The WePOWER Role Model Series is a collection of stories showcasing the journeys of women working in the energy sector across South Asia. These stories highlight their achievements, courage, and unwavering dedication to their work. We hope they serve as an inspiration for other women to pursue careers in STEM and the energy sector and encourage institutions to create more inclusive opportunities for women in this field.
Melundi Nishshanka
Senior Electrical Engineer, Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd (LECO), Sri Lanka
Melundi Nishshanka is a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s power sector, currently serving as the only woman to have held the position of Senior Electrical Engineer at Lanka Electricity Company (LECO). With nearly a decade of experience in the energy sector, she leads a team of 120 staff across three departments, overseeing the electrical network and ensuring uninterrupted power supply to over 90,000 customers. As she explains she has had many sleepless nights, but she has been truly believing on-site work with her team (which is all male) and she enjoys the challenges she faces in her work.
Her role is demanding and unpredictable—requiring her to be on-call 24/7 and often leading her to field sites late at night. Despite the challenges of managing an all-male team in a traditionally male-dominated field, Melundi embraces her work with passion and purpose. She finds motivation in being hands-on in operations, solving problems in real-time, and making a tangible impact on people’s daily lives.
A typical day for Melundi begins at 4 a.m., well before her young son wakes up. She carves out early-morning hours for herself—doing yoga, reading, meditating, or catching up on work. Her workdays vary, from handling meetings and operational planning in the office to overseeing network issues in the field. Even after hours, she sets aside time to recharge—whether spending time with family or going for a swim once a week.
What keeps her going?
Belief in herself – confidence in her resilience, energy, and abilities.
Passion for the power sector – a genuine love for her field and solving real-world problems.
A deep sense of purpose – knowing her work directly improves people’s lives.
How does she make her field more gender-inclusive?
Melundi mentors junior women engineers at LECO, encourages them to pursue leadership roles, and leads by example. She believes representation matters, and by sharing her own journey, she hopes to break stereotypes and inspire more women to enter the energy sector.
She believes that women in her capacity have to be role models through their work showing that women are just as capable in technical and operational roles as men and this should inspire more women to step into this field.
Melundi also acknowledges the importance of raising awareness and breaking stereotyping by sharing personal journeys and highlighting the contribution of women in the Energy sector. She thinks that these stories need to be shared, and more and more women should know that they are not alone in this profession. The numbers may be small but that is still something to be proud of.
Her advice to aspiring women professionals:
"Practice self-love and make time for things that matter to you. Challenges will come, but stay strong mentally—most battles are fought and won in the mind. Surround yourself with supportive people and believe in your ability to shape your environment."
Swati Goel
Deputy General Manager
Power Finance Corporation Ltd, New Delhi, India
Swati Goel’s professional journey of over 15 years has given her the opportunity to be a part of the evolution of the Power sector in India. Her various roles within the Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), a public sector enterprise that provides funds and support to power projects, has given her the confidence and courage to take on challenges and changes.
Swati’s keen interest in math, science and tech innovations led her to pursue an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication. She started her career with a role in chip design for cellphones and automobiles. Thereafter, she acquired a management degree with specialization in finance, which helped her advance her professional skills. Her job with PFC was the next defining step in” her career.
Swati’s journey in PFC started with the responsibility of appraising conventional power projects such as thermal and hydro, followed by the era of renewable energy projects such as solar and wind. Then PFC expanded its horizons to fund equipment manufacturing, smart meter projects and so on. And now it is a different arena altogether with the emergence of new technologies around energy transition. So, in Swati’s own words, “there is never a dull moment in this industry”.
Her role requires her to be associated with projects right from the design stage till the operational stage. This involves close monitoring of the project’s progress both physically and financially. Swati’s role requires site visits at various stages of development and operation. These site visits have taken her to various corners of India, including some remote locations that require days of travel by road from the nearest airport or railway station. She recalls instances where the staff at a project site were clearly surprised to find a “woman officer” turning up for inspection.
