Award-winning energy and environmental lawyer and policy analyst Summer Okibe has been named one of the 2025 Young Women in Energy (YWE) Award Winners, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Alberta’s energy sector through leadership, innovation, and community impact.
Okibe’s work focuses on energy governance, justice, and community engagement, highlighting the intersection of technical, environmental, and social policy. She has been recognized for advancing solutions that balance economic growth, sustainability, and equitable community outcomes.
Reflecting on the recognition, Okibe said:
“Energy is often seen as rigs, pipelines, technology, and markets. But the truth is, it’s also governance, justice, communities, and long-term responsibility. I’m grateful that my work sits at that intersection. Thank you to Young Women in Energy for building a community that supports women across the sector.”
The 2025 YWE Award Winners represent a broad cross-section of Alberta’s energy landscape, spanning policy, operations, strategy, sustainability, and major projects. Recipients are paired with industry executives through the YWE Mentorship Program and join the YWE Awards Alumni network, supporting ongoing professional development.
Recognizing the awardees, Katie Smith-Parent, Executive Director of YWE, said, “As we stand at the threshold of a new energy chapter, women are not simply participating in change, they are leading it. Through resilience and bold thinking, they are strengthening Canada’s energy leadership.”
The 2025 YWE Award Winners, listed alphabetically by first name, are: Alise Vandersalm, Amanda Calleberg, Ashley Marshall, Karen Ngo, Katie Howes, Keltey Heathcott, Lindsay Campbell, Nathalie Carson, Neneh Thapar, and Summer Okibe.
The awardees will be formally recognized at the YWE Awards Celebration in May 2026, marking a milestone in their professional journeys and contributions to Alberta’s energy sector.
About the YWE Awards
The YWE Awards recognize ten women annually in Alberta’s energy sector for exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact. Awardees are selected through peer evaluation and executive committee review to ensure they exemplify collaboration, excellence, and meaningful contributions to the industry.
