Solar is Empowering Women from Coast to Coast

SEIA Announces Women’s Empowerment Initiative, Debuts Series in San Francisco

October 12, 2016 Solar Energy Industries Association

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is bringing its highly successful Women’s Empowerment Series to the West Coast with Women’s Empowerment: Leaders in Solar Energy kicking off in San Francisco on Oct. 20. It comes on the heels of a standing room only event in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

Sunrun’s CEO Lynn Jurich will provide the keynote at this one-day event, which also includes three networking opportunities for those who register.

During the event, SEIA leaders will discuss plans for the Women’s Empowerment Initiative. The mission of the Initiative is three-fold:

Recruit, retain and promote women within the solar industry;
Increase diversity and amplify women’s voices in industry public forums; and
Partner with and amplify the work of supporting organizations that strive for diversity in the solar industry.

The goals of the Initiative will be carried out by the newly-formed Women’s Empowerment committee, which will be led by SunPower’s Suzanne Leta Liou and Sol Systems’ Sara Rafalson.

“Diversity in the solar industry is important to innovation, growth and meeting our customers’ needs,” said Suzanne Leta Liou, Manager of Global Market Strategy at SunPower and Chair of the Initiative. “I am thrilled to be spearheading a dynamic team focused on increasing opportunities and leadership roles for women, which will drive forward progress.”

“The movement to increase opportunities for women in the solar energy industry has gained momentum,” said Sara Rafalson, Director of Policy & New Markets at Sol Systems and Vice-Chair of the Initiative. “I applaud the SEIA team for furthering the conversation, and look forward to affecting real change with SEIA staff, the EmPOWERment committee, and partner organizations.”

Session topics include: