(And yes, I told myself it was “research”. Mostly, it was an excuse to avoid writing.)

The internet, ever helpful, was full of people asking their children profound questions like: 

“What made you feel proud this year?”
“What did you learn about yourself?”

My teenager looked up from her phone, unimpressed: 

“Mum, I only remember yesterday’s ice-skating experience.”

Fair enough.

So we tried it ourselves. Not for wisdom. Just to remember.

We scrolled through our photos.

And suddenly — there it was.

Not grand events. Not milestones. Just… moments.

• Our family Costco haul!
• Her Christmas dance!
• My first parkrun — on a freezing Saturday. I ran (well, I walked!). But I finished.
• Wallace Monument from my home office window — photographed regularly. Same view. Different light. Different clouds. Always beautiful. A quiet ritual that reminds me: beauty doesn’t need fanfare. It just needs noticing.

I also remembered Chappel Roan’s concert in August — the kind of night you think will stay etched forever. Until it doesn’t.
It took flicking back through photos — glitter on our coats, the way the crowd swayed under neon lights — to feel it again. 

That’s what this year taught me: We don’t live just in the moment.
We live in the memory of it.
And if we wait too long to record it? The magic fades.

So I’ve started taking pictures. Not for Instagram. Just for us. For when the hype has settled, and all we have left is the feeling.

The Work That Moves Me

This year, I was lucky enough to speak at IMechE and IET events — standing in front of brilliant people who care as much about energy systems as I do. My team won the Strathclyde R&KE Impact Awards 2025. I co-authored two journal papers and four conference pieces — which, frankly, means I drank more Tea than water.

My work doesn’t change the world overnight.
But maybe — just maybe — it helps make the world feel a little less cold.

Books That Stayed With Me

I listened to 27 audiobooks this year. 

Some were life-changing. Some were… curious choices (How to Legally Rob Credit-Card Companies!). But every one was an act of self-care — quiet time in the car, during walks, while folding laundry, while cooking (yes, really).

I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time. And fell deeply in love with Elizabeth Bennet’s wit and Mr Darcy’s terrible social skills. It felt like meeting old friends after decades apart.

I devoured The Psychology of Money — not because I wanted to get rich, but because it finally explained why money feels so emotional.

And yes — I still haven’t read The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
It’s on my bedside table. Next to the art project I haven’t finished. And the book I started reading in January.

That’s okay.

Because sometimes, the best stories aren’t about finishing.
They’re about returning.

So here’s to 2026:

More walks.
More family nights.
More Costco chaos.
More photos of the Wallace Monument.
More conversations that make you feel seen.

More work that matters.
More books that linger.

And more permission — from myself — to simply be.

Thank you for reading these small, imperfect reflections.

Wishing you a New Year filled with warmth, wonder, and zero guilt about doing absolutely nothing at all.

With fondness,
Priya 🌅📚🧶

After last week’s heavy truths about the unseen labour women carry in male-dominated spaces, I promised we’d turn towards something hopeful: how to navigate it all with grace, strategy, and self-respect.

So let’s talk solutions — practical, human-centred ones. Because change doesn’t come from grand gestures. It comes from small shifts done consistently.

🔹 Reclaim Your Narrative

Stop waiting for permission to be seen. Start crafting your story — clearly, confidently.

“I’m Priya, R&D Leader at PNDC, leading whole-energy systems innovation with a focus on hydrogen integration and decarbonisation.”
No apology. No “just” or “maybe”. Say it like you mean it. Then say it again — in meetings, emails, even casual chats.

And yes — include your title everywhere. Even if it feels awkward at first. You’re not being flashy; you’re setting boundaries.

🔹 Build Reputation Through Connection (Not Just Performance)

You don’t need to work in isolation. Seek out communities — through hobbies, school events, friends-of-friends. These informal networks often lead to real opportunities.
(As someone who missed this window early on… I’ve learned: connections aren’t just professional. They’re personal too. And that matters.)

🔹 Reframe Authority — Own It

That instinct to downplay? Let it go.
It’s okay to say “This project was led by my team — and I’m proud of what we achieved.”
It’s also okay to say, “I’ve worked in clean energy policy for 12 years because I believe deeply in the transition.”

Yes, confidence can be warm. Yes, warmth can be confident. You don’t have to choose between them. Try saying both:

“I’m so excited to collaborate with you — I’ve been working on similar challenges for over a decade.”
See how that works?

🔹 Share Credit & Celebrate Others

Don’t hoard praise. When someone does great work, notice it. Say thank you. Acknowledge it publicly.
And when others do the same for you? Accept it with grace — not guilt.
Because here’s a secret: appreciation is reciprocal. The more you give, the more you receive.

Plus — pat yourself on the back too. Weekly reflection helps: What went well? What could I improve? This isn’t ego — it’s self-awareness.

🔹 Navigate Bias With Calm Clarity

If someone says something off-putting (a joke, assumption, remark), take a breath. It’s valid that you felt it.

You don’t owe anyone an education — but if you want to respond, use gentle probing.