Despite the challenges and demands of her profession, Swati — who is also the mother of a 10-year-old daughter — is both happy and grateful that her role is a perfect blend of both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies. In her free time, which sometimes includes a weekend, Swati likes to cycle, dance or paint with her daughter.
What keeps her going?
Learning opportunities in her profession - it keeps her on her toes and makes her push her boundaries
Dynamism of the Power sector - it is an ever-evolving industry and always full of challenges
Inspiration from a woman leader - Swati is deeply motivated by her regular interactions with the PFC Chairman & Managing Director.
What does she do to make the field more gender inclusive?
Swati believes that “having women leaders at the top definitely helps” other women. The women leaders she has worked with have helped Swati learn the importance of time management, work-life balance and delegating effectively. Her own endeavor is to lead by example, so that other women, too, feel inspired.
Swati also feels that it is important for professionals like her to give the right perspective to the next generation when it comes to gender inclusion. “Most biases at the workplace stem from our upbringing and societal norms. As parents we must overcome these biases in our daily lives and not pass on stereotypes or biases to our children,” she says.
Her advice to aspiring women professionals
Invest in yourself. Give yourself time — whether it is a hobby or a self-care routine. Keep challenging yourself and be open to change and new developments.
Sumaiya Tabassom’s love for light began early in life. This love became a beacon of hope and inspiration for Sumaiya as she chose electrical and electronics engineering as her field of study. After graduation, she took up the role of a part-time faculty member at the university she graduated from. Very soon, she transitioned from the classroom to a job at a solar energy company. In January 2013, Sumaiya joined Power Grid Bangladesh PLC, the country’s sole transmission utility.
Sumaiya’s first role in Power Grid was that of an engineer in a grid circle. It was during this time that Sumaiya also pursued an MBA in Management of Information Systems. She fulfilled her responsibilities at work by day and took evening classes to complete the course. More than three years later, she was transferred to the design department — more specifically, the transmission line design department. After this, Sumaiya spent more than four years in substation design. This role gave her the opportunity to design substations of various voltage levels. Her next big step was a promotion to the rank of an Executive Engineer with the contract department.
While Sumaiya is based in Dhaka, where she lives with her mother, her work with Power Grid has taken to various substation sites across Bangladesh. A stickler for punctuality, Sumaiya always leaves for work early to beat the traffic. “Everybody in my office knows that I am in my room by 9 am. I like to reach before time,” she says. She exercises the same kind of discipline when it comes to her time to rest and sleep. “I often stay back in the office after 5 pm to attend to urgent matters… but at night, I like to sleep by 11 pm. No one can reach me after 11 pm.” Sumaiya views time as a finite but flexible resource: “We all get the same 24 hours, and it’s up to us to use them wisely,” she says.
On her way to work, she likes to listen to music or poetry. She also likes to sing and write. In challenging situations — whether in her personal or professional life — Sumaiya often falls back on the words of her favorite poets and songwriters for inspiration and courage. She also finds solace in the words and memories of her own father, a man who inspired her to always listen to her heart and stand up for what she believes in.
In an organisation with only 179 women (approx.) — which is around 5% of Power Grid’s workforce — Sumaiya’s work is not limited to just that of her department. She is a firm believer in workplace equality and strives to make Power Grid a truly gender-friendly place. Sumaiya says that many colleagues, especially women, approach her for advice and guidance on both personal and professional matters. She values her role as a mentor because people find assurance and courage in her words and actions. In doing so, Sumaiya iterates her love for light. “Sometimes you have to be the light… And illuminate the path for others,” she says.
What keeps her going?
Keeping her mind energized and enriched: The idle brain is the devil’s workshop, so it’s best to be productive and keep negative thoughts away
Being open to feedback: Sumaiya doesn’t only believe in sharing honest feedback with people around her. She is equally open to feedback from others.
Journalling: From her conversations with God to her insightful reflections on social issues, Sumaiya’s writings reflect a voice that is anchored in faith, yet unafraid to question the world around her.
What does she do to make the field more gender inclusive?
