Encouraging women to work in the nuclear industry – two female employees short-listed for the Fem’Energia prize

In 2020, VINCI Energies signed up to Women In Nuclear France (WIN France). It is a cross-disciplinary group of the French Nuclear Energy Society (SFEN) formed to promote the reputation of nuclear energy and attract women to the industry.

VINCI Energies became a partner to WIN France and as such supports the Fem’Energia prize that seeks to encourage and support women working in nuclear. This year, two employees from VINCI Energies have been short-listed for the prize: Abir in the “Active woman” category, and Charlotte in the “Master’s work/study programme” category. Read on to learn more about our two employees and check in on social media on 15 December to find out who wins!

About Abir, nominated in the “Active woman” category

Abir, 31, is a trained electrical engineer. Now a business manager at Omexom (VINCI Energies) for the last three years, Abir “fell in love wtith the nuclear industry” during her end-of-year work placement at the Chinon Nuclear Power Plant over seven years ago. The thing she loves most about her job is the people with whom she works and the challenges she faces in her role as business manager tasked with the general responsibility for a contract from the tender stage through to delivery.

Both at work and at home, Abir is an upbeat, energetic young woman who is going places.

When asked why she applied to the Fem’Energia prize, she said she wanted to share her experience, prove the nuclear industry isn’t all about men and open the door for other young women who may be interested in working in nuclear.

About Charlotte, nominated in the “Master’s work/study programme” category

Charlotte, 25, has a master’s degree in business. With a father and two older brothers who work in nuclear, Charlotte never considered pursuing a career in any other industry. She’s been interested in nuclear energy since her early teenage years and is fascinated by the variety of professions on offer – geology, mechanics, electricity, chemistry, etc. While the nuclear industry requires a lot of “technical” experts, Charlotte is thrilled to be able to practise her more “general” profession within the sector. She works as a project buyer at Omexom (VINCI Energies), where she has recently completed her work/study programme.

Charlotte is a bold young woman who always gives 100% and adopts a positive attitude in everything she does. She has an invisible disability, which she describes as her greatest strength. She is the disability champion and member of the “Conférence des Grandes Écoles”, whereby she represents disabled students at conferences. She is also working with her old high school, where she goes back to talk to pupils about her studies, the choices she has made and her involvement in the nuclear industry.