CHECK OUT OUR 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Highlights

Here’s a sneak peak to our 2023 Annual Report!

From our Board Chair

From our Executive Director

2023: Our Impact at a Glance

Here’s a glimpse of Student Energy’s 2023 impact in numbers:

• Global Reach: Our Programs Ecosystem (7 active programs) engaged a total of 826 participants from 116 countries, 78 of which are developing economies.
• Youth Empowerment: Supported 9 global youth delegations at prestigious events, and 407 youth delegates from 95 countries attended SES 2023, the largest youth-led energy summit.
• Global Community Engagement: Reached 32,730 people through our global Chapters network, with a membership of 4,369 students from different universities across the world.
• Mentorship, Early Career and Project Development: 32 graduates completed the first cohort of the Guided Projects program, received 1,604 Career Training and 1,063 Fellowship applications from youth interested in joining our capacity-building and mentorship-oriented programs.
• Networking: Spoke at 34 panels and events in the climate and energy space worldwide, including the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) UAE, Climate Week NYC, and Africa Energy Forum, among others.
• Recognition: Received 3 individual awards and one organizational accolade, “Best Nonprofit Employer: Youth Advancement for an organization with 20+ staff”, awarded by CharityVillage.

5 accomplishments we’re celebrating:

1. Successfully hosting SES 2023 in Abu Dhabi, bringing together 407 young people from around the world.

Making history as the first International Student Energy Summit held in the MENA region – a global hub for energy, SES 2023 featured 407 youth delegates from all over the world to meaningfully collaborate with sector and community leaders on energy solutions. We are proud to work with several partners for the first time, including Bezos Earth Fund, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and coordinated with NYU Abu Dhabi and the COP 28 UAE team as the Summit took place as an official side event of the UN Climate Change Conference for the very first time.

2. Activating a first cohort of youth-led clean energy projects in solar PV through the Guided Projects program and expanding the program’s offerings and reach.

With 32 graduates from 6 teams representing Kenya, Canada, and Peru, the Guided Projects program provided teams with the firsthand experience of developing solar PV projects to solve local energy problems in their communities. After a successful first cohort, Student Energy focused on retooling and securing additional resources for the program’s continuation in February 2024.

3. Releasing and disseminating our first round of the three research projects with active stakeholder engagement throughout.

Under Student Energy’s newly launched Research and Youth Engagement program, we launched the Global Youth Energy Outlook (GYEO), the Youth Impact Framework, and the Energy Transition Skills Project.

VIEW THE REPORTS

4. Integrating mentorship as a core aspect of our Programs Ecosystem, offering our youth network platforms to build connections through mentorship offerings.

Mentorship is the foundation of the Student Energy Career Training (SECT) program, and regional and language-specific mentorship is necessary and achieved through individual recruitment from program coordinators who are globally dispersed.

5. Amplifying youth-led action on energy on global stages and decision-making spaces

Student Energy attended 23 global energy and climate events, including the New York Climate Week, Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, and the Africa Energy Forum among others. We participated as speakers and moderators at 34 events, and hosted 11 events at COP 28 and the Student Energy Summit. We acted in an advisory capacity for several youth councils, and hosted the very first Youth Energy Narratives Council under the Research and Youth Engagement portfolio.

We’ve got so much more in store for you! Explore our 2023 Annual Report:

STUDENT ENERGY'S 2023 ANNUAL REPORT 

Thank you for standing by us as we empower the next generation of leaders in driving a just and equitable energy future! Your continued support fuels our mission and inspires us every step of the way.

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The Youth Council’s recommendations are intended to help climate philanthropists better understand youth perspectives and consequently shape their priorities to become more responsive to the needs of youth, as youth are among the most climate-vulnerable groups globally.

