Jo Butlin’s been a force in the energy world for more than three decades.
She fell into the industry by accident, trained as an accountant, then ended up running businesses and sitting across all parts of the sector – from brokering to regulation.
I first met her 15 years ago as we were starting Energy Live News and she was funny and bright and making big strides in a supply company. We talk then about how there were so few women in energy at the time, sadly though it’s improved women are still significantly under represented.
As co-founder of the Women’s Utilities Network (WUN), Jo has helped build a platform that supports women through every stage of their energy careers. Started over a glass of wine as an idea by her and some female friends, it now has 9,500 members and 70 partners.
So what’s the goal? Jo’s response is simple: “We want women to be the best they can be.”
What’s shocking, she says, is that despite years of effort and policies on flexible working and inclusion, “a third of women are still looking to leave the sector”.
The reason? Workplace Culture.
“It’s exhausting, when you’re pushing water uphill, adopting male behaviours just to be accepted, and watching your confidence get chipped away.”
It’s not just about women in leadership either. “Some women don’t want to be bosses. We’re not in the bra-burning feminist stuff,” Jo laughs.
“We just want to support women in the workplace, help them thrive and find their tribe.”
WUN is doing just that, with practical tools, mentoring for more than 400 women, training built by women for women and sessions on confidence, imposter syndrome and navigating male-dominated rooms.
The buzz at their events? Electric.
But Jo’s not afraid to take on the banter too. “Over half our survey respondents said they’d experienced inappropriate behaviour that wasn’t dealt with,” she says. “What’s just a joke to one person can really hurt someone else.”
She doesn’t want quotas or targets – just change that sticks.
“This isn’t about fixing the system. It’s about helping women be the best they can be and creating environments where everyone can be themselves.”
Jo’s dream? That one day, networks like WUN won’t even be needed.
Listen to the full, fun and fierce chat on the Net Hero Podcast – download it now.
