About NEWIEE

Advancing Diversity. Empowering the Industry.

15 years ago, a small group of women working at the intersection of the energy and environmental fields came together to form New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE). Their vision was to elevate the voices of women and drive greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the energy and environmental sectors and harness the passion, intelligence and leadership experience of women to promote and encourage public interest in the energy and environmental sectors.

Since then, NEWIEE has evolved into a gender-diverse and inclusive community of more than 1,200 active members across the region, providing professional development and career opportunities, taking a leadership role in highlighting regional issues, showcasing the achievements of some of the most notable regional and national changemakers and providing inspiration to countless others through their example.

Our Mission is to diversify the energy and environmental fields.

Elevating Underrepresented Voices & Celebrating Success
Through awards, member spotlights, and original programming
Empowering Career Advancement
Offering learning and networking opportunities throughout the year
Enabling Career Entry
Supporting Exploration of Career Opportunities
Among the next generation of leaders through outreach to high school and college students

Why NEWIEE’s Work Matters

Despite some progress in recent years, multiple studies show that Women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals:

  • Remain underrepresented in the industry as a whole and in leadership roles.
  • Are often paid less than their white male counterparts, perpetuating economic disparities.
  • May have fewer opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and advancement, hindering their career growth.
  • Are more likely to experience bias, microaggressions, and unsafe work environments, affecting their job satisfaction and well-being and ultimately negatively impacting retention and advancement, further exacerbating workforce shortages.

By introducing new, diverse candidates to the field, facilitating career entry and empowering advancement, NEWIEE delivers important benefits to our members and the region:

  • Numerous studies have established the link between diversity and improved business performance. Diverse teams lead to better financial results, increased innovation, faster growth, greater employee satisfaction, and a more productive workplace.
  • Increasing diversity in the energy and environmental sectors is an opportunity to create greater economic equity. These industries offer high-quality jobs with above-average wages and benefits, benefiting young people and mid-career individuals.
  • The sector faces a severe shortage of skilled workers needed to achieve national climate goals and drive innovation. Expanding the candidate pool by diversifying the industry attracts more talent and helps build a robust prospect pipeline and skilled workforce.

NEWIEE 2008-2023

2008-2012: NEWIEE Plants Roots
  • First NEWIEE meeting: 8 women with the goal of creating a place to gather and support each other
  • First Annual Awards Gala held to inspire and recognize women leaders in the energy and environmental fields
  • New Hampshire Chapter founded
2013-2016: Community Grows
  • Regular newsletter to 1,300 recipients begins
  • Women Shaping the Agenda (WSTA) starts at MIT as a panel discussion among leaders in the industry, featuring engaging dialog and debate on industry and policy topics in New England
  • Western New England Chapter founded
  • Rising Star category added to Annual Awards Gala
2017-2019: Exponential Growth
  • NEWIEE on Campus launched to help introduce students to energy and environmental fields
  • Mentoring Program begins
  • New Membership structure adds Organizational Members
  • Annual Programming Roundtable launched
  • Boston, Rhode Island, and Maine chapters launched
  • Jobs Board added to the website
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative launched
  • Rising Professionals group launched
  • First WSTA in Rhode Island
2020-2023: Deep Roots Anchor NEWIEE
  • “Ask Me Anything!” monthly webinar series created
  • 1,200 members exceeded
  • Revolutionary Power Fellowships launched
  • NEWIEE Up-and-Comers launched
  • 10th Annual Awards Gala held
  • 1,000th opportunity posted on NEWIEE Jobs Board
  • First Women Shaping the Agenda events in Connecticut and New Hampshire
Contact NEWIEE