Leading by example, according to Sumaiya, is the most important part of her efforts at making the field of her work more gender inclusive. “Sometimes, even women believe in gender stereotypes and statements such as ‘the power sector is a male dominated area’. So, when we put out a circular for entry-level engineers, there was no response from women applicants. How will you change the system if you are not in the system?” Sumaiya asks.
Sumaiya also believes in breaking labels. There is nothing that is strictly ‘male’ or ‘female’ at a workplace. “Our work should speak for us,” she says.
Last but not the least, one should learn to “ignore the noise”. Sumaiya explains this with a powerful example: “There will always be politics and negativity around you, but you have to stick to what you are doing… In my earlier days at Power Grid, some male colleagues told me that my attire was unsuitable for fieldwork. My answer to them was ‘let me decide what works for me’. As long as my performance is good, no one should be bothered about what I wear.”
Her advice to aspiring women professionals
There will be times when you will feel like you’re walking through darkness. You have to remember you are the light. Your courage, persistence and actions will illuminate the path for others.
Be yourself, and the world will adjust.When a bird sits on a tree, it is not afraid of the branch breaking — because it trusts its own wings, not the branch. In the same way, we should place our trust in our own abilities and not external circumstances.
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering (IOE), Nepal; and Coordinator, Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis Unit, Center for Energy Studies
Anita Prajapati’s life runs on energy. An Assistant Professor at the Institute of Engineering’sDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering for the last seven years, this Kathmandu resident’s day is packed with lesson plans, classroom lectures, supervision of projects and theses by her students, research work and quality time with her family, which includes her three-year-old twin daughters.
Each semester at IOE comes with its own routine. Anita’s hours at the institute are mostly devoted to classroom lectures on a range of subjects: engineering economics, energy systems planning, modeling and policy analysis, and energy finance. In between lectures, she also takes out time for lesson plans as well as reading and research for her own writings in journals. Since 2024, she is also a coordinator of Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis Unit at Center for Energy Studies. In this role, she provides training on energy systems modeling, planning and analysis
Anita’s involvement in the Energy sector, specifically in systems modeling and policy analysis, began more than 13 years ago. Her contributions as an energy analyst exemplify her commitment and passion for the sector. She played a significant role in developing a long-term strategy for net-zero emissions, national action plans for short-lived climate pollutants, implementation plan of Nepal’s second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), developing the third NDC, and conducting a provincial energy supply and consumption survey of Nepal.
Anita’s professional roles — that of an academic and an analyst — allow her to balance classroom teaching with her field experience. Before she joined academics, this mechanical engineer worked with the Department of Road for four years. Her responsibilities of procuring equipment and conducting inspections helped her earn valuable on-ground experience.
Deadlines and duties are a constant in Anita’s life. A member of the WePOWER-SAR100 Training’s second cohort, Anita spent several sleepless nights trying to complete her assignments. But that didn’t affect her routine with her daughters. She would still wake them up at seven in the morning, make breakfast for them, and then get ready for work. At night, she put them to bed at nine and immediately went back to her assignments and work list for the next day.
Despite her hectic schedule, Anita is determined to retain her lifelong relationship with books. She still likes to read a few pages at bedtime. Even if she doesn’t get the time to read, she always sleeps with a book under her pillow.
Anita’s passion for her work and her ability to take on challenges make her an inspiration for others around her. In her own way, she tries to lead by example, so that other women can also realize their dreams and keep the chain of motivation and inspiration alive.
What keeps her going?
Support and encouragement from the family: Anita finds strength in the words of encouragement from her parents and the support of her husband.
Ability to work hard: There is no substitute for hard work. It leads everyone from one ladder of success to the next.
Keeping the mind engaged: From reading a new book to working on a new project, Anita likes to stay focused and engaged.
What does she do to make the field more gender inclusive?
Anita believes in creating a supportive environment at work to make the sector more gender inclusive. “We must support every female at work and make them feel okay whenever they feel bad,” Anita says. She believes that the actions and conduct of colleagues are as important as organizational policies and reforms.
