Steering Committee Members

Abbie Badcock-Broe

National Grid

My professional background

As the Head of Corporate & UK Strategy at National Grid Group, I shape the strategic direction by working closely with the Board and Executive teams. I align and drive the organisation’s strategy, collaborating on cross-functional initiatives and tackling various challenges. With nearly two decades in the energy sector, my experience spans strategy development, consulting, corporate growth, project management, business development, policy formulation, and market analysis across renewables, energy retail, infrastructure, and system operations. My educational background includes a degree in International Policy and Policy with a focus on “Complexity” and a Policy Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering. I am deeply committed to fostering a sustainable future and passionate about influencing the energy landscape. Additionally, I am a visible leader and mentor for early-career professionals and have openly shared my journey in overcoming Impostor Syndrome to aid my personal development.

My involvement in women’s networks

My early career lacked access to supportive women’s networks, making my involvement with National Grid’s Women In National Grid (WiNG) forum since 2020 particularly meaningful. Now, as the Strategic Advisor to the cross-industry Women’s Networks Forum, I help define focus, drive progress, and measure impact, also speaking at in-person events. I am a “Rising Star” member of the POWERful Women Network and a participant in the Women in Utilities Network group. In 2021, I launched a Lean-In Circle focusing on overcoming Impostor Syndrome to help women realise their potential and have contributed career advice to National Grid cohorts to aid in advancing their careers.

Women’s causes I am particularly interested in

• Female representation in senior energy leadership roles
• Helping women (and men) be successful parents and professionals
• Being the role-model you need to be for others and yourself
• Overcoming self-doubt to break your self-imposed glass ceiling
• Creating psychologically safe places to speak-up and thrive

Gemma (More) Byrne 

U.S. Bank Europe

My professional background

I’ve spent my career working in senior finance roles across banking, energy and other regulated industries, and I genuinely enjoy the mix of structure, problem-solving and people leadership that comes with it. What motivates me most is making complex topics clearer, improving how finance works day to day, and supporting teams to deliver high-quality outcomes while continuing to grow and develop.

My involvement in women’s networks

My involvement in women’s networks comes from personal experience as much as professional interest and I enjoy working on initiatives around visibility, confidence, leadership development and peer support. As well as mentoring colleagues and graduates as they navigate their careers, particularly during periods of change or self-doubt.

Women’s causes I am particularly interested in

I’m especially passionate about helping women build confidence, visibility and momentum in their careers, particularly in finance and leadership roles where representation still matters. I care deeply about supporting women through key career transitions, advocating for fair opportunity and progression, and creating environments where women don’t feel they need to change who they are to succeed. I’m also strongly interested in allyship and inclusive leadership, because lasting change happens when responsibility is shared.

Annalisa De Munari

Accenture

My professional background

I have 20 years of experience working for major water and wastewater utilities, energy utilities and oil & gas majors. I am an engineer by training, holding an Environmental Engineering MEng from the Universita’ di Brescia, Italy, and a PhD in Water treatment using renewable energy from the University of Edinburgh. I began my career designing water and wastewater treatment plans, worked for The Drinking Water Quality Regulator of Scotland and Severn Trent Water before joining Accenture, where I lead our water consulting work across UK water clients. I am passionate about organisational transformation, I help organisations embed new operating models, ways of working and adopt digital and data-enabled solutions. I enjoy identifying and delivering operational efficiencies that simplify working life for teams while enhancing outcomes for customers.

My involvement in women’s networks

I sponsor Accenture involvement with Women in Utility Network (WUN) and the Women in Utility Awards and I led the Accenture Women in Utility group before they became Women in Resources group.

Women’s causes I’m particularly interested in

I am particularly passionate in supporting women during maternity leave and their transition back into work.  I am committed to creating a flexible, inclusive ways of working that enable parents—both women and men—to balance professional responsibilities with family life, without compromising performance, engagement, or ambition.  I believe this is critical to build resilient and high performing teams.  

Helen Gaier

Scottish Power

My professional background

I am originally an chartered account with a first class honours degree in Business Studies and a double MBA in Global Energy from Strathclyde University, Scotland and Comillas University, Madrid. I have worked in the electricity distribution industry for 32 years across many different disciplines from finance, procurement and commercial to operational delivery of 33kV substation construction, OHL design, LV services, vegetation management, telecoms infrastructure and many more. I am currently Commercial Director overseeing commercial activities for fleet, building and support services in Scottish Power. I am passionate about equity and diversity in life, being a vocal leader and advocate for cultural change.

