Makati City, Metro Manila – Women’s Month may be coming to a close, but the conversations on empowerment, gender inclusivity, and leadership continue. Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) Lanie Gatbonton, Head of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), joined Macquarie Group’s panel discussion on Women in Tech on March 27, 2025 (Thursday) to share her journey as a woman leader in geothermal energy.
Speaking alongside female professionals from various industries, Ms. Gatbonton highlighted the challenges, milestones, and opportunities for women in STEM and renewable energy. She emphasized the importance of mentorship, resilience, and creating inclusive workplaces that empower women to thrive.
“Throughout my stay in EDC, [the] majority of my training has been in the technical space, [which is] male-dominated. It became a challenge for me to really think outside the box and look beyond being a female in that space, continually improving my craft until eventually I was seen as another potential leader for a non-technical role.”
Beyond her personal journey, Lanie also highlighted the role of paying it forward—mentoring young professionals and paving the way for more women in the industry, emphasizing the importance of providing feedback for their growth.
“Over the years in my career, I’ve been mentored [by] both male and female leaders. And I see females who actually have a lot of potential that they’re probably not even aware of, so I try to clear the path for them and give them opportunities where they can test new ideas, try something out, and then link them up with people who can further help them.”
“And in the course of doing that, I also try to give them feedback, because that’s what also helped me,” Gatbonton shared. “In trying to continually improve, it’s very important to know what your weaknesses are. Sometimes we’re not even aware of those things, so it’s very important that we constantly give feedback as you mentor them.”
Macquarie’s Women in Technology network hosted the event to celebrate the achievements of women and spark meaningful discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Len Lapuz, Associate Director at Macquarie Group, underscored the importance of recognizing the contributions of women in all fields, stating, “International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder of the progress we have made and the problems that we’re still facing to address gender diversity.”
Ms. Lapuz also highlighted Macquarie’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace:
“Our organization, Macquarie, is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our work on diversifying our people, our commitment to equity, and our inclusive culture allow us to have initiatives and events like this to create an environment where all women feel included, supported, and empowered.”
Through events like this, companies like EDC and Macquarie continue to champion spaces where women can lead, innovate, and create impact.
As we wrap up Women’s Month, EDC remains committed to supporting women in geothermal energy and beyond—ensuring that leadership opportunities, representation, and progress never stop. Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is First Gen Corporation’s 100% Renewable Energy (RE) subsidiary with over 1,400MW total installed capacity that accounts for almost 20% of the country’s total installed RE capacity. Its 1,169.85MW geothermal portfolio comprises 80% of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, making the Philippines the third largest geothermal producer in the world. First Gen is the Philippines’ leading clean energy company.
