sharing best practices and advancing gender equality in the industry. To ensure the long-term financial stability of the network, Women in Green Hydrogen will expand its partnership formats to include sponsorships. The organization will establish key performance indicators to assess the effectiveness and impact of these partnerships and ensure alignment with the WiGH mission.
5. Regional Objectives
Women in Green Hydrogen will expand its footprint in South Asia through a successful public launch in Gujarat, India and subsequent gender awareness campaigns. The Africa Chapter will grow by developing a national expert database and hosting webinars and networking events. The LATAM and European Chapters will strengthen their role as hubs for capacity building and advocacy, using their strong regional presence to drive change.
6. Organizational Improvements
WiGH plans to improve internal knowledge sharing and communication to increase efficiency and leverage synergies. Clearer roles and responsibilities will be established to streamline operations. Collaboration between events, mentorship, and partnerships teams will be strengthened, aligning efforts to maximize impact across activities. These improvements will strengthen WiGH’s ability to deliver on its ambitious goals.
2024 and 2025
2024 has been a year of remarkable progress for WiGH, with achievements that underscore the network’s pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive green hydrogen industry. As we look ahead to 2025, our focus remains on empowering women, fostering connections, and driving systemic change within the sector. Together, we will continue to challenge barriers, amplify voices, and ensure that the green hydrogen industry thrives through diversity and inclusion.