Liz McCann is Head of Legal and a member of our Executive team at Codling Wind Park. In our latest blog to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, she shares her renewables journey and the responsibility we face as the largest Phase One offshore wind project to #AccelerateAction in gender equality in Ireland’s emerging offshore wind industry.
Liz McCann is Head of Legal and a member of our Executive team at Codling Wind Park. In our latest blog to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, she shares her renewables journey and the responsibility we face as the largest Phase One offshore wind project to #AccelerateAction in gender equality in Ireland’s emerging offshore wind industry.Q. What’s been your journey into the renewable energy sector?
A.I started out as a corporate lawyer, and it just so happened that some of of our bigger clients were in the mining and exploration industries, which gave me my first exposure to the energy sector. What sparked my interest in renewables, however, was my husband. When we met 15 years ago, he was working in wind energy, and I found the area so interesting. This led me to join the Commercial and Renewables team at McDowell Purcell (now Fieldfisher), where I got my first hands-on experience in the sector. A few years later, I moved to Matheson to join their Energy team.
I always hoped to build up a foundation of experience before moving in-house, and when the opportunity to join the Codling Wind Park team came up, and it’s been an incredible journey. I love being part of the project team. We’re lucky to have colleagues from France, Norway, the UK, Denmark, and beyond, bringing invaluable offshore experience. It has been key for us as an project to marry that experience with the Irish experience locally – making sure it works from an Irish planning and regulatory perspective.
For me, it’s all about the successful delivery of the project, which is incredibly motivating. While members of the team might work on completely different aspects of the project, we all have a shared end goal of delivering Codling. As an Irish person, the project means even more, as Codling will deliver so much for Ireland and the environment.
Q. The offshore wind industry in Ireland is still nascent – does it excite you to be working in a sector where there’s the possibility of rethinking everything from scratch, including gender diversity?
A. Being one of first offshore wind projects in Ireland comes with a certain degree of responsibility and an opportunity to do things better.
It can make life challenging – the evolving policy and regulatory regime can be tricky. We are constantly trying to think five steps ahead – what impact will this policy or legal amendment actually mean in practice for the project and the wider industry. The government have made significant progress in terms of promoting offshore wind in recent years but there remains a lot of work to do to deliver the Phase 1 projects. We can’t just copy and paste from other jurisdictions and think it will work here. That said it is really useful to look at what has worked and what hasn’t, and apply some of those lessons here.
Being a Phase1 project is also an opportunity for us to shape the industry, upskill and prepare future generations for a sector that will be here for decades to come. Making sure that women play a role in the industry is a vital part of this, and progress is being made. You see it at offshore conferences now in Ireland. Where previously events were male dominated now you see women in positions of leadership across projects, development companies and the regulatory bodies. Occasions like International Women’s Day are important, as it is a good way to highlight the unique moment we are in. We can now shape the whole culture of this new industry and build it from the ground up as an industry of equal opportunity for men and women.
Q. Have you seen gender diversity in the broader renewables industry evolve since you began working in the sector?
A. If I look back to 15 years, when I first became involved in the renewables sector, there were far fewer women in the room. That has changed. I think there are so many strong women in the offshore and the wider renewables industry today, I feel very fortunate to work alongside some of those women in Codling.
Where I think we need to push further at school level is getting girls more involved in STEM subjects; this, in turn, will impact their career choices. The increase of women in the renewable sector has tended to be in legal, finance and planning roles – in my experience, anyway. At Codling Wind Park, we see tackling this as being part of the wider education piece. We are involved with various partnerships, education initiatives and local schools to ensure we create opportunities for women and girls in a myriad of jobs in energy.
Q. What do you wish someone had told you about leadership before you became a leader?
A. I wish someone had told me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. For me, it’s about empowering your team and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. I’m here if my team have any problems, but I trust them to get on with their work. I believe it’s important to listen, provide support, and give your team the space and trust to take ownership of their work. I think it’s about learning and adapting, and it’s okay not to have everything figured out.
Q. What challenges have you faced as a woman in this industry, and how have you overcome them?
A. Trying to find the right balance between work, family and life generally can be tricky I don’t know if the perfect balance ever exists, anywhere. It’s chaotic with kids and I often feel like I could be doing things better.
A friend of mine told me, “If you are going to be away from your kids, you want to be doing something worthwhile.” In my role, I get to work with great people with so much experience that they are willing and open to share. We, as a team, are looking to build something that will provide energy security for future generations – I think that makes it worthwhile.
Q. Which women inspire you?
A. My mother: she takes the time to truly engage with people and genuinely cares about their well-being. Her ability to listen and connect with others, no matter who they are, is something I deeply admire and seek to emulate in my own career and beyond.
I didn’t have a burning desire to be a lawyer, I think I was inspired by my older cousin who studied law. She lived with us during her first year in college and I just thought she was fabulous.
I’m also hugely inspired by my female friends. It fascinates me to think about where we’ve all ended up, and the courses our lives have taken from those early days when we were students and trainees doing all sorts. We have developed as people in different ways and now work across a wide range of sectors. I find it empowering to consider all our hard work and what we’ve collectively achieved over the years.
Q. Have you always been interested in renewable energy?
A. Not always! As you get older, you start to question things more rather than just taking them for granted. I began thinking about how the choices I make impact the world around me, even in small ways – like flicking a light switch. It made me realise how much energy plays a role in our daily lives and how important it is to make sustainable choices.
For me, renewable energy represents the future, and the opportunities within it are vast. There has been a lot of discussion in recent times, especially in the context of Ukraine and energy price increases, about the urgent need for decarbonisation and energy security. Ireland’s offshore wind sector is key to addressing both of these needs. It offers the scale we require to meet our 2030 targets, with projects like Codling Wind Park having the potential to supply power to up to 1.2 million homes.
Looking at the wider industry in Ireland, I see incredible potential. We have strong wind speeds, vast sea areas, and a wealth of experience from onshore wind that gives us a solid foundation to build on. The possibilities are exciting, and I’m tremendously proud to be working in the renewable sector—particularly on the Codling Wind Park project. We live close to the coastline in Dublin and look forward to seeing the Phase 1 turbines spinning. As an Irish woman, it feels especially meaningful to be part of something so impactful so close to home.
I have two young daughters, and my youngest is always asking, “Have you built it yet, Mummy?” I love the innocence of that question; also, the fact she thinks I’m actually capable of building it! But it’s also a powerful reminder of just how important this project is: for our future energy security and Ireland’s energy independence.
Q. What do you enjoy most about the work in the renewables sector?
A. I love the variety. Every day brings something different – whether it’s discussing grid issues, land agreements, planning submissions, turbines, or health and safety. It keeps the work dynamic and always interesting. I also like that everyone is focused on the same goal: successfully delivering the project.
Because we’re making decisions in uncharted water – since the industry is so new – we tend to work collaboratively, perhaps more than you might elsewhere, right across the project. There’s a lot of knowledge sharing and I’m constantly learning from other people. It’s one of the things that makes working in this industry so interesting.
Q. What advice would you give to young women looking to enter the renewable sector or legal profession?
A. My advice would be to embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, even if it feels outside your comfort zone. Both the renewable sector and the legal profession offer great opportunities, but they require resilience and determination. Seek out mentors, build your network, and don’t be afraid to speak up or ask questions. It’s really important to trust in your abilities, even if you sometimes feel that those around you know more. Stay focused and keep pushing forward.