Asha Khanal is no stranger to breaking barriers. An electrical engineer with the Nepal Electricity Authority, she’s been holding her own in a male dominated field ever since graduating from Tribhuvan University of Nepal. From installing solar panels in remote areas of Mt Everest Base Camp, to dreaming of a single regional South Asian energy grid, Asha’s career speaks to ambition grounded in action.

One year ago, Asha was a fresh graduate of the WePOWER SAR100 training program, an eight month long program delivered by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Alongside 100 other talented and tenacious female engineers from across South Asia, Asha completed a series of online modules and research projects across the year, collaborating on some of the region’s most pressing energy issues.

The course and its final capstone week in Bangkok were made possible through the AU $32 million South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) Program, which is funded by the Australian Government and implemented by Palladium alongside the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Beyond SAR100, SARIC trains thousands of infrastructure professionals from across South Asia, helping host governments prepare a pipeline of transport and energy projects that are eligible for public and private financing. Participating countries include Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and training courses cover priority issues like renewable energy, green hydrogen, building codes, road assets, and dam safety.

Now, one year on, Asha’s SAR100 experience continues to help her make a mark in Nepal’s energy sector.

“In my office, skilled women engineers have traditionally been assigned administrative paperwork, rather than more technical software projects. The SAR100 training has now filled that gap and shown that we are capable of contributing so much more, with the right support and exposure. I am feeling much more confident.”

Nepal’s Surging Energy Landscape

Asha’s renewed confidence comes at a pivotal time for Nepal’s energy sector. With its abundant river systems, the country generates nearly all of its electricity from hydropower. In 2000, only 19% of the population had access to electricity. Today, thanks to government investment and infrastructure expansion, that figure has climbed to over 98%.

Nepal is also becoming a key player in cross-border electricity trade (CBET). In November 2024, the government signed a landmark tripartite agreement with India and Bangladesh to export surplus monsoon-season electricity to Bangladesh via Indian transmission lines. It’s a major step toward the long-envisioned goal of a regional South Asian energy grid, one that would allow countries to share renewable resources more efficiently and reliably.

As these ambitions take shape, engineers like Asha are finding new opportunities to contribute, and to lead.

Championing Energy Efficiency

Back in Kathmandu, Asha continues to work as an electrical engineer at the Energy Efficiency and Loss Reduction Department at Nepal Electricity Authority.

“I’m currently involved in several energy efficiency-related projects, including the nationwide smart street lighting initiative, automatic power factor correction projects, and the promotion of public EV charging stations,” she says.

While her job is heavily technical, there is also a significant focus on building strong stakeholder relationships, skills Asha honed during SAR100. The national streetlight program for one, is heavily dependent on Asha’s ability to work in collaboration with more than 30 local bodies across Nepal on the twin issues of urban aesthetic and nighttime safety.

The power of human connection has made all the difference to Asha’s journey. She recently presented her SAR100 capstone research project at the 3rd IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications in India, on behalf of her research team.

The Power of Staying Connected

“I’m still in touch with many SAR100 alumni. For my own research, our ongoing SAR100 WhatsApp group has been a huge resource. I recently shared an expert-based survey there, and overall, 52% of the responses came from women—many of them from my own SAR100 colleagues. That level of engagement has been incredibly inspiring,” explains Asha.

“It’s been amazing to stay connected and continue learning from each other.”

As Nepal and its neighbours push toward a more sustainable and interconnected energy future, women like Asha Khanal are proving that technical expertise, supported by strong networks, can be a transformative force. Whether she’s guiding new infrastructure projects, sharing her knowledge at international conferences, or mentoring the next generation of engineers, Asha is not just participating in progress – she’s helping shape it.