WINLPG selects 3 women for 2024 awards

The Women in LPG Global Network (WINLPG) selected its 2024 award winners, including its Woman of the Year, Young Woman of the Year and Technical/Groundbreaker Award.

The WINLPG is an initiative that was launched in 2015 by the World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA). Recognizing the need to promote women and young talent in the LPG industry, the WLGA created WINLPG as a platform to meet, connect, exchange and learn.

Today, WINLPG has nearly 4,000 members and 14 active national chapters in the U.S., Nigeria, South Africa, Myanmar, India, Brazil, Poland, Mexico, Morocco, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Tanzania and Colombia.

WINLPG was co-founded by Alison Abbott, communications director, and Nikk Brown. The current WINLPG global chair is Pam Indurjeeth, managing director of Oryx Energies South Africa and former WINLPG Woman of the Year.

WINLPG launched the Woman of the Year Award in 2018 to acknowledge women who have made an important contribution to the LPG industry or who demonstrate significant motivation or show support for the cause of diversity, and who have enjoyed unparalleled career success.

In 2019, WINLPG also launched a Young Woman of the Year Award and in 2023, WINLPG launched a new
award, the Field/Technical Groundbreaker Award.

Woman of the Year

The WINLPG Woman of the Year Award recognizes women who have proven excellence in leadership, influence in their community and shown a significant contribution to supporting diversity within the industry. The organization selected Refilwe Sebothoma, founder and CEO of Hakem Energies in South Africa.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the Woman of the Year award, a testament to the hard work and dedication we’ve put into Hakem, despite launching in an unknown industry filled with uncertainty and fear,” Sebothoma says. “This achievement serves as a reminder that if we invest the effort, success will follow. I dedicate this award to the pioneering women in the LPG industry whose paths have paved the way for us. I also commit to supporting and uplifting the next generation of women entering this field. This recognition inspires me to continue advocating for the eradication of energy poverty and empowering marginalized communities, as I firmly believe that LPG represents the most suitable, reliable and accessible energy source for them.”

Young Woman of the Year

The WINLPG Young Woman of the Year recognizes achievements from rising young talent showing significant contribution and commitment within the business and epitomizes the values of
WINLPG. The organization selected Stephanie Anton, development and education manager for Ultragaz in Brazil.

“Receiving the Young Woman Leader of the Year award is a profound honor, not just for me, but for all women striving to make workplaces more inclusive,” says Anton. “This recognition reminds us that regardless of our age, there is always room to create meaningful change if we believe in its impact. It reflects the resilience and courage of countless women who challenge the status quo and pave the way for future generations. I am proud to contribute to this movement and hope this award inspires more organizations in our sector to intentionally address gender equity.”

Field/Technical Groundbreaker Award

WINLPG launched a new award in 2023 called the Field/Technical Groundbreaker Award. This award recognizes women who work in the field, or in technical roles, who have overcome the specific challenges of working in these particular sectors and who can demonstrate success working within an environment where women are significantly underrepresented. The second edition of the Field/Technical Groundbreaker Award goes to Thais Soares from Ultragaz in Brazil.

“Winning the Technical Groundbreaker Award is a reflection of the collective effort and dedication of my team at Ultragaz,” says Soares. “This achievement inspires me to continue driving innovation and excellence in operations while empowering other women to pursue their goals in technical and leadership roles. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to grow and contribute to such impactful projects, and I look forward to taking on new challenges that further enhance our industry’s safety, efficiency and inclusivity.”

The winners were announced during LPG Week in Cape Town, South Africa, in November 2024.