We are supporting Homeward Bound, the international female scientists' leadership program for tackling the climate crisis.
Since we became a global partner seven years ago, we have involved 724 women in the program.
Homeward Bound's goal is to create an international network of 10,000 professional women working in different STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) areas within fourteen years, to collaborate on projects in diverse scientific and geographic areas, thus giving visibility to women in science so that they can be the leaders who impact their communities and have a say in solving challenges such as the climate emergency.
The one-year program includes training in leadership, strategy, communication and visibility based on a personal development assessment working with specialized mentors.
Homeward Bound also promotes the generation of networks among the participants of each of the editions, in order to establish personal and professional ties that enrich teamwork and generate new proposals to implement the leadership tools acquired during the program.
The culmination of the exchange of information, conclusions, projects and challenges will take place during the three-week trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, during which the expedition will visit various scientific bases to gather information on the impact of climate change on the white continent, a thermometer of how global warming is affecting the Earth.
Homeward Bound is launching a new edition of its expedition to Antarctica, in which 116 women from 22 countries will explore the frozen continent. This scientific and informative trip will depart from Ushuaia (Argentina) on January 28th 2025.
The female scientists, mathematicians, researchers, engineers and other professionals took the opportunity to collaborate for three weeks and forge connections that will strengthen their leadership skills.
Homemeward Bound has been chosen as the recipient of the 4th Malaspina Award in recognition of its global work in promoting women's leadership capacity in STEMM.
The Malaspina Award is an honor bestowed by the Spanish Embassy in Canberra and the Spanish Researchers Association in Australia-Pacific (SRAP). Awarded annually to individuals and organizations that, through their work, make a significant contribution to scientific or cultural relations between Australia and Spain, in 2021 it was awarded to the Homeward Bound program.
Besides Malaspina, the Gold Medal of the Red Cross 2018 was awarded to Ana Payo-Payo, Alicia Pérez Porro, Uxua López and Alexandra Dubini, Spanish ACCIONA participants in the Australian initiative, for their contribution to science, feminism and the environment. The medal was awarded by Her Majesty Queen Letizia.
THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Javier Santaolalla, particle physicist and science communicator, talks with some of the Homeward Bound participants to explain what the program is about and what the final expedition is like: a trip to Antarctica to observe the effects of climate change.
COVID-19 MAKES US REINVENT OURSELVES
COVID-19 meant that the HB05 expedition to Antarctica was cancelled and a digital format had to be adopted instead.
To give a voice to the new participants, we created Multicast Live events on ACCIONA's social networks, with HB participants from our key markets alongside influencers such as Javier Santaolalla, Amaro and Karla Souza.
We also produced an eight-episode documentary series on the training programme.
A YEAR MARKED BY THE COP25 WORLD CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
A special year. It coincided with the COP25 World Climate Change Conference, for which we organised two important events in Madrid and Chile. The latter was presented to the media at an event moderated by Amaro Gómez.
The HB04 participants were able to complete all of the annual training, but when COVID-19 struck, the Antarctic expedition had to be cancelled.
WE BECAME A GLOBAL PARTNER OF HOMEWARD BOUND
We supported the expedition of 80 women scientists from 35 countries to Antarctica, including Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and member of ACCIONA's Board of Directors. Before embarking from Ushuaia (Argentina) on December 31, 2018, the participants of HB03 (third edition of the program) were immersed in a research and training program.
WE JOINED THE HOMEWARD BOUND PROJECT INITIATIVE THROUGH THE #ACCIONATEAM
Joining our commitment to environmental protection and the promotion of female talent in the fields of science and technology, we embarked with Uxua López, Alicia Pérez-Porro, Ana Payo and Alexandra Dubini to learn about the day to day of an adventure for the preservation of the planet.
