At 22-years-old, Jacinta Fitzgerald, Grid Connections Engineering Intern at the Australian Energy Market Operator, is one of the emerging women in renewables showing the value of diversity in meeting ambitious net zero goals.
Through initiatives such as the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative and the global Equal by 30 Campaign, Federal and State governments alongside industry are aiming to close the gender gap in clean energy by expanding pathways for women in technical and engineering roles.
One example of this shift can be seen inside the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), where internship and graduate programs are helping to develop the next generation of energy system specialists responsible for integrating renewable energy into the grid.
At a time when only about one-third of Australia’s clean energy workforce are women, particularly under-represented in technical roles, young engineers like Jacinta Fitzgerald, a Grid Connections Engineer Intern, illustrate how policy ambitions are translating into real workforce change.
Working on the technical assessments that determine how wind, solar and battery projects connect safely to the National Electricity Market, Fitzgerald’s role highlights the growing importance of her grid engineering expertise, and the opportunity for more women to shape the infrastructure underpinning Australia’s energy transition.
Policy to workforce change
To address the low representation of women in engineering, construction and technical roles needed to design, build and operate renewable energy infrastructure, organisations such as AEMO are increasingly seeing gender representation not only as a diversity objective, but also as a workforce strategy.
As a signatory to the Equal by 30 Campaign, AEMO is actively working to improve female participation and leadership representation across its workforce. Early-career programs have become one of the most practical mechanisms for achieving this.
AEMO’s internship program offers university students the opportunity to work part-time alongside their studies while gaining hands-on experience across Australia’s energy markets. Available to undergraduate and postgraduate students, internships are typically offered across AEMO offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth, and often serve as a pathway into the organisation’s two-year Graduate Development Program.
For Fitzgerald, joining the organisation in November 2025 provided an opportunity to connect her academic studies with real-world energy system challenges.
“I first became interested in working in energy in high school,” she says.
“I’ve always cared about the environment and climate change, and came to the belief that we needed to stop burning fossil fuels. To play my part, I chose to work in renewable energy.”
Now 22 years old, Fitzgerald is currently studying a Master of Engineering, specialising in Low-Carbon Power Systems, at the University of Melbourne.
“I’ve always been STEM-minded and therefore considered engineering the natural career path for me,” she says.
After moving from Brisbane to Melbourne to begin her studies, Fitzgerald secured her internship through the Australian Power Institute’s Power Up scholarship program, which supports university students interested in power systems engineering.
“I was fortunate to be placed at AEMO over summer 2025-26 in the Onboarding and Connections Team. I’ll continue to work with the team part-time while completing my degree,” Fitzgerald says.
“In my team at AEMO, we’re responsible for enabling the connection of new energy projects and alterations. This currently means a lot of battery energy storage system and hybrid projects.”
“In my role, I’m learning how to conduct grid studies using power systems software to make sure that grid connections comply with their generator performance standards and the National Energy Rules so that our grid can operate safely and securely long-term.”
Grid connection engineering has become a critical part of Australia’s renewable energy rollout, particularly as the electricity system transitions away from large centralised power stations towards geographically dispersed renewable generation.
“Grid connections are often described as a bottleneck in the grid-connection process, but are so important in ensuring we have a safe future energy system that’s resilient to blackouts,” Fitzgerald says.
The workforce needed for net zero
While workforce diversity is improving, engineering remains one of the most male-dominated professions in Australia.
“I do certainly notice the lack of female representation in technical engineering roles. However, I don’t let this deter me because the female engineers I’m surrounded by are so remarkable and have shown me a path I can confidently follow in my developing career,” Fitzgerald says.
Mentorship has played an important role in building her confidence.
“I’m fortunate to look up to female leaders in the energy space who have overcome obstacles and worked diligently to now be in a position to inspire young engineers like me,” Fitzgerald says.
Beyond her internship, Fitzgerald is also involved with Students in Renewable Energy (SiRE), a university organisation designed to connect students with the renewable energy industry through projects, workshops and networking opportunities with industry.
Through the initiative, she helped launch the SiRE Casual Coffee Catch-Ups program, which pairs students with professionals working in the energy sector.
“The idea is to enable simple conversations between young students and industry role models that can have the power to change perspectives and show students who they can become,” she says.
For Fitzgerald, entering the energy sector during one of the most significant infrastructure transformations in Australia’s history brings both exhilaration and significant responsibility.
“I’m driven to remove a tonne of carbon from being emitted into our atmosphere. It’s exciting to be a part of this change that our world desperately needs, ” she says.
At the same time, Fitzgerald believes the next generation of engineers will need to develop new skills to navigate the rapidly evolving energy landscape.
“I think adaptability is one of the most important skills for young engineers in the workforce,” she says.
Fitzgerald adds that strong communication and collaboration skills will also be essential. These soft skills are particularly important in the energy sector as large-scale projects often involve coordination across various regulators, network operators, developers and market operators.
Looking ahead, Fitzgerald hopes to continue contributing to a clean energy future, whether that is through grid engineering, energy system planning or expanding energy access globally.
“I have no idea where my career will take me, and that excites me more than anything. I now have the confidence I need to make a lasting impact,” Fitzgerald says.
This article was featured in ecogeneration magazine (April 2026 edition).
