Women in Energy Photo Contest: Monika Laboska

The Photographer Behind the Image

• Inspiration and background: 

  Inspired by my father’s career in the energy sector, I developed an early interest in power systems and the role they play in people’s daily lives. That inspiration led me to build my own career in electricity distribution.

  One of the biggest challenges for women entering and remaining in the energy sector is overcoming stereotypes about what roles they can perform. At the beginning of my career, many people doubted that I would stay long in a dispatcher position, believing that a woman could not handle the responsibility, pressure and 12-hour shifts in a distribution control centre. There were also situations where field crews were hesitant to take instructions from a female dispatcher. Over time, through professionalism, expertise and consistency, I earned their trust and respect. My experience has shown that capability is defined by knowledge, commitment and performance, not gender.

• Short biography:

  I am an Electrical Engineer with more than 10 years of experience in power distribution and grid operations within EVN Group. I began my career as a Power Grid Operator and later became the only female dispatcher in EVN Group’s distribution operations, coordinating and monitoring medium- and high-voltage networks in real time. Early in my career, some colleagues doubted that I would succeed in such a demanding role, while my mentor and supportive team members encouraged me to develop professionally and build confidence. I actively participated in the transition from SCADA Spectrum 4 to SCADA Spectrum 7, contributing to testing, system validation and operational readiness. Today, I work in Reporting, Statistics and Grid Analysis, focusing on SCADA systems, grid analysis, outage reporting and data-driven decision-making. I also mentor new dispatchers, sharing the knowledge and support that helped shape my own career. Throughout my professional journey, I have actively participated in industry conferences and presented technical papers on power systems, grid operations and distribution network management.