Apply for the 2025 YWE Awards

Application Guidelines

Applicants are asked to adhere to the following guidelines and documentation requirements to ensure fairness and equal scope during the evaluation process.   

Applications are to be submitted to awards@youngwomeninenergy.com (we will confirm receipt).

The deadline for applications is January 5, 2026, by 11:59PM MST.

awards eligibility

  • Applicants must identify as female or non-binary

  • Applicants must be 40 years of age or under (as of December 31, 2025)

  • Applicants must work and reside within Alberta

  • Applicants must work “in” or “for” an energy company or an energy-related service provider

  • Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years professional experience related to the energy industry (this excludes time spent in student work terms, co-op placements or internships). 

  • All applicants are asked to join our YWE membership (if not already a member) by following our LinkedIn page.

evaluation criteria

We are looking for candidates that demonstrate the following attributes and qualities:

Leadership: Demonstrates exceptional leadership abilities (with or without the title). Exhibits drive, motivation, and a desire to lead and advance in your career. 

Innovation: Demonstrates vision and entrepreneurial spirit (challenging the status quo) through proposing and advancing new ideas and innovative initiatives. 

Performance: Viewed as a top performer and influencer in your field, while being recognized for going above and beyond. Your work is making a difference in industry and the greater community. 

Community Engagement: Leaves a positive impact on the community through volunteer engagements. This can include internal initiatives or “side gigs” through your employer, however it is especially admirable if you spend time giving back to communities that matter to you outside of work hours. 

Career Aspirations: Tell us about your career aspirations (i.e. people management, leader of initiatives, C-Suite Strategy, subject matter expert, etc.). Tell us what you are actively working towards within your professional development goals. Tell us how you intend to continue to leave an impact on the energy industry in the future, and how you intend to use the platform that being a YWE Award Winner provides, should you be selected.

Use this as an opportunity to demonstrate why you should be recognized (yes, we want you to brag about yourself!) Please touch on each of the evaluation criteria above throughout your application. We can't wait to hear from you!

Documentation requirements

A complete application consists of the following 4 components:

  1. Personal Statement (max 500 words)

  2. Professional Reference from an existing employer or client (max 250 words)

  3. Peer Reference (max 250 words)

  4. Current Resume (max 2 pages)

Please ensure your documentation meets and does not exceed the criteria above or it will not be evaluated. Word counts and page limits will be enforced to ensure fairness during the evaluation process. Word count limits are inclusive of the body of the personal statement and reference letters, and exclude the content contained within letterheads and signatures (name, date, company, title, etc.)

Please submit a single PDF attachment that combines these 4 documents in the order listed above.

The title of the PDF must be labelled as follows: LastNameFirstName_2025 YWE Awards Application

In the body of your email, please also provide us with the following information: 

  • Job Title: 

  • Current Employer:

  • Do you live & work in AB? Please list your region (i.e. Calgary, Edmonton, Fort Mac, Other):

  • Name & Employer for Professional Reference:

  • Name & Employer for Personal Reference:

  • Acknowledgement that you meet the applicant eligibility criteria:

  • Acknowledgement that you meet the document requirements and word count limits:

  • Preferred contact information (please provide email address & phone number):

2025 YWE Awards Executive Selection Committee

This year’s Executive Selection Committee will be announced on October 15, 2025!

Selection Process & Timelines

Oct 15, 2025 – Dec 1, 2025  |  Nomination Period  

Oct 15, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026  |  Application Period        

Jan 2026  |  Peer Review & Executive Review 

Feb 2026  | All applicants notified of their outcome

Mar 2026  |  Press release to publicly announce award winners

May 2026  |  YWE Awards Celebration Event

Award Winner Benefits

In addition to promotion within the YWE community through social media announcements & press releases, there are several benefits offered to YWE Awards winners. They include:

  1. YWE Award Keepsake

  2. Letter of award recognition sent to employer (recipients can pick a leader of choice)

  3. Paired with an industry executive mentor for a year

  4. Attendance & recognition at an exclusive YWE Awards Celebration Event

  5. Professional headshots

  6. Training and speaking opportunities

  7. Free admittance to select YWE events for one year

  8. Profiled in partner industry publications

  9. Join an incredible network of 100+ previous YWE Award Winners with the opportunity to attend regularly scheduled Awards Alumni Events. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I get nominated to apply for a YWE Award? 

Congratulations! Nominated candidates will receive an email notifying them of the nomination with instructions on how to complete the full application, as outlined in this document. 

Can you let me know who nominated me? 

While we certainly appreciate that nominees would like to reach out to those who nominated them, we don't facilitate that on their behalf in the effort to maintain anonymity within the nomination process. We leave it up to those who entered nominations to contact the individual directly if they wish.

