Kuala lumpur: Success of Malaysia's energy transition depends on a broad ecosystem that relies heavily on strategic cross-sector collaborations, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) Chief Regulatory and Stakeholder Management Officer Shahannom Izham said.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, achieving these national aspirations requires breaking down traditional corporate silos, she said, citing the historic collaboration between the nation's two energy giants, TNB and Petronas. "Collaboration and partnership is very important to ensure that energy transition can be successful,' she said at the Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26) here today during a panel titled 'Women Powering the Energy Transition: Leadership, Policy and Digital Innovation'. The session was organised by TNB Women in Energy Network (TWiEN).

She also stressed that the industry must balance the varying needs of both rural and urban consumers to ensure the transition benefits all Malaysians. According to her, inclusivity was a key prerequisite to any successful energy transition initiative, and the local utility sector is now investing heavily not only in its physical grid infrastructure but also in equipping its people with new skill sets.

Shahannom also emphasised that the current energy landscape offers immense opportunities for women to grow, both in technical fields and leadership positions, with strong corporate support systems, such as childcare and mentoring programmes, acting as crucial enablers for women leaders. Echoing her sentiment, Energy Commission (ST) Economic Regulation and Consumer Policy Division Director Marlinda Mohd Rosli pointed out that women were increasingly taking charge of the sector's regulatory and policymaking roles. Women were now at the forefront of energy transition policymaking, she shared, with five out of nine ST board members being female.

Meanwhile, DayOne Data Center Vice President (Talent Management and HR Communications) Vidya T C called for the industry to move beyond simply increasing female participation and focus on genuine structural change and representation at the decision-making level. She explained that women truly need corporate sponsorship to secure critical assignments and advance into C-suite roles.

The three-day ETCon26 that ended today brought together over 4,000 delegates from across ASEAN and key global markets to engage in meaningful energy transition conversations, partnerships and solutions.