The 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars celebrates the exceptional achievements of women who are shaping the future of the African energy sector. Among these trailblazers is Amena Bakr, a Senior Research Analyst at Energy Intelligence. With a focus on the energy transition, corporate strategy and oil and gas markets, Bakr’s work plays a pivotal role in shaping the industry’s understanding of key trends and developments.
Could you provide a brief overview of your journey in the energy industry that led to your current role? What are some key achievements or milestones that you are particularly proud of?
My journey in covering the energy sector started around 15 years ago when a senior editor from Reuters news agency advised me to change beats from covering general business news to covering the energy news, and more specifically, the upstream sector. Since I was based in the Gulf region, the move made sense and I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the upstream sector in my role as a wire reporter at Reuters news agency based in Dubai. Shortly after I was assigned to be part of the OPEC reporting team with Reuters. That is when my passion for energy policy reporting began. In mid-2015 I joined Energy Intelligence Group and continued covering the energy sector in the Gulf with a focus on OPEC policy and covering Saudi Arabia’s upstream sector. From there I moved into a research and advisory role with Energy Intelligence.
Some of the milestones achieved include receiving the OPEC award for best journalist in 2023, and in 2019, the International Association for Energy Economics gave me the award for Excellence in Written Journalism for covering the energy sector.
The energy industry is known for its complexities. What were some significant challenges you faced along the way, and how did you navigate through them to achieve your goals?
At the start of any career, it is always a challenge proving yourself as a young professional. Traditionally the energy industry was mainly dominated by men, so women entering the sector may face some challenges in being accepted. Being patient and investing a lot of time in reading and learning more about the energy sector pays off. Gaining the trust of people in the industry also takes time but will happen if you consistently show a high level of professionalism and fairness in covering the news.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to excel in the energy sector? Are there any specific strategies or mindsets that helped you overcome obstacles and reach your current position?
Consistency, hard work and not giving up sound like clichés, but in reality, that’s what really works. Being passionate about the work you do and not seeing it as work but rather an extension of who you are is what will make a difference. I would also say keeping an open mind and learning how to listen and learn at the start of any career is important. I have been very lucky to have so many giants from the energy industry guide me and pass on their experience, and that is invaluable.
A career in energy can be demanding. Could you describe a typical day in your life?
A typical day for me involves a lot of reading and keeping updated with all the events that impact the energy sector. Following that I always strive to keep in touch with individuals who can provide primary sourced information that could be used in my reports and research notes. Providing accurate information to the public involves a lot of time being invested in maintaining good communication channels with the relevant sources. Following that the information gathered needs to be accessed and placed into context which then turns into the final product of a research report, news article or analysis.
Looking ahead, what changes or advancements do you hope to see in the energy sector? How do you envision your role in shaping that future?
I see myself continuing to have a role in covering the energy sector and producing news, analysis and research that would help both the industry and the wider public improve their understanding of current issues impacting energy. We all know the energy industry is crucial to the wellbeing of humanity; access to energy is fundamental for economic development. This means that the shift towards cleaner, more efficient energy use is also important for our future. However, I hope to see this shift happen in a fair and equitable manner that does not leave anyone behind and provides new opportunities for developing economies. Taking a multi-pronged approach towards the energy transition seems like the most pragmatic strategy and allows countries that still have upstream resources to develop them which in turn helps limit the risk of an energy supply shortage. With global energy demand set to rise, we need to continue considering the development of all types of energy sources.