My involvement in women’s networks

I have been chairing Scottish Power’s Gender equality network, Connected Women, since 2019 taking our membership from 200 to over 700 in that time, as well as increasing our active engagement significantly. We have launched support groups “Me…no-pause” and “Flow & Tell” to support Scottish Power’s women in their menstrual and hormonal health, as well as launching our “Connected Women Allies” group dedicated to men who want to be more active in this space. We were recently awarded Women’s Network of the Year at the Women in Utilities Awards 2025 & Highly Commended for Outstanding Network of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2026. Our mission is to unleash and celebrate the potential of women, driving results for ScottishPower.

Women’s causes I’m particularly interested in

I am dedicated to increasing understanding in society so that we all rise together – I am currently focusing on the power of allyship in the workplace to leverage cultural change to bring improved inclusivity and equity in the workplace.

Lizzy Hemsworth

National Grid

My professional background

I have been working in the Energy and Utilities sector for 10 years. Prior to National Grid I worked within the Gas industry. I have also worked in local government focusing on Housing Management. My career has focused on PMO within Planning and Performance.

My involvement in women’s networks

Having worked in male dominated industries for my whole career, National Grid was the first company which had a formal women’s network. I joined Women in National Grid (WiNG) as a volunteer and am currently Co Lead for the WiNG Belonging Function, our scope includes, menopause, women’s health and fertility, pregnancy and parenthood.

Women’s causes I am particularly interested in

I am particularly interested in Women in Leadership and overcoming some of the barriers to progression in the industry.  

Yuliya Khilko

National Grid

My Professional Background

I am a driven advocate for change, MCIPS, MoP and APM PMQ qualified, with a proven ability to bring people together and galvanise action. My career spans Manufacturing, Automotive, and the Energy Networks sector, giving me a broad, practical understanding of complex supply chains and workforce challenges across critical industries. I currently work with Electricity Transmission Supply Chain partners and Transmission Operators to develop and sustain a skilled, future‑ready workforce, essential to meeting the UK’s evolving energy demands. Focused on creating lasting impact through collaboration, I motivate teams and stakeholders to align around shared goals and deliver meaningful, long‑term outcomes.

My involvement in women’s networks

I am passionate about gender equity and inclusive leadership. I am a Co‑Chair of Women in National Grid and played a key role in the development of the Women Networks Forum, a UK‑wide collaboration connecting women’s networks across organisations to share knowledge, influence change, and drive collective impact. I was included as a Future Leader Role Model on the INvolve – The Inclusion People Heroes Role Model Lists 2025 supported by YouTube. These global Lists celebrate Role Models in business who are driving inclusion for women in business. 

Women’s causes I’m particularly interested in

My interests centre on gender equity and promoting allyship, particularly in traditionally male‑dominated sectors. I am committed to initiatives that create systemic change and engage allies to accelerate progress across organisations and industries.

Anah Lister

Mace

My professional background

Anah is a project manager who started her career on site delivering schools for Bouygues UK.  In 2011 she moved to Mace Construct and worked on site across a range of flagship projects in London. Post covid she transferred to Consult, initially being full time seconded into the Buckingham Palace Reservicing programme and is now leading the New Prisons Portfolio for the MoJ account at Mace.

My involvement in women’s networks

Anah is the co-chair of Women at Mace and has helped to deliver impactful campaigns and events, from providing toolkits to combat microaggressions to coaching sessions to grow careers.

Women’s causes I am particularly interested in

I am passionate about creating gender equity at all levels and highlighting to our male allies, just how important they are on this journey.

Lara Tabet

Arup

My professional background

I am a chartered civil engineer and technical consultant working in the transport sector since 2011. I have experience in design, strategy and feasibility of multi-disciplinary projects in the UK and across 4 continents. I have particular interest in future mobility, including Connected Autonomous Mobility, mobility hubs, and Hyperloop.

I believe in authentic and inclusive leadership and often adopt a facilitative approach in all my leadership roles. I use my strong communication and facilitation skills to drive collaboration in multidisciplinary teams and produce optimal integrated solutions, tailored to clients’ needs and project outcomes.

My involvement in women’s networks

I have been part of Arup’s Connect Women network since the start of my career and am now the co-chair for our UKIMEA region. Through this network, I hope to enable women to reach their full potential through the 4Cs: Celebration, Career progression, Community, and Critical friend. I am part of the WNF steering group with particular focus on career progression.

Women’s causes I am particularly interested in

Causes I am particularly interested include: Empathy in leadership, women’s health and fertility, and sexual harassment.