By Yunus Center, AIT
30 May 2025 – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) recently welcomed 110 mid-career women engineers from across South Asia for the Capstone Week and Award Ceremony of the South Asia Region 100 Women Leaders’ Program (SAR100–2.0). Held from 26 to 30 May 2025, the event marked the culmination of a six-month intensive capacity-building initiative designed to equip women professionals with the tools and knowledge to lead the region’s energy transition.
SAR100 is a capacity-enhancing initiative aimed at strengthening the professional competencies and leadership capacities of women engineers in South Asia’s dynamic energy sector. The program is led by the World Bank and funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) initiative.
The Knowledge Hub at the Yunus Center (YCA), Asian Institute of Technology – in collaboration for academic delivery by the Department of Sustainable Energy Transition (SE) under the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) –implemented the SAR100–2.0 program. Developed in close collaboration with national counterparts from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the program featured six online training modules and culminated in a one-week Capstone Seminar held on AIT’s campus in Thailand.
Delivering the welcome remarks at the opening of Capstone Week, Mr. Russell Rein, Vice President for Administration at AIT, highlighted the significance of the SAR100 Women Leaders’ Program. “The SAR100 Women Leaders’ Program is a powerful platform for advancing leadership, collaboration, and transformation,” he said. “Its impact extends far beyond the sessions—it builds lasting connections and inspires change across the region.”
Dr. Faiz Shah, Executive Director, Yunus Center, AIT and Program Director of SAR100 added: “The value of this program is not just that you participate, the value is that you perform. Here we have the opportunity of listening to and learning from 100 different perspectives. it is enormously enriching and unparalleled in its pedagogical power.”
A Poster Exhibition followed, where ten capstone project groups showcased innovative solutions on themes such as artificial intelligence, smart grid integration, gender-inclusive energy planning, and climate resilience.
The day continued with a speed networking session organized by SARIC and the launch of The Power We Carry—a storybook capturing the journeys of 110 participants through narratives of resilience, leadership, and growth. Over the subsequent days, participants presented their capstone projects addressing region-specific challenges including distributed energy, energy policy reform, cybersecurity, and sustainability.
Mid-week sessions featured a high-level panel on women’s leadership in energy transitions, with insights from representatives of the World Bank, DFAT, National Power Training Institute (NPTI), and AIT. A “Women and Leadership” workshop led by Professor Paula Banerjee, IDRC Endowed Research Chair on Gender and Forced Displacement at AIT, and a technical field visit to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), further enriched the program’s experiential learning component.
On 29 May, participants led peer-learning sessions and joined a reflective storytelling forum. The day concluded with a vibrant cultural evening, where participants celebrated the region’s rich diversity through performances in traditional attire—strengthening regional solidarity and friendships.
Capstone Week concluded on 30 May with a formal Award Ceremony, attended by distinguished guests including H.E. Fuwad Thowfeek, Ambassador of the Maldives to Thailand; Mr. Simon Cramp, Strategic Director of Partnerships for Infrastructure at DFAT; and Ms. Tanushree Bhowmik, Partnership Coordinator – India, South Asia Gender and Energy Facility (SAGE), World Bank.
Certificates were presented by Prof. Abdul Salam, Dean of SERD; Dr. Faiz Shah and Dr. Pradeep Kumar Dash, Senior Program Specialist and Development Management Lead at YCA; and Dr. Jai Govind Singh, Head of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (ECC). The ceremony featured closing reflections from graduate representatives of each participating country. A stirring performance by the AIT International School Choir brought the week to a memorable close.
H.E. Fuwad Thowfeek remarked, “Programs like WePOWER SAR100 are not just milestones in individual careers, they are building blocks in reshaping entire systems. The graduates of this program represent a new generation of leaders: technically capable, socially conscious, and globally connected.”
Mr. Simon Cramp said, “The world is your oyster. You have positioned yourselves for global leadership. The graduates of the program are part of a global cohort transforming the face of this sector worldwide.”
Ms. Tanushree Bhowmik shared: “The energy transition presents one of the greatest opportunities for women to enter the energy sector. It’s not just an opportunity, it’s a necessity for the future of power.”
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic and Research, AIT said, “Today’s celebration is not only a significant academic milestone, but also a powerful demonstration of what international collaboration can achieve. SAR100 2.0 stands as a model of multistakeholder synergy led by the World Bank, funded by the DFAT, and implemented through the dedication of a global alliance of partners.”
More than just a training program, SAR100–2.0 represents a regional movement—one that fosters inclusive technical leadership through structured learning, expert mentorship, and cross-border collaboration. By building a strong community of women engineers in STEM, the initiative is preparing a new generation to lead South Asia’s sustainable and inclusive energy transformation.
