The chairman of the National Markets and Competition Commission, known as CNMC, raised concerns about gender representation at a gas industry forum hosted by the Spanish Gas Association, Sedigas, on Tuesday. While preparing his remarks, he reviewed the event agenda and offered a pragmatic suggestion: aim for more diversity in next year’s program, emphasizing that there are capable women in the gas sector who deserve greater visibility and leadership opportunities.
During Sedigas’ annual conference, the program featured five discussion panels and a lineup of speakers listed in the agenda as a total of 17 presenters. Of those, only two were women, a detail that drew attention as the CNMC president also delivered the closing remarks. The participation of the energy minister at the opening ceremony underscored the event’s high level of government involvement. Sara Aagesen contributed to the opening remarks as part of the opening session.
Following the CNMC president’s speech, Sedigas’ chief executive addressed the audience but did not address the topic of gender representation directly. It is worth noting that the association’s general secretary, Naiara Ortiz, attended a pre-session press briefing with the Sedigas leadership, all within the same meeting context.
Calviño’s stance on women’s visibility in leadership photography
The CNMC head’s remarks about the lack of women at the forum echo a recent stance by Nadia Calviño, the first vice president of the government and minister of economy, who declined to participate in a photo opportunity at a business leadership event due to women’s underrepresentation. Calviño emphasized that women must be seen and heard, not as a one-time display but as a sustained commitment to elevate female talent across national and international forums. Her comments came in an interview with Antena 3, reported by Europa Press, where she spoke about the importance of visibility for women in leadership roles (citation: Europa Press via Antena 3).
Calviño described the incident as not simply an isolated act but a signal of a broader, deeply held feminist conviction that has guided her career. The emphasis, she argued, is on consistent and meaningful inclusion of women in conversations about energy, regulation, and governance, rather than treating gender balance as a mere momentary gesture.