Marta is a professional engineer with over 17 years of experience in photovoltaic (PV) solar technology at ACCIONA. She studied Agricultural Engineering, holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP®) by the Project Management Institute (PMI). She completed her studies by collaborating with an NGO in a disadvantaged area of the Peruvian Andes on a global project focused on agriculture, livestock, and health with the shared goal of addressing the growing issue of child malnutrition in the region.
Marta has built her career working in various departments, including Business Development and Engineering & Construction. Over the last 10 years, she has dedicated herself to the Energy Resources Department, conducting energy assessments and designing optimized photovoltaic plants worldwide. Her work involves staying up to date with cutting-edge technology and assessing potential meteorological risks in different regions (floods, hurricanes, etc.). She strongly believes in renewable energy and its responsible use.
Currently, Marta analyzes both Utility Scale plants and distributed generation systems (on- and off-grid), as well as hybrid plants, which simultaneously use multiple renewable resources (wind, solar, hydro, storage, green hydrogen, etc.).
María is a Civil Engineer (specializing in Roads, Canals, and Ports) from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, with 20 years of professional experience at ACCIONA. Throughout her career, María has played a key role in numerous large-scale projects, standing out for her strong leadership skills and commitment. Currently, she serves as Contract Manager for ACCIONA’s Spanish projects. Her expertise and strategic vision are essential to the success and evolution of projects aimed at minimizing environmental impact and optimizing infrastructure resources.
An Environmental Biologist and Environmental Scientist (UAM), Edith Guedella is a renowned professional passionate about sustainability and circularity, with nearly 20 years of experience in developing sustainable solutions for infrastructure construction.
She currently serves as Head of Sustainability for ACCIONA’s Construction business, where she coordinates the implementation and alignment of all global sustainability projects. Edith has worked as a researcher and innovation manager, has been recognized as an expert evaluator by the European Commission in innovation programs such as H2020 and Horizon Europe, and has participated in various national and international standardization working groups related to sustainability in construction and circularity.
Committed to transforming the construction sector towards a more sustainable model, she is a member of the Advisory Board for the Master’s in Circular Engineering at the Carlos III University of Madrid and was selected to participate in the "From Linear to Circular" program by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
She specializes in environmental impact assessment with a focus on lifecycle analysis and has contributed as an expert to several standardization committees on sustainable practices in construction. Edith is a member of Women Action Sustainability (WAS), where she also collaborates with the working group on circular economy. She has mentored through programs by WAS, the Princess of Girona Foundation, and the Quiero Trabajo Foundation.
Additionally, she is part of AMIT-MIT, the UCLA Spain alumni association, and the FIDIC TG23 working group for drafting Net Zero Contracts. She is also a steering committee member for the Fast Infra Sustainable Label, a certification system for sustainable infrastructure assets. Lastly, she is part of the eighth cohort of the Homeward Bound leadership program for women in STEMM, which will take her on an expedition to Antarctica in January 2025.
Homeward Bound has taken on a courageous and worthwhile mission: to put women's leadership at the center of the global conversation on climate change mitigation. I identify with the program, it pursues goals that I share and helps to extend my conviction that all human beings can work together and help each other to improve the fate of humanity.
Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and ACCIONA Board Member
The objectives of the project and its global nature are perfectly aligned with ACCIONA's vision as a company. Climate change mitigation, the promotion of STEM disciplines and the role of women in society are part of our values. Therefore, a global partnership with Homeward Bound is a great opportunity to raise awareness of challenges that have no borders.
Joaquin Mollinedo, ACCIONA's General Manager of Institutional Relations, Sustainability and Branding
For us it is a great opportunity to carry out this expedition to observe and contrast the effects of climate change in an emblematic place like Antarctica and visiting the international bases there.
Alicia Pérez-Porro, portavoz del #Accionateam
We join the members of the Homeward Bound expedition on their latest journey to Antarctica, a voyage that heralds the rise of a new generation of women from various nationalities, dedicated to advocating for a sustainable and equitable world through the power of women's leadership.