Summer School x Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat
Strengthen your capabilities and make impactful contributions in leading our sector
The 'Summer School x Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat' is the Australian power sector's newest Powerful Women Leadership Program stream for power-passionate undergraduate women pursuing a career in the power sector.
The Retreat builds on API's flagship program, Summer School+: a 2-week residential program for experienced professionals in engineering and other technically oriented roles in the power sector, with the 2025 School set to take place in Melbourne, in May 2025.
All female participants will participate in the year-long Powerful Women Leadership Program as well and alongside other female participants from Summer School+ and the other retreat programs.
The 'Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat' overlaps with and takes place at the 2-week residential Summer School+ in May 2025 (for professionals with 7+ years experience) - alongside the 'Career Starter Retreat' (for graduates with 0-3 years experience), and the Developing Professionals retreat (for early career professionals with 4-6 years experience).
The 2025 Program includes online sessions with 10+ executives prior to the Retreat + the 4-day residential program which takes place during the API Summer School+. Learn and connect through workshops, panels, speakers, site tours + social activities with ýour peers and 100+ other future leaders and experts in the power sector.
"A must-attend for any Australian power engineer in their career at some point."
- Amali Wickramasinghe
Who can participate?
A unique and exclusive retreat for:
Undergraduate women studying a power sector-related course;
With a desire to make a significant contribution to the power sector
Learn from 70+ women in power and 60+ experts
Start your leadership journey now!
Connect with 70+ women at the Retreat and during the year-long Powerful Women Leadership Program modules
Attend online sessions with 10+ executives PLUS the 4-day residential retreat during Summer School+ with more than 60 industry experts
Watch the live strategic project presentations at Summer School+ in May 2025 in Melbourne as delegates share solutions to key industry challenges, tasked by sector leaders and CEOs
Build your knowledge and develop an invaluable nation-wide network of experts, executives and your fellow peers in the power sector
Bonus access to the API's Online Academy Courses (including access to AEMO's NEM Basics Course)
What you get
Exclusive professional development opportunities
Career Development and Mentoring with Summer School mid-career professionals
Diversity & Inclusion Module: Learn about various perspectives and gain an understanding of how to support and drive a forward-thinking and inclusive Australian power sector
Stakeholder Engagement Modules: Strengthen your communication and engagement skills to build better relationships and engage with internal and external stakeholders
Site Tour: Experience the practical workings and behind the scenes of the power sector
Strategic Project Presentations: Addressing 10 key challenges for the sector with recommendations for action and necessary skills
Networking with 100+ power sector professionals from undergrads to current leaders
Enrolment in the year-long Powerful Women Leadership Program
Enhance your potential and leadership capabilities
Explore technical challenges & opportunities in the sector
Learn from and connect with industry leaders
Gain valuable insights and inspiration to guide your career progression
Become more effective and competitive for technical roles
Join an elite group of professionals dedicated to making a significant impact in the power industry
Build relationships to pave your career in the power sector
Bonus access to the API's Online Academy Courses
10x Executive Insights Online Sessions
NEM Basics Online Course
API Professionals Skills Online Module
Strategic Project Presentation recordings
Invest in strengthening your knowledge and networks
Connect with peers, executives and professionals nation-wide
Past participants of our residential programs (and their managers) consistenly share that the value of our programs lie in the knowledge and the deeply developed professional networks created through the unique residential school/retreats - no other program can match the opportunity to build such deep and career-spanning relationships with peers from across the sector and the country and at such an important stage in your career.
You will not only connect with your peers in the Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat, you will also share the experience and connect with 40+ early career professionals in the API's new Summer School Retreat Programs - a very unique experience!
You can also access all the recorded Executive Insights sessions from the 2025 program and slide decks from presenters at the School (upon completion).
Take a look at the 2024 Strategic Project Presentations below:
"API Summer School opened my eyes to some of the big picture issues the industry currently faces"
- Adrian Di Pasquale
What to expect
Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat Roadmap
The 'Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat' will shift your thinking from technical to strategic thinking and build your communication skills to enhance leadership capability and confidence.
You will achieve this by:
Attending the 10x online Executive Insights Sessions to build your knowledge on key industry challenges in the power sector from industry experts and leaders;
Attending the live Strategic Project Presentations during your 4-day retreat at Summer School+, where delegates will present solutions and recommendations to the key challenges identified during the Executive Insights sessions;
Participating in communication building activities, such as the 'Networking Welcome Event' and Communications Workshop at your 4-day residential retreat; and
Building a national network of your peers, industry professionals, experts, and leaders to advance your professional career
"Make yourself available because you're the possibility."
- Thiew Atem
FREE Addition: Powerful Women Leadership Program 2025
For women currently working in or pursuing a career in the power sector
Exclusive to female participants of the Summer School Programs, we invite you to join the extra Powerful Women Leadership Program for additional career development, mentoring + networking opportunities.
The Powerful Women Leadership Program is inclusive of the undergraduate retreat or any of the Summer School Programs to be held during the 2-week residential Summer School+ in May 2025. The Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat will take place alongside two new Summer School Retreats: 'Career Starter' (for those with 0-3 years experience) and 'Developing Professionals' (for those with 4-6 years experience).
Summer School+ is set to be held from 12-23 May 2025, and all Summer School Retreats - including the Powerful Women Undergraduate Retreat - will be held during and overlap with Summer School+ from 20 - 23 May 2025
"Overall the sessions had a good range of topics across career development, industry challenges (broader and technical), and personal branding/communication."
- Powerful Women Leadership Program participant
All accommodation and meals covered at the Retreat!
With industry conferences now costing $1000+ per day plus hotels and meals as extra costs, we are proud to offer the Summer School Retreats to our member organisations and others for the following prices (your only extra cost is your travel!). Registration includes all accommodation and meals at the live Retreat (including all group dinners and functions). Complete and send the PDF Order Form by email to Emily Marschke to secure your seat & pay by invoice at: email@example.com
Early bird: closing 30 November 2024
Standard: closing 1 February 2025
Late registration: closing 11 April 2025
Note: Late registration will result in missing the induction event, and potential additional costs.
Pro tip: You can register your order without the names of participants to secure the early bird rate.
Backed by industry
Thank you to our members who make all of this possible