Mentoring and capacity building are two other important factors in making a sector gender inclusive. These give confidence to employees, especially women, to voice their ideas, problems and concerns.
Anita also believes that gender sensitization programs must be integrated within academic courses, so that freshers who enter the workforce are fully prepared to be responsible and aware professionals.
Her advice to aspiring women professionals
“Sometimes, women have to work harder than men as professionals. Don’t let that thought exhaust you. If you give up that easily, how can we achieve more? Keep doing your work and help other women around you realize their dreams. You have to play your part for the coming generations,” Anita says.
Blog » WePOWER Role Model Series!
WePOWER Role Model Series!
The WePOWER Role Model Series is a collection of stories showcasing the journeys of women working in the energy sector across South Asia. These stories highlight their achievements, courage, and unwavering dedication to their work. We hope they serve as an inspiration for other women to pursue careers in STEM and the energy sector and encourage institutions to create more inclusive opportunities for women in this field.
Melundi Nishshanka
Senior Electrical Engineer, Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd (LECO), Sri Lanka
Melundi Nishshanka is a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s power sector, currently serving as the only woman to have held the position of Senior Electrical Engineer at Lanka Electricity Company (LECO). With nearly a decade of experience in the energy sector, she leads a team of 120 staff across three departments, overseeing the electrical network and ensuring uninterrupted power supply to over 90,000 customers. As she explains she has had many sleepless nights, but she has been truly believing on-site work with her team (which is all male) and she enjoys the challenges she faces in her work.
Her role is demanding and unpredictable—requiring her to be on-call 24/7 and often leading her to field sites late at night. Despite the challenges of managing an all-male team in a traditionally male-dominated field, Melundi embraces her work with passion and purpose. She finds motivation in being hands-on in operations, solving problems in real-time, and making a tangible impact on people’s daily lives.
A typical day for Melundi begins at 4 a.m., well before her young son wakes up. She carves out early-morning hours for herself—doing yoga, reading, meditating, or catching up on work. Her workdays vary, from handling meetings and operational planning in the office to overseeing network issues in the field. Even after hours, she sets aside time to recharge—whether spending time with family or going for a swim once a week.
What keeps her going?
How does she make her field more gender-inclusive?
Melundi mentors junior women engineers at LECO, encourages them to pursue leadership roles, and leads by example. She believes representation matters, and by sharing her own journey, she hopes to break stereotypes and inspire more women to enter the energy sector.
She believes that women in her capacity have to be role models through their work showing that women are just as capable in technical and operational roles as men and this should inspire more women to step into this field.
Melundi also acknowledges the importance of raising awareness and breaking stereotyping by sharing personal journeys and highlighting the contribution of women in the Energy sector. She thinks that these stories need to be shared, and more and more women should know that they are not alone in this profession. The numbers may be small but that is still something to be proud of.
Her advice to aspiring women professionals:
"Practice self-love and make time for things that matter to you. Challenges will come, but stay strong mentally—most battles are fought and won in the mind. Surround yourself with supportive people and believe in your ability to shape your environment."
Swati Goel
Deputy General Manager
Power Finance Corporation Ltd, New Delhi, India
Swati Goel’s professional journey of over 15 years has given her the opportunity to be a part of the evolution of the Power sector in India. Her various roles within the Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), a public sector enterprise that provides funds and support to power projects, has given her the confidence and courage to take on challenges and changes.
Swati’s keen interest in math, science and tech innovations led her to pursue an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication. She started her career with a role in chip design for cellphones and automobiles. Thereafter, she acquired a management degree with specialization in finance, which helped her advance her professional skills. Her job with PFC was the next defining step in” her career.
Swati’s journey in PFC started with the responsibility of appraising conventional power projects such as thermal and hydro, followed by the era of renewable energy projects such as solar and wind. Then PFC expanded its horizons to fund equipment manufacturing, smart meter projects and so on. And now it is a different arena altogether with the emergence of new technologies around energy transition. So, in Swati’s own words, “there is never a dull moment in this industry”.
