Workforce development | Although one of the most valuable lessons of her


career has been learning when to lead and when to let others take the reins, Barbour-Bourne says she owes a huge part of her own development to the people she has worked with – such as those she’s managed, reported to and collaborated with. And as Alka Yadav, Director at the Green Energy


Transition Research Institute in India believes, the energy transition must be inclusive and diverse. She also advocates for increasing numbers of female trainers and mentors because when women train women, “the ripple effect is unstoppable”.


Second chances


Above: Inna Braverman, Founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power says passion and persistence are the two key factors that have helped in her career


Inna Braverman, Founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power has a fascinating story to tell about her initial involvement in the wave power industry. Born in Ukraine, only two weeks before the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, she almost died in the aftermath of the world’s worst nuclear tragedy. Growing up and feeling she’d been given a second chance in life; she was determined to do something good with it. After studying politics and unable to gain work as a graduate, Braverman took a job as a translator in a renewable energy company instead. Although thinking wind and solar power were great, she became more attracted to the huge potential of wave power and with the innocence of a 24-yer-old, thought she was the perfect person to help develop it – even though she doesn’t come from a technical background. Believing there was a feeling of destiny and that perhaps fate had drawn her to this industry (Inna means running water in Greek), it was an accidental meeting with an entrepreneur at a social even that led to the establishment of her company Eco Wave Power. “What were the chances we were both passionate about wave power?” she asks.


As a young female in a very masculine industry, Braverman says she has always wanted to prove the


naysayers wrong. Her big driving force is proving she can do something when told she can’t. She believes her naivety and lack of experience nine years ago enabled her to think outside of the box and look at the overall picture, perhaps making it possible to spot innovations others had missed. “Sometimes you need to come at it with fresh eyes,” she says. Braverman says passion and persistence are the two


key factors that have helped in her career. “If you’re truly passionate about something, if you really feel that you have this amazing opportunity to change the world, then you’ll persist. Because you won’t give up on your dream that easily. And, you know, being in wave energy, I always say that passion is the greatest renewable energy source, even stronger than the power of the waves.” Braverman was selected as one of 100 inspiring, influential and impactful women on Reuters Events 2025 List of Trailblazing Women. She was awarded the 2024 Global Leadership Award by Vital Voices and honoured by the United Nations with a portrait in their exhibition about Women Leaders Powering the Global Goals.


References


Is the Global Workforce Ready for the Energy Transition? By Romina Bandura and Clara Bonin. November 2024. Center for Strategic and International Studies.


https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/ industry/engineering-and-construction/ec- workforce-development-strategy.html


https://www.hydropower.org/blog/ensuring-a- sustainable-workforce-with-debbie-gray


Long-serving Enturans celebrate major milestones | Entura


https://electricladiespodcast.com/2024/04/30/ wave-energy-second-chances-inna-braverman- eco-wave-power/


Turkish study addresses employee well-being in hydro sector


Turkey ranks among the top ten countries in terms of workforce in the hydroelectric industry, and a recent study has focused on the work-life balance of employees in three hydroelectric power plants: Çatalan Hydroelectric Power Plant in Adana, Sarıyar Hydroelectric Power Plant in Ankara, and Suat Uğurlu Hydroelectric Power Plant in Samsun. A total of 201 participants, each with a minimum of one year of


experience took part. The mean age of the participants was 40.83 years with a range of 21 to 63 years. On average, participants had been employed at their current workplace for 11.54 years with an average working week of 43.51. The study emphasises the need for administrative and


organisational interventions to alleviate any issues associated with work-life balance and burn out. Regular occupational health and safety training, involvement in risk assessments, fair workload distribution, supportive work environments, and counselling services are recommended to reduce burnout and improve work-life balance. The authors say hydroelectric power plants are among the most


hazardous workplaces with primary occupational health and safety hazards including moving machinery, excessive physical exertion, working at heights, dust exposure, indoor work, and risks of slips and falls. Additional hazards involve electrical cables, switchgear, cooling


systems, and the extensive use of hydraulic oils in transformers. Noise pollution is another significant concern with exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields posing potential risks, such as stress, depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality, and eventually burnout. In this study one in seven employees frequently encounter burnout


or struggle with work-life conflict with a statistically significant distinction in burnout levels based on the duration of employment, particularly with less than ten years of service. To alleviate these issues, several measures can be implemented such as scheduling regular working hours and ensuring employees have sufficient rest periods. The authors say employers should prioritise employees’ emotional well-being and provide counselling services to equip them with stress management skills. To boost motivation, it is vital to offer performance rewards, opportunities for career development, and conducive working conditions to enhance job satisfaction.


Reference


Medeni İ, Medeni V, Demirbaş O, et al. (July 12, 2024) Work-Life Conflict, Burnout, and Associated Factors Among Hydroelectric Power Plant Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey. Cureus 16(7): e64425. DOI 10.7759/cureus.64425


18 | May 2025 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


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