Women in Energy Photo Contest: Irina Fusaru

The Photographer Behind the Image

• Inspiration and background: 

  I was drawn to energy because it quietly supports almost everything around us. Over the years, I discovered that behind every connection are people, decisions and responsibility. What keeps me here is the chance to solve real problems, keep learning and contribute to a sector that is constantly changing.

  For women, the biggest challenge is not simply entering the energy sector, but having equal opportunities to remain, grow and be trusted with responsibility. Technical fields still carry old stereotypes, often subtle rather than explicit. My professional experience and research have reinforced the same idea: real progress means moving beyond those stereotypes, giving women equal access to experience, development and decision-making, and reaching the point where a woman in a technical or leadership role is seen first for her competence, not her gender.

• Short biography:

  For 22 years, the energy sector has been the constant thread of my professional life. I started in customer service at Premier Energy Distribution and continued through purchase requests and procurement, later becoming Head of Logistics Service and, today, Operational Coordination Manager. Each role has given me a different perspective on what it takes to keep an electricity distribution company working.

  Alongside my professional career, I am a PhD student at Moldova State University. As part of the Horizon Europe STAR project, I completed a one-month research mobility in Vienna, where I authored the study “Variability of ESG Reporting Practices in the Austrian Energy Sector: The Impact of Culture, Regulations, and Organizational Priorities”. My research also explored how gender, diversity and inclusion are reflected in the social dimension of ESG reporting.