Her role requires her to be associated with projects right from the design stage till the operational stage. This involves close monitoring of the project’s progress both physically and financially. Swati’s role requires site visits at various stages of development and operation. These site visits have taken her to various corners of India, including some remote locations that require days of travel by road from the nearest airport or railway station. She recalls instances where the staff at a project site were clearly surprised to find a “woman officer” turning up for inspection.
Despite the challenges and demands of her profession, Swati — who is also the mother of a 10-year-old daughter — is both happy and grateful that her role is a perfect blend of both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies. In her free time, which sometimes includes a weekend, Swati likes to cycle, dance or paint with her daughter.
What keeps her going?
What does she do to make the field more gender inclusive?
Swati believes that “having women leaders at the top definitely helps” other women. The women leaders she has worked with have helped Swati learn the importance of time management, work-life balance and delegating effectively. Her own endeavor is to lead by example, so that other women, too, feel inspired.
Swati also feels that it is important for professionals like her to give the right perspective to the next generation when it comes to gender inclusion. “Most biases at the workplace stem from our upbringing and societal norms. As parents we must overcome these biases in our daily lives and not pass on stereotypes or biases to our children,” she says.
Her advice to aspiring women professionals
Invest in yourself. Give yourself time — whether it is a hobby or a self-care routine. Keep challenging yourself and be open to change and new developments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sumaiya Tabassom
Executive Engineer
Power Grid Bangladesh PLC
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sumaiya Tabassom’s love for light began early in life. This love became a beacon of hope and inspiration for Sumaiya as she chose electrical and electronics engineering as her field of study. After graduation, she took up the role of a part-time faculty member at the university she graduated from. Very soon, she transitioned from the classroom to a job at a solar energy company. In January 2013, Sumaiya joined Power Grid Bangladesh PLC, the country’s sole transmission utility.
Sumaiya’s first role in Power Grid was that of an engineer in a grid circle. It was during this time that Sumaiya also pursued an MBA in Management of Information Systems. She fulfilled her responsibilities at work by day and took evening classes to complete the course. More than three years later, she was transferred to the design department — more specifically, the transmission line design department. After this, Sumaiya spent more than four years in substation design. This role gave her the opportunity to design substations of various voltage levels. Her next big step was a promotion to the rank of an Executive Engineer with the contract department.
While Sumaiya is based in Dhaka, where she lives with her mother, her work with Power Grid has taken to various substation sites across Bangladesh. A stickler for punctuality, Sumaiya always leaves for work early to beat the traffic. “Everybody in my office knows that I am in my room by 9 am. I like to reach before time,” she says. She exercises the same kind of discipline when it comes to her time to rest and sleep. “I often stay back in the office after 5 pm to attend to urgent matters… but at night, I like to sleep by 11 pm. No one can reach me after 11 pm.” Sumaiya views time as a finite but flexible resource: “We all get the same 24 hours, and it’s up to us to use them wisely,” she says.
On her way to work, she likes to listen to music or poetry. She also likes to sing and write. In challenging situations — whether in her personal or professional life — Sumaiya often falls back on the words of her favorite poets and songwriters for inspiration and courage. She also finds solace in the words and memories of her own father, a man who inspired her to always listen to her heart and stand up for what she believes in.
In an organisation with only 179 women (approx.) — which is around 5% of Power Grid’s workforce — Sumaiya’s work is not limited to just that of her department. She is a firm believer in workplace equality and strives to make Power Grid a truly gender-friendly place. Sumaiya says that many colleagues, especially women, approach her for advice and guidance on both personal and professional matters. She values her role as a mentor because people find assurance and courage in her words and actions. In doing so, Sumaiya iterates her love for light. “Sometimes you have to be the light… And illuminate the path for others,” she says.
What keeps her going?
What does she do to make the field more gender inclusive?
Leading by example, according to Sumaiya, is the most important part of her efforts at making the field of her work more gender inclusive. “Sometimes, even women believe in gender stereotypes and statements such as ‘the power sector is a male dominated area’. So, when we put out a circular for entry-level engineers, there was no response from women applicants. How will you change the system if you are not in the system?” Sumaiya asks.