Do I have to be nominated to apply? 

If you are considering applying for a 2025 YWE Award, there is no need to wait for a nomination during our #NominateHer campaign. Being nominated is “nudge” to apply but is certainly not a requirement to apply! 

Can nominations be a substitute for one of the required references? 

No. Nominations do not count as one of the required references.

Is there an age limit? 

There is no age restriction to be a YWE member, however the YWE Awards are specifically looking for women within the approximate range of professional experience. The age limit for the YWE Awards is 40 or younger (as of December 31, 2025) to reflect that. While we can appreciate different career paths, and how important recognition is, the age restriction is to ensure applicants are within equal scope.

Is this just for Calgary residents? 

Nope! The annual YWE Awards are open to all Alberta residents!

What if I work in Alberta, but live elsewhere? 

Unfortunately, applicants must reside and work in the province of Alberta.

What does ‘in’ or ‘for’ energy mean? 

We’re looking for women who work ‘in’ an energy company, or ‘for’ a company that has primarily energy clients. For example, companies such as: E&Ps, small, medium and large energy corporations, energy services, energy law, consulting for energy clients, financial institutions with energy clients, energy tech start-ups, engineering firms, midstream companies, renewable energy companies, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture technologies, etc. are all acceptable.

Do I have to be an Engineer or a technical professional to apply?

Not at all! We welcome all applicants of all career paths and educational backgrounds to apply, as long as you work ‘in’ or ‘for’ the energy industry. You can be in a site-based or office-based role. And you can be an Engineer or you can also be in HR, Business, Law, Data Science, Regulatory, Geoscience, Administration, Operations, Indigenous & Community Relations, Trades, and everything in between!  

What should I include in my Personal Statement? 

Use the Personal Statement as an opportunity to explain why you’re applying for the Award; why you want to be recognized; what you have accomplished; how you intend to use the platform and mentorship program to advance; what your career aspirations are; and how you intend to continue to impact the industry in the future. We know it’s a lot to expect for 500 words, but use it as an opportunity to show our Selection Committee why you deserve to receive this award!

What should I include on my resume? 

Your resume should be limited to 2 pages, but should show your career progression, detail specific accomplishments, describe significant projects you led or initiated, anything innovative or continuous improvement related, as well as show any relevant extracurriculars and your involvement in the industry or greater community. Focus on providing more detail for your most recent experiences. 

How many peer and professional references do you need? 

You can submit just 1 peer reference, and 1 professional reference. Any additional documents or reference letters outside of this will be removed from your application package and will not be evaluated.

Who should I get to submit my peer reference? 

Look to your coworkers or clients in a similar role level to you, who know you well and can speak to your accomplishments (in and out of the office) from a peer perspective.

Who is qualified to provide the professional reference? 

The best applications have professional references from senior leaders within your company - those who can speak to your skill set, your commitment to industry and your experience. The more senior, the better (i.e. VP level), but with an understanding that you work directly with that senior leader, they know you, and they can accurately reference your accomplishments for recognition.

Can the professional reference be provided by a mentor or former supervisor? 

Absolutely! The professional reference does not have to come from a current employer or client and can be from someone you previously worked with or for.

Who is on the Executive Selection Committee? 

Each year, YWE consults with six senior executives, leveraging their expertise and leadership to help select award recipients. The 2025 Executive Selection Committee will be announced on October 15, 2025- stay tuned!

I know one of the Executive Selection Committee members! Can they be a professional reference? 

Unfortunately, no. Current members of the Executive Committee cannot endorse or act as a reference for any applicants due to conflict of interest.   

Can I apply again if I applied last year but wasn't selected? 

Absolutely! We encourage previous applicants to apply again this year.

What happens once I’ve applied? 

After the deadline on January 5, 2026, each application will undergo scoring by the Peer Selection Committee. Shortlisted applicants will then be reviewed by the Executive Selection Committee, with the final decision being made by the YWE Awards team in February 2026. 

Will I be contacted if I’m not selected? 

Yes, you will be contacted by the end of February 2026, regardless of the outcome.

What kind of mentor could I expect, if I am selected as a YWE Award Winner? 

Mentors are typically senior executives in roles that are most relevant to your career aspirations. Our network is extensive through our previous mentors, speakers, Executive Selection Committee members and peer organizations. If you have someone specific in mind, we will try our best to gain access to them. 

What are some examples of Awards Alumni Events?

YWE Award Winners will have the opportunity to attend all Awards Alumni Events going forward. These typically occur on a quarterly or bi-annual basis and provide a great opportunity to stay connected with the YWE community, while gaining access to exclusive benefits. Some examples of recent Awards Alumni Events include hosting partnerships with Madame Premier, Vitality Biomed, Repowered Leadership, and the Museum of Making to name a few!