At the 2026 Instinct Women Conference & Awards (IWCA) held on February 26 in Nairobi, Kenya, Ghana’s Dr. Sheila Addo was named Woman Leader of the Year in Energy Regulation — a fitting honor for one of the continent’s most accomplished voices in petroleum governance.
The event, hosted at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel under the theme “Women Who Move Nations: Leadership, Legacy & Impact,” brought together outstanding African women reshaping industries and institutions across the continent.
Dr. Addo, who serves as Deputy Chief Executive (Technical) at Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), was recognized for her transformative contributions to energy regulation — particularly her work in institutional strengthening, regulatory transparency, and stakeholder engagement within the downstream petroleum sector.
Beyond receiving the award, she took to the stage as a keynote speaker, making a compelling case for women’s leadership from the grassroots to the boardroom. She pointed to research showing that women-led organizations consistently deliver stronger performance and profitability, while urging leaders to embrace three defining qualities: the courage to make high-stakes decisions, the vision to build systems that endure, and the commitment to translate leadership into tangible improvements for people and national stability.
Tems Launches Leading Vibe Initiative In Johannesburg For Emerging Women In Music
The occasion was equally a moment of collective pride for the NPA — three of its female leaders walked away with awards, signaling the depth of talent Ghanaian women bring to the energy sector.
For Dr. Addo, the recognition is both a personal milestone and a broader statement about Africa’s growing generation of women shaping the future of energy regulation.