Energy leaders from Montenegro, Albania and Moldova win first Women in Energy Photo Contest
Winning photographs unveiled yesterday at the Just Transition Forum 2026 in Podgorica, as part of an exhibition recognizing women's leadership in the energy sector in Southeast and Eastern Europe.
The Energy Community Secretariat, in cooperation with GIZ, today announced the winners of the first edition of the Women in Energy Photo Contest. Ilda Dautović (Montenegro), Sara Suli (Albania) and Irina Fusaru (Moldova) took first, second and third prize respectively, selected from 55 applications received from across the Energy Community region.
The winning images, together with 13 further photographs selected for exhibition, are on display from today at the Just Transition Forum 2026 in Podgorica, Montenegro. The exhibition will then travel to the International Gender Champions Meeting in November 2026 and to further regional and international events.
The contest invited women working in the energy sector to submit up to two photographs of themselves in their real working environment, from transmission lines and control rooms to warehouses, solar installations and community energy projects. Its aim is to increase the visibility and recognition of women in the sector by highlighting their diverse roles, expertise and contributions, and to provide role models who challenge gender stereotypes and inspire the next generation.
First prize – Ilda Dautović, Montenegro: "The Anatomy of a Grid"
Ilda Dautović is Chief Transmission Line Maintenance Engineer and Head of the Overhead Lines Maintenance Department at CGES, the Transmission System Operator of Montenegro. With more than ten years in the traditionally male-dominated high-voltage sector, she has risen from graduate intern to field maintenance engineer to department head, coordinating maintenance of Montenegro's 110 kV, 220 kV and 400 kV transmission networks. Her winning photograph was taken in the field at Krnovo, Montenegro.
"Leading in the field means bridging heavy infrastructure with cutting-edge tech to power the future. Gender never defines capability – expertise, teamwork and vision do." – Ilda Dautović
Second prize – Sara Suli, Albania: "Patience has its frequency"
Sara Suli is a SCADA/EMS Specialist at OST, the Albanian Transmission System Operator, and holds a BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Tirana. Her interest in energy began as a child, helping her father repair the water pumps of their apartment building. She has since been active in youth energy advocacy, including the European Youth Energy Forum, Albanian Youth for Energy, IRENA Youth workshops and the Energy Community Summer School. Her photograph was taken at Mali Robit (Kavajë), Albania.
"From grease on my hands to ideas on my desk, I've learned that capability has no gender. You don't have to start with all the answers—start with curiosity." – Sara Suli
Third prize – Irina Fusaru, Moldova: "What Keeps Energy Moving"
Irina Fusaru is Operational Coordination Manager at Premier Energy Distribution in Moldova, where she has built a 22-year career spanning customer service, procurement and logistics. She is also a PhD student at Moldova State University and, through the Horizon Europe STAR project, has researched ESG reporting in the Austrian energy sector, including how gender, diversity and inclusion are reflected in it. Her photograph was taken at the company's Central Warehouse in Chișinău.
"I do not want a woman in energy to be remarkable simply because she is a woman. I want her knowledge, decisions, and results to be what people remember." – Irina Fusaru
All winning and exhibited photographs, together with the stories of the women behind them, are available on the contest website.