Women in hydro |
age, courtesy of her mother who was the former president of the United States Society on Dams, Bisnett says she is committed to paying forward the mentorship that shaped her career and is keen to foster development and industry connections for young professionals. Throughout her career, Bisnett has experienced change and says culturally there’s now a broader understanding of professionalism within the working environment, alongside the importance of life outside of work. As a woman in the field, she has witnessed “a definite shift” and hopes this trend continues for younger women coming into the profession behind her. Looking to the future, Bisnett says much consideration needs to be given to how the hydro industry can unlock the full potential of its engineering resources because, put quite simply, it does not have enough engineers. However, there is no shortage of engineering problems that require solving. “We need to do everything we can to make engineering and, selfishly, dam engineering more appealing,” she said. Her top tips for young professionals entering the industry include: ● Internships are great opportunities to help you figure out what you do and don’t want to do.
● Once you’re in the industry, always put your hand up and show that you’re willing.
● Be determined and you will find the right way to get involved in the projects you want to be involved with.
● Take up any opportunities for field work. It will make you better at what you do.
Rooted In hydro Like Bisnett, Svitlana Stepanenko says hydropower
Women in the hydropower sector face unique challenges but progress is being made towards a more inclusive environment 997Cata/
Shutterstock.com
is practically woven into her family DNA. As the daughter of the former head of civil defence at the Kremenchuk hydropower plant in Ukraine, she was obsessed with the station when growing up. Working in hydropower was her ultimate dream. Starting out in 1982 in an administrative role, Stepanenko
says she had “a deep-seated drive” to understand the technical side of operations at the plant. Self- educating herself with books selected by her father, she completed specialised training in 1994 and transitioned to a technical career. Despite the risks currently associated with working in the Ukrainian energy sector, Stepanenko continues in her role as a battery technician in the electrical shop. Her focus, she says, is to pass down 44 years of her experience to younger colleagues as a way to help preserve the generational continuity that has sustained the station for decades. Over in Turkey, Elvan Tuğsuz Güven’s fascination with hydropower goes a step further, because she says she was literally born into it. In the late 1960s, her father was a young engineer working on the construction of the 1330MW Keban Dam, where Güven was born at the project site.
For over 55 years, her family has been active in the
hydro sector and her grandparents worked for the country’s main water resources authority. Today, Güven serves as a board member and executive with equipment supplier Ciltuğ Co and Tektuğ Renewable Energy which operates eight hydropower plants. She is also the first female Head of the Board of HESİAD, Turkey’s only hydro-focused NGO - a responsibility she carries with pride. However, she adds, her professional path has not always been easy. She has reached where she is today by working hard, often harder than many of her male peers, by loving what she does and refusing to accept no as a final answer. “As a woman - and not an engineer by education- building credibility in a highly male-dominated sector has required determination, resilience and persistence,” Güven admits. “Hydropower equipment manufacturing, plant construction and renewable energy production are fields traditionally perceived as “not suitable” for women. I have never agreed with that perception,” she added. According to Güven, women bring meticulousness,
attention to detail and the ability to see the bigger picture. While women’s capacity to multitask and manage complexity is a strength in a sector as dynamic and demanding as hydropower. “The energy transition needs diversity, inclusion
and strong female leadership,” she says, adding that she’s proud to be part of the sector, and equally proud to stand as a woman within it. Sabrina Kost, Managing Director of ARX Oceania in Australia echoes Güven’s thoughts. For her, diversity is not merely “nice to have”, it is critical to innovation and risk management in complex projects. “Hydropower projects are inherently multidisciplinary and high-risk,” she says. “You need different perspectives at the table to challenge assumptions and arrive at the best solutions.” Combining strategic leadership with hands-
on technical involvement in some of Australia’s most challenging hydropower and underground infrastructure projects, Kost remains actively involved in initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce.
Essential contribution Claudine Bouchard’s professional journey has been
shaped by more than 25 years at HydroQuébec in Canada, where she is now President and Chief
24 | June 2026 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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