Between September 2023 and March 2024, the Youth Council will focus on:

• Conducting research, synthesizing their own knowledge, and engaging in Student Energy-led workshops to prepare actionable recommendations for climate philanthropists to effectively engage with young people.
• Developing their initial findings and recommendations into a creative story to be shared on the ground at the Student Energy Summit 2023 (SES 2023) in Abu Dhabi; using SES as an opportunity to liaise with other young people and climate and energy leaders on the ground to receive feedback and further improve on and enhance their pieces.
• Presenting their recommendations to Student Energy’s partner organizations, with support from Student Energy in February 2024, incorporating learnings from SES 2023 in the Council’s final set of recommendations.

Meet the 5 Youth Energy Narratives Council

Abul Bashar Rahman

Bashar is an Economics student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) carrying a quiet passion for climate solutions. Hailing from Bangladesh, a nation deeply affected by climate change, he has sought to understand the resilience of his people better.

As a youth delegate at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, he noted the disproportionate representation of Bangladesh as compared to the impact of climate change on its people. Passionate about equitable climate solutions, he is utilizing storytelling to advocate for climate-vulnerable communities in the Global South. One of the ways is through a heartfelt project where he cycled across Bangladesh, absorbing tales of hope and hardship. He’s also working on an atlas, weaving in stories of change from climate-impacted communities with an emphasis on the Global South.

His dedication has led him to humbly represent Bangladesh, Stories of Change, and UBC through multiple platforms. Bashar hopes to share the stories of those often unheard in the larger discourse on climate change.

Cathleen Jeanty

Cathleen is currently an Innovation Fellow at The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the Director of Communications at the Progressive Democrats of New Jersey; a Chapter Co-coordinator at Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation’s (WCAPS) New York chapter, a National Climate Fellow at Change the Chamber; and a globally emerging leader for climate action. She is also a United States LCOY delegate, where she will be drafting the 2023 U.S. National Youth Statement on Climate.

In the past, she was a Public Information Editor at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, an Obama Organizing Fellow, and the Assistant Media Coordinator at the Campaign for a National Presidential Youth Council. She has been a youth delegate at various summits at The World Bank, The United Nations, NATO, and The International Monetary Fund.

Adebambo Micheal

Micheal is a dynamic renewable energy professional driven to expand energy access and sustainability in marginalized communities. Hailing from Nigeria, he earned his B.Sc in Physics from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. His undergraduate studies and thesis project focused on solar energy applications.

Micheal is passionate about driving innovation in clean energy technologies to uplift lives in underserved areas. He has hands-on experience as a solar technician and installation engineer designing and deploying solar PV systems to electrify homes, businesses, and villages. He also participated in STEM education outreach initiatives and drug abuse prevention programs.

He aspires to pioneer affordable clean energy solutions, advance renewable energy adoption on a national scale, and train youth to lead sustainability efforts across Africa.

Anushka Nagle

Anushka is a final-year Architecture student on a transformative journey driven by a passion for sustainability and a curiosity about innovative ecological technologies and materials. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom as she actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with a diverse global community of like-minded individuals.

Her mission is crystal clear: she is driven to bridge the gap between theory and practice, leveraging the collective wisdom of professionals worldwide to tackle common global challenges. 

She aims to unite people together towards a greener, more sustainable future—a journey where architecture and ecological consciousness converge to reshape the world for the better. She believes that together, we can embark on a voyage of exploration, innovation, and the practical application of sustainable solutions in our daily lives. 

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza

Amanda is a Black Brazilian woman raised in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 17, she received a full scholarship to study for two years at United World College (UWC) ISAK in Japan, where she concluded her high school education. A first-generation student and the first person in her family to live and study outside of Brazil, she is now a junior at Macalester College in Minnesota, where she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies.

In all three countries Amanda has lived in — Brazil, Japan, and the US, she dedicates herself to working for equity, racial justice, and Indigenous rights. She participated in Black Movements, founded a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee in Japan, and currently works to empower Afro-Latinos in the United States.

