WECAN IS A DIVERSE WOMEN’S NETWORK FOUNDED IN 2017.
ABOUT
WECAN started off as a group of women from the business sector, Think Tanks and EU-institutions from across Europe, many with expertise in the fields of EU and Foreign Affairs, Sustainability, finance, climate action, digitalisation, clean technologies and energy. The aim was to build a circle of trust amongst the network that would allow for honest conversations, constructive peer to peer support and the translation of ideas into action.
From the beginning, a desire crystallised amongst the members to do something concrete and influence the EU-debate around gender parity in the EU-institutions and private sector as well as economic diversity. The call for gender parity and gender proof growth quickly became the focus of WECAN following the publication of major studies on women's participation in the economy in 2017.
We firmly believe that we must continue to raise awareness around gender equality and the importance of women's equal participation in the economy to ensure accountability of the next EU leadership. In this regard, our Pledge for Gender-proof Growth calls for concrete action and progress on this agenda.
Due to the urgency of this issue, WECAN will work with thought leaders, economists, decision makers and activists alike to ensure that our message is heard over the 2018-2019 period and adopted by the new EU leadership in 2019.
Please look at our pledge and join our call for action by signing it on our website so that we can make Gender-proof growth a reality!
The Faces Behind WECAN
The aim of WECAN founders, Sandrine Dixson-Declève and Constance Kann, was to build a circle of trust amongst the network that would allow for honest conversations, constructive peer to peer support and the exchange of ideas for change.
Co-founder
Sandrine Dixson-Declève
Until recently, Sandrine was Chief Partnership Officer for UN Agency Sustainable Energy for All and prior to that the Director of the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group and the EU office of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (2009-2016). During that period she was also appointed Executive Director of the Green Growth Platform bringing together EU Ministers and CEO’s. She is a respected facilitator and professor on climate change, green growth, conventional and sustainable energy solutions and innovative ideas as well as has been the personal advisor to HRH The Prince of Wales, several MEP’s, European Commission Presidents, Commissioners and officials, Governments in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, international organizations including OPEC, ADB, OECD, UNEP, USAID, UNFCCC, IEA and business leaders of large international, European and African companies. In addition to her role as a facilitator and Board member, Sandrine serves as a special advisor for several organisations and companies on energy, finance and climate action.
Sandrine was recognised by GreenBiz as one of the 30 most influential women across the globe driving change in the low carbon economy and promoting green business. She is a distinguished member of The Club of Rome; a Senior Associate and faculty member of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL); Chair of the INKEMIA Scientific Advisory Board; Member of The Guardian’s Sustainable Business Advisory Board; Member of the European Aluminium’s Sustainability Advisory Board; Member of the Climate KIC Advisory Board. She was Vice Chair, European Biofuels Technology Platform 2008-2016; Board member, We Mean Business 2014-2016 and on the Advisory Board of the Oil and Gas major Sasol from 2007-2010. She recently spoke on TEDx: The Sustainable Future series and has published numerous articles, book chapters and given presentations on green growth and competitiveness, energy, climate change, sustainable development, transport, conventional and alternative fuel quality legislation as well as on trade & environment.