Sumaiya also believes in breaking labels. There is nothing that is strictly ‘male’ or ‘female’ at a workplace. “Our work should speak for us,” she says.
Last but not the least, one should learn to “ignore the noise”. Sumaiya explains this with a powerful example: “There will always be politics and negativity around you, but you have to stick to what you are doing… In my earlier days at Power Grid, some male colleagues told me that my attire was unsuitable for fieldwork. My answer to them was ‘let me decide what works for me’. As long as my performance is good, no one should be bothered about what I wear.”
Her advice to aspiring women professionals
There will be times when you will feel like you’re walking through darkness. You have to remember you are the light. Your courage, persistence and actions will illuminate the path for others.
Be yourself, and the world will adjust. When a bird sits on a tree, it is not afraid of the branch breaking — because it trusts its own wings, not the branch. In the same way, we should place our trust in our own abilities and not external circumstances.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anita Prajapati
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering (IOE), Nepal; and Coordinator, Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis Unit, Center for Energy Studies
Anita Prajapati’s life runs on energy. An Assistant Professor at the Institute of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering for the last seven years, this Kathmandu resident’s day is packed with lesson plans, classroom lectures, supervision of projects and theses by her students, research work and quality time with her family, which includes her three-year-old twin daughters.
Each semester at IOE comes with its own routine. Anita’s hours at the institute are mostly devoted to classroom lectures on a range of subjects: engineering economics, energy systems planning, modeling and policy analysis, and energy finance. In between lectures, she also takes out time for lesson plans as well as reading and research for her own writings in journals. Since 2024, she is also a coordinator of Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis Unit at Center for Energy Studies. In this role, she provides training on energy systems modeling, planning and analysis
Anita’s involvement in the Energy sector, specifically in systems modeling and policy analysis, began more than 13 years ago. Her contributions as an energy analyst exemplify her commitment and passion for the sector. She played a significant role in developing a long-term strategy for net-zero emissions, national action plans for short-lived climate pollutants, implementation plan of Nepal’s second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), developing the third NDC, and conducting a provincial energy supply and consumption survey of Nepal.
Anita’s professional roles — that of an academic and an analyst — allow her to balance classroom teaching with her field experience. Before she joined academics, this mechanical engineer worked with the Department of Road for four years. Her responsibilities of procuring equipment and conducting inspections helped her earn valuable on-ground experience.
Deadlines and duties are a constant in Anita’s life. A member of the WePOWER-SAR100 Training’s second cohort, Anita spent several sleepless nights trying to complete her assignments. But that didn’t affect her routine with her daughters. She would still wake them up at seven in the morning, make breakfast for them, and then get ready for work. At night, she put them to bed at nine and immediately went back to her assignments and work list for the next day.
Despite her hectic schedule, Anita is determined to retain her lifelong relationship with books. She still likes to read a few pages at bedtime. Even if she doesn’t get the time to read, she always sleeps with a book under her pillow.
Anita’s passion for her work and her ability to take on challenges make her an inspiration for others around her. In her own way, she tries to lead by example, so that other women can also realize their dreams and keep the chain of motivation and inspiration alive.
What keeps her going?
What does she do to make the field more gender inclusive?
Anita believes in creating a supportive environment at work to make the sector more gender inclusive. “We must support every female at work and make them feel okay whenever they feel bad,” Anita says. She believes that the actions and conduct of colleagues are as important as organizational policies and reforms.
Mentoring and capacity building are two other important factors in making a sector gender inclusive. These give confidence to employees, especially women, to voice their ideas, problems and concerns.
Anita also believes that gender sensitization programs must be integrated within academic courses, so that freshers who enter the workforce are fully prepared to be responsible and aware professionals.
Her advice to aspiring women professionals
“Sometimes, women have to work harder than men as professionals. Don’t let that thought exhaust you. If you give up that easily, how can we achieve more? Keep doing your work and help other women around you realize their dreams. You have to play your part for the coming generations,” Anita says.