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WOMEN IN ENERGY • • • 5% of board executives 14% of board members (executives & non-executive directors) 13% of senior management teams So yes, gender does matter. The industry should have more professional women including accountants, engineers and lawyers, who form part of the policy and regulation decision-making processes. The study by EY revealed a direct linkage between gender diversity and business performance. For the power industry to reap the rewards of diversity in the boardroom there should be more women who are encouraged to this field. Whereas I advocate for deliberate action, I do not agree with regulation to set gender quotas; rather a call should be made to promote women high-flyers on merit. ESI Your career has been an example of promoting diversity at board level. What were the important decision/stepping stones that led you to your current position? FN As a child I grew up with a dream of being a banker. That informed my decision to study Commerce & Accounting at undergraduate level. In pursuit of joining the corporate world, I was given an opportunity to join the graduate trainee programme in the power sector. However, over the past 10 years, I have discovered a new passion. Serving in the power sector enables me to add value to the communities. In a simple rural household, children are able to read for extended hours both at home and at school, the small-scale farmer can add value to their produce and earn more money, communities in rural areas charge mobile phones and connect with the rest of the world. ESI Please share your successes that have had a dramatic influence in the company and Uganda. FN I have participated in a number of projects that have positively impacted on the community, such as in June 2013, when Africa celebrated the ‘Day of The African Child’, I teamed up with a Ugandan born British Army soldier Thomas Musuuza forming the initiative ‘Dress A Child in Uganda’. Through this project, we both took time off work to meet and share our own 90 Florence Nsubuga (right) was presented with her award by Ayanda Nakedi of Eskom On being announced the winner of the African Utility Week Industry Award for the Outstanding Woman in Power/Water, Nsubuga said: “I am humbled by this award. It takes me back to when I was a little girl and my grandmother, who was a farmer, and had no electricity so her days always ended early. Little did I know that I was able to later add so much value to her life as a farmer where she was able to be so much more productive when she got electricity. I am very proud to be part of that story”. stories as leaders within recognized organizations with less privileged children in some of the country’s poorest communities. We met and engaged with street children, young teenage mothers and orphans, giving out used clothing and school supplies in a mission to share love and raise hopes within the disadvantaged community. Using my position as one of the leading women in the country and with the support of colleagues, I will continue to focus on such projects and others to run this among other projects within the community. In another instance and as part of the women’s day celebrations in 2015, I championed the sponsorship and partnership between Umeme and CASE hospital to deliver health care and counselling services to disadvantaged women and children women to one on the big slums in Kampala – Katanga. I am an inspirational speaker empowering women to exceed beyond the norm. I have particularly challenged the women at Umeme to live ambitiously and not just exist. As the COO of Umeme I led the improvement strategies of operational and financial results using my leadership style of empowerment, accountability and integrity. As a result, the business has doubled in size over the past five years and attracted international investors into the sector. Umeme has delivered on the regulatory targets over the years. Together with the team we have reduced distribution losses from 38% to 21.3%, improved collection rates from 85% to 99%.The above efficiencies have saved the sector in Uganda about USD$500 million over the past 10 years and as a result the distribution tariff has been stable. As a result of Umeme’s success story power utilities and governments from across Africa; Ghana, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia have visited Uganda to understand the business model and the policy framework supporting this success in order to cause transformation of the energy sectors in their own countries to drive growth. Umeme’s unique organizational structure is set out to strengthen accountability on the ground. The country is divided into regions/districts that are managed as business units and headed by a business manager. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are agreed on and tracked on a monthly basis with a reward mechanism in place to incentivise the business managers and all staff. ESI What are your personal values and how do these spill over into your working environment? FN I am very passionate about the energy sector because of the impact that it has on the households, community and national level. As a result, I am committed to deliver and I empower and hold my teams to account to deliver results. ESI What are your top three predictions for the energy market in Africa in the next five years? FN Firstly, digitalization of the customer relationship aspect of our business. The power industry will transform to meet the expectations of more informed and empowered customers. Secondly, I believe that due to the increased focus to drive access to power in Africa to stimulate growth, the regulatory environment will change to encourage ESI AFRICA ISSUE 2 2015