“That comment made me pause — what specifically did you mean?”
“Can you help me understand why you said that?”
“That’s not okay with me. I’d appreciate it if we could avoid that kind of language.”

In extreme cases? Write it down. Document it. Protect your peace. You’re not responsible for fixing bias — only for protecting your boundaries.

🔹 Break the ‘Masculinity Contest’ Culture

Notice the room: Who’s dominating conversations? Who’s avoiding eye contact? Who stays silent during jokes?
Actively listen. Invite quieter voices in. Challenge assumptions when they arise. A diverse team doesn’t just happen — it’s nurtured.

And finally… don’t wait for permission to lead.
Even in rooms where women are present, decision-making can still feel like a boys’ club. That’s why mentorship and sponsorship matter — and why sharing stories about marginalisation isn’t a weakness. It’s essential.

✨ The Takeaway

We aren’t broken for needing more support. We’re brilliant for recognising where systems fall short, and then choosing to step forward anyway.

So let’s stop pretending “just doing our jobs” is enough. Let’s start redefining success on our own terms:
With clarity. With courage. With kindness to ourselves.

Because thriving isn’t about shrinking to fit in.
It’s about building spaces where you don’t have to.

I’m so grateful this book exists — not because it gave me answers, but because it gave me permission to speak up, ask questions, and keep going.

As we wind down toward the holidays, I want to take a quiet moment to say thank you — not just for reading, but for being here.

Whether you’re sipping tea by the tree, wrapped up in a blanket with an audiobook, or chasing toddlers through snow-covered streets (yes, even in the UK!), I hope this time brings you peace, laughter, and moments that feel like home.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me — I’m so glad we’re doing it together.

Wishing you all the best over Christmas and into the New Year. May 2025 bring you courage, clarity, and kindness — both for yourself and others.

Until then, stay kind, keep growing, and never forget:

💬 “You belong here — without changing.”

If any of this resonated with you, please share your thoughts. What small shift will you make next week?

Until then,
Warmly,
Priya ✨

After a minor hiccup, I reached the Goldsmiths’ centre in central London just in time to join the first interactive session of the day, launched by Nina Skorupksa and Catherine Mitchell drawing on their experiences of being women in the energy sector. The speakers shared their experience of being at the receiving end of “because you are a woman”.  The attendees – who came from a variety of career pathways including early career researchers, seasoned academics, lawyers, journalists and company directors – also shared some of the challenges they faced, such as being told “you only got this job because you are a woman”, “you are here for diversity”, or “who did you sleep with to reach here?”.

Realising that women in the energy sector still face these struggles even though they work in developed nations in the 21^st century made me feel very desolate. However, there were some useful takeaways from this interactive session, including:

• Don’t feel embarrassed about yourself at any stage;
• Don’t say sorry for anything, unless you know you’ve really done something wrong;
• You have every right to be there as much as any other male counterpart; and
• Speak up for equal representation and talk to event organisers if you feel women are underrepresented.

Following on from these encouraging and bold tones, we set off on a journey exploring the best ways to maximize the impact of our work on policy. The speakers Rebecca Willis and Caterina Brandmayr highlighted some useful things to keep in mind when interacting with decision makers’, in particular:

1. Start from where your audience are. Try to understand what motivates them and what they want to hear.
2. Engage, don’t translate. Make sure to ask questions to engage policy makers. This creates a two-way communication rather than pushing them into receiving mode.
3. Make friends. Talk to people.
4. Be opportunistic. As soon as you have done your literature review you are an expert in that field compared to many policy makers. Claim it! Don’t wait until you have got your results. Definitely, don’t wait until you publish. If there is a consultation coming in, respond to it.
5. Plan ahead. Form alliances with people and plan for collaborations. Don’t wait until the consultation is out to meet people.

The third session was a panel discussion on energy system challenges with panellists Rebecca Ford, Poppy Maltby and Emma Pinchbeck. This session really stood out for me because it took an unusual approach and flipped the order in which panels usually work. While the general theme for discussion was around energy systems challenges, the session chair took 8-10 questions from the audience at a time, and then offered the panellists the opportunity to talk around the themes that emerged and that piqued their interest the most.

These covered aspects as broad as whether 1.5 degrees is actually achievable and how market structures might evolve to support changes in energy infrastructure, to specific topics around taxation for electric vehicles, long term energy storage, fuel poverty, smart heat, and how energy companies can better engage customers. Policy also played a central theme in the discussion, and panellists were asked for their thoughts on gaps in current energy policy, how future decision making may become increasingly decentralised, and what implications the shifting policy environment may have on energy sector jobs.

The event ended with an open space that facilitated a healthy discussion on different themes and opportunities to engage with policy makers within the energy sector. The main take-home messages from the event for me were:

• Say Yes! Get comfortable with being uncomfortable;
• Read the book “Feminist fight club”;
• Don’t just look at energy – pick up from other domains;
• Move fast; and
• Don’t get stuck with a single solution – any single solution is not a panacea!

Green Alliance received funding for this initiative from UKERC and EPSRC