Nina Skorupska will speak at the first Everywoman Women in Energy Academy on 9 September, where she will challenge female attendees seeking career planning and personal development tips to ask themselves “Why should anyone want to be led by me?”

As a female who has held leadership roles in a male-dominated industry, Skorupska advises:

“It is crucial you learn to ‘degenderise’ conversations with your team. Learn to use banter that creates a ‘safe’ environment for communication – not only for yourself but for others. Meet your team half way.”

Personal notes:

What are your best and worst career moments?

Best:

working as a board member of a very large energy company in the Netherlands. It’s a very progressive, customer-focused environment to work in and our team delivered so positively on our projects. When a team functions that well it’s worth more than money can buy.

Worst:

I worked for an energy company where I was the recognised fuel expert and had to visit a power station to offer advice. At the last moment, my boss who was meant to accompany me on the trip had to pull out and so I went on my own. The management team at that power station then proceeded to totally ignore me. They didn’t believe that as a woman  I had the capability to help them improve their plant performance. The engineering manager led the behaviour. It was a terrible example of the importance of leadership and the first time I encountered blatant sexism.

Which five people would you invite to your ideal dinner party and why?

Mo Molan – she was witty and brave but always human. She was extraordinarily respected – even by people who didn’t agree with her views.

Nelson Mandela – another person with incredible powers of reconciliation.

Alan Davies and Stephen Fry, to help us talk about serious issues with some humour.

And my sister Helena Billington. She’s always been an inspiration to me – she’s some years older and broke convention by going to university – a woman from a poor Polish family. She then became a chemistry teacher and has inspired countless young people.

If there was room I would, of course, also invite my husband.

Name four thingson your desk:

My Mac book – I love the way design and functionality come together in Apple products. A picture of my sisters, a Calla lily and a stack of pamphlets about growing the renewable energy economy – the Renewable Energy Association’s reason for being.