She has a range of experiences – from sailing for a month from Hawaii to California where she researched plastics and how they disproportionately affect Indigenous communities, to becoming an intern at the Great Plains Institute in Minnesota during the 2023 legislative session where she advocated for clean transportation, to becoming an intern at The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota where she crafted an inventory of tribal engagement and created a best practices guide on how the organization can conduct work with tribal nations.

During the summer of 2023, Amanda received a full scholarship to participate in the Youth Assembly through the Climate Entrepreneurship Package held by the New York University (NYU). She had the opportunity to celebrate International Youth Day at the UN headquarters in New York and participate in a series of workshops on climate change. Recently, she interviewed Hindou Oumarou, Chadian Environmental Activist and Geographer, for the ActNow film which will be showcased in the upcoming COP28.

Starting out at one time as the sole full-time employee of the organization, Meredith has spent the past 8 years focused on building Student Energy – slowly at first and then very rapidly – to a 40+ person global organization as of the end of 2022.

Student Energy was initially founded by three young energy leaders in Calgary, Alberta (Kali Taylor, Janice Tran, and Sean Collins) and after two successful International Student Energy Summits and a burgeoning Energy Literacy Program, it soon became clear that there was an urgent need for Student Energy to develop into an organization that could serve youth around the world on a sustainable, ongoing basis. Initially tasked with developing Student Energy’s still-continuing Chapters program, Meredith soon became the Executive Director of Student Energy after the 2015 Student Energy Summit.

Meredith’s leadership has put youth at the forefront and gave youth perspectives a space and a platform. Her passion for young people in the energy transition sparked innovative ideas that turned into tangible formulas and solutions that Student Energy adopts to this day.

Student Energy now has 43 staff working from all across the world, spanning different continents and regions. Meredith led the creation of Student Energy’s Theory of Change, a document defining the organization’s end goals that uses backwards mapping to illustrate how the organization can create the conditions for the end goals to be realized. 

Student Energy embraced growth by expanding the organization’s Programs Ecosystem. Beginning with SE Chapters, the organization now has the SE Fellowship, SE Career Training, SE Guided Projects, the International Student Energy Summit, and SevenGen. Through these programs, we have built a large network of alums who continue to stay connected with Student Energy and their fellow alums while working towards advancing the energy transition.

Student Energy also developed extensive Policy and Advocacy research projects, including the Global Youth Energy Outlook, the Energy Transition Skills Project, and the Youth Impact Framework, all of which are focusing on youth voices in the climate and energy space.

Meredith continues to encourage young people to fulfill their potential toward the energy transition. Her belief in young people is what inspires Student Energy to continue doing the real work for youth in the climate and energy world. 

We interviewed Meredith to find out what she learned in the 8 years leading Student Energy from the ground up. 

How has Student Energy evolved over the past eight years?

Student Energy has evolved so much in the last eight years, and in so many different ways. We’ve gone from me being the only staff person working in my living room to having 40 staff in eight different countries around the world. We have developed, implemented, and stuck to an incredible Theory of Change that focuses on both training and people for the future that we need and need them to deliver on. We have worked with the other actors in the energy system to make sure that young people are taken more seriously and engaged well.

In your time as the Executive Director [of Student Energy], what has changed in the energy and climate landscape?

So much has changed with the youth, energy, and climate landscape since. When I started in 2015, young people were not taken seriously. I was often told that ‘Well, they don’t vote and so they’re not going to be part of this.’ There is no critical thinking about where young people are coming from.

I think now young people are seen as such a force in the world, but it’s still something that people are often hesitant to engage with. That is one huge piece of landscape – people actually are starting to value young people and starting to recognize that young people are, in fact, the global majority. The global average age is under 30.

If we’re not engaging, working with, and designing for young people, we’re not going to make any climate progress. People are really starting to get that. And that’s so much thanks to the work that young climate activists have done, and also groups like Student Energy, who have followed up that activism with concrete, tangible formulas and solutions for how to really work with, train, and engage young people.

So it takes a village [to create this], and the whole ecosystem has been really important. But the world is fundamentally shifted in that way. The world is also fundamentally shifted on climate action. Everyone, no matter where you are in the world, now admits that climate change is real and needs to be acted upon. That wasn’t the case when I started.

There are still a lot more debates, so sometimes it can feel like there’s not enough progress. But it is vastly different and moving so much more in the right direction. I think that’s one thing I feel lucky about, is eight years has actually given me a lot to look back on, to actually see where young people have made insane amounts of progress in this world, whereas, in a day-in, day-out, six-month timeline, it doesn’t always feel that way.

What is one unexpected thing you learned while you were Executive Director [of Student Energy]?

One of the biggest and best surprises was that champions for your work and for you will come in such unexpected places and that the biggest thing that you can do as a leader is just to continually talk about your vision to as many people as you can to see who wants to be on the support team. 

If you would have told me who my biggest mentors and supporters would be when I started out, I don’t think I ever would have believed you. Sometimes the people you feel should be on your team are nowhere to be found. But then you’ll find other people who really have no responsibility but are just passionate about young people and doing the right thing in the world. And they will be there for you and it will make all the difference. So the biggest, most lovely surprise has just been the amount of people who’ve come out of the woodwork to say that they believe in young people too, and that they want to make this happen.

What are you most proud of?

I’m really most proud of how our staff have developed in Student Energy. So many people started with Student Energy as their very first job, maybe as an assistant working 10 hours a week, and have grown into directing portfolios, having mentorship networks of their own, and running so many programs. In addition to our staff, the young people who work for us are incredibly inspiring and really are some of the biggest impact that we have.

The other thing I’m really proud of is how I think we really stood up for young people and what’s right to do in this space. To this day, all of our programs are designed and led by young people. That’s something that we haven’t changed. Despite becoming a multi-million dollar organization, we are still really true to what young people need to be successful in this space and aren’t directed necessarily by our funders or anything like that.

We set the agenda for what young people need, then we go out and find the supporters that make that happen. I think Student Energy has really proven how you can effectively work with young people in a way that other people didn’t see as possible because they weren’t really willing to listen to the young people that they were working to serve.

I’m so proud that we’ve maintained that throughout the years.

How many Student Energy Summits have you attended?

I’ve attended three in-person summits and one virtual summit.

What’s your favorite memory from SES (International Student Energy Summit)?

My favorite memory is at SES 2017 in Merida, Mexico. David Hochschild, the Chair of the California Energy Commission was on the dance floor at the gala, jumping up and down with all the delegates and exclaiming, “Man, this is like a climate hope wedding. It’s fun like a wedding, but it’s like a climate hope summit where everyone believes we could do this!”

And that’s the experience that I want everyone to have. It’s the rallying cry that we can do this.

What are you excited about for SES 2023?

I’m honestly so excited for the team. It is such an incredible experience to go through. So many of them will go from not really knowing how to do this to feeling confident with fundraising, communications, delegate recruitment, and so many core business skills. I can’t wait to see them evolve as every SES team has and really see what that will do for them in their careers.

What’s one piece of advice you have for the Student Energy youth network?

My biggest piece of advice for the youth network is don’t be paralyzed by choice. There are so many things that can happen in the world. There are so many opportunities, or sometimes, it can be so hard to find an opportunity. But what’s really crucial is that you keep moving forward, step by step, to make it happen. And so sometimes maybe the ideal job won’t appear. But it’s important to take what you can get in front of you and keep your values strong. Keep learning, growing, and building. Nothing is perfect and you won’t find perfect, but do what you can with what’s in front of you.

What’s one piece of advice you have for the Student Energy staff?

For the Student Energy staff, I just want to see everyone stick to it and dream really big. There’s so much you can do in each of your roles and so much that you can take hold of. It is such an incredible opportunity to have the platform of Student Energy, to have the internal support that we have, and to have the network and the opportunities that we have. So take a hold of all of that and be really clear about what you see as the need for yourself and for others. You are the target audience. 

All the best things we have [at Student Energy] have come from SE staff who are willing to take a risk. And I would love to see people continue to do that.

What’s one thing you’re excited to do now that you’re no longer Executive Director [of Student Energy]?

I honestly am still very much looking forward to being the organization’s biggest cheerleader. But beyond that, definitely looking forward to a few more dog walks, ideally a little bit less travel. But I think also, my next mission is to really explore how we continue to develop and make effective teams in all other types of sectors.

I’m really excited to actually go in and do that and take some of the skills I’ve learned in Student Energy about how to build and scale organizations and transfer that to other places that need it as well. Finally, I will not be taking on pottery as suspected (laughs).

Click to watch the full interview video here.

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With only 2 days to go before #COP27 begins, Student Energy is preparing to share youth perspectives toward climate action and empower the road to Net-zero together.

Student Energy Team at COP 27

Student Energy will be speaking, facilitating, or hosting events during COP 27. 

Meredith Adler – Executive Director

Helen Watts – Senior Director of Partnerships

Shakti Ramkumar – Director of Communications & Policy

Abdullah Khair – Partnerships Manager

Grace Young – Alumni & Community Manager

Eduarda Zhogbi – Student Energy Senior Advisor

Vaughn-Xavier Jameer – Chapters Associate

Oluwadabira Abiola-Awe – Partnerships Associate

Danielle Kehler – SevenGen Manager

If you are heading to COP 27, Student Energy would love to connect with you. Send Helen, Shakti, or Grace an email at helen@studentenergy.org, shakti@studentenergy.org, or grace@studentenergy.org and we would be happy to meet!

Student Energy Delegation in Sharm El Sheikh

Student Energy is working with key partners, including Sustainable Energy for All, the Government of Canada, and NYU Abu Dhabi, to make sure that youth can participate in person at COP 27 Sharm El Sheikh. Student Energy will be having a delegation of 16 Student Energy young leaders who will be working with us on side events and bringing key messages to world leaders while participating in programming throughout the blue zone. Countries represented will include Canada, India, Jordan, Brazil, Paraguay, Nigeria, Trinidad, Uganda, Spain, UAE, Poland, and the UK.

Currently, SEforALL is supporting a delegation of ten young women from developing economies to attend dedicated programs at the SDG 7 Pavilion and throughout the blue zone.

Energy Transition Skills Report Initial Findings Launch

Student Energy, in partnership with Ørsted, will launch initial findings from the Energy Transition Skills Report at COP 27. The report contains survey results and recommendations from 5,000 young people around the world on how to create more accessible and inclusive entry points for youth to enter and stay in careers that accelerate the global energy transition. The findings will be delivered by Shakti Ramkumar, Student Energy’s Director of Communications & Policy, at the Danish Pavilion on November 16 from 8:00 – 9:00.

The Energy Transition Skills Project was launched in 2022 to identify the needs of ready young people for energy transition jobs. 

Youth Impact Framework Initial Findings Launch

With the recent developments of the Youth Impact Framework in place, Student Energy, with the Global Covenant of Mayors, will be sharing the initial findings at COP 27. The findings will be discussed by Shakti at the UNFCCC Innovation Zone on November 10 from 14:00 – 16:00.

The Youth Impact Framework is a set of impact measurement tools and indicators to help youth climate advocates, project leaders, and founders measure and communicate the impact of their initiatives to incorporate youth-inclusive project design principles, by recognizing the impact of youth contributions to SDG 7 and across the Sustainable Development Goals.

International Student Energy Summit 2023 Abu Dhabi Announcement

More than 1,000 young people have already pre-registered for the International Student Energy Summit 2023 (SES 2023) during the first week beginning the summit’s launch last October 27. The Student Energy Summit team will be announcing the International Student Energy Summit 2023 at the Youth Pavilion on November 15. This will be followed by The Student Energy Summit 2023 Abu Dhabi: Uniting the Energy Transition happening at the UEA Pavilion from 14:00 – 14:45. 

