On May 7, 2026, the NEWIEE community came together for the Annual Awards Gala to celebrate and honor the amazing women in the energy and environmental industries who are leading the way and making a positive impact in their workplaces, communities and our industry. For 15 years NEWIEE has been hosting this event to shine a light leadership in New England.
We got to hear from Judy Chang, Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Maria Gulluni, Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer at ISO-New England, and Alexis Washburn Northeast Regional Director Emerald Cities Collaborative, as well as NEWIEE Board President Catherine Finneran and Executive Director Kate Johnson.
Keynote Speaker and a founding board member of NEWIEE, Judy Chang, shared her insights on the nation’s energy regulatory landscape, highlighting New England’s resilience in the clean energy transition, as we continue to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the largest energy transition in our lifetime. Judy shared that this transition would not be possible without strong leaders in the industry that push and support others to achieve their professional goals. “We are 600 strong. We are engineers who design the future, the executives who lead it, and the advocates to protect it. We are leading the way, and New England is just getting started.”
Maria Gulluni was awarded the Leadership Award for her dedication to supporting and opening the door for women in this industry. “Relationships matter the most. It takes work to develop and preserve long lasting relationships, but doing so will be greatest gift of your life.”
Lastly our Rising Star Awardee, Alexis Washburn, with under 10 years of industry experience has paved the way for many women and minority owned businesses to be included in the clean energy transition. “Together, we are creating pathways for the next generation – pathways filled with possibility, belonging, and opportunity.”
The inspirational speeches, conversations and connections made for a memorable 15th Annual Awards Gala and a reminder of the power of NEWIEE and community, which expands beyond the gala ballroom and is bringing meaningful impact to women across New England.
© 2026 New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE). NEWIEE is a non-profit, tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