Global Youth Energy Outlook Final Report Launch

In 2020, Student Energy launched the Global Youth Energy Outlook, the first youth-led research project of its kind to collect youth perspectives on energy. An online survey and a series of Regional Dialogues have engaged 41,652 young people, aged 18-30, from 181 countries and territories around the world. Now, the final report will be launched at COP 27. 

Find out what else we’re doing at COP 27!

November 8 

How can clean energy mitigate climate change, accelerate development, and support food security? 

• Shakti will be speaking at the Danish Pavilion from 12:00 to 12:45 with the event hosted by the Danish Chamber of Commerce

November 9

Youth Financing Done Right: How to best structure youth-financing program in developing countries

• Abdullah Khair, Student Energy’s Partnerships Manager, will be speaking at the Side Event Room 3 – HATSHEPSUTI from 11:30 – 12:30. The event hosted by YOUNGO

Just Sustainability, Circular Economy and Social Justice: employment and social policies to support a just green transition across the globe

• Shakti is speaking at the EU Pavilion from 19:00 – 20:00

November 10

Youth in the Energy Transition – Panel Discussion 

• Abdullah will be speaking at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion on November 10 from 9:00 – 10:00. This event is hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency

Launch of the Energy Transition Commission

• Vaughn-Xavier Jameer, Student Energy’s Chapters Associate, will be speaking at the SDG 7 Pavilion from 10:30 – 11:30. The event is hosted by SEforALL 

Empowering Youth in Climate and Sustainable Energy

• Abdullah will be speaking at the Green Zone on November 10 from 13:00 – 14:00. The event is hosted by Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

Investing in Youth for a Just Energy Transition

• Eduarda Zoghbi, Student Energy’s Senior Advisor, will be speaking on this event, with Grace Young, Student Energy’s Alumni and Community Manager, moderating at the SDG 7 Pavilion on November 10 at 13:30 – 14:30

Fireside Chat with Simon, CEO of GEAPP and Dabira

• Oluwadabira Abiola-Awe, Student Energy’s Partnership Associate, will be speaking on this event happening at the GEAPP Office from 14:00 – 14:30

November 11

UNDP COP 27 Hour

• Dabira will be speaking at the UN Broadcast Center from 11:30 – 11:55. The event is hosted by UNDP

Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy Event

• Meredith Adler, Student Energy’s Executive Director, will be moderating this event happening at the Wind and Solar Pavilion Zone D from 14:00 – 15:30. The event is hosted by the Enel Foundation

Panel Discussion – Energy Transition, Green Jobs and Skills

• Dabira will be speaking on this event at the WMB Pavilion, hosted by the National Grid

High Level Panel Discussion with Matchmaking Session and Dinner

• Helen Watts, Student Energy’s Senior Director of Partnerships, will be speaking at the event from 17:20 – 20:00

November 12

There is No Food Security Without Clean Cooking

• Shakti will be speaking in this event, hosted by the Clean Cooking Alliance, happening at the SDG 7 Pavilion from 9:00 – 10:00

Achieving NDC Targets through Clean Cooking Action

• The event will take place at the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub from 13:00 – 14:00, hosted by the Clean Cooking Alliance

Capacity Building: Energy Literacy to Power a Greener Future (The Commonwealth Secretariat)

• Helen will be speaking at the SDG 7 Pavilion from 16:30 – 17:30, hosted by The Commonwealth Secretariat

November 14

Where is the Money for a Gender Just Transition?

• Dabira will be speaking at the SDG 7 Pavilion from 10:30 – 11:30, hosted by UNIDO

November 15

Game Changers Accelerating the Global Energy Transition

• Eduarda will be speaking at the Climate Action Rooms from 10:00 – 12:00

Unlocking Potential: Working with Young People for a Just Transition

• Happening at the We Mean Business Pavilion from 10:30 – 11:30, Student Energy will be co-hosting this event with We Mean Business

Africa’s Just Energy Transition: Scaling Up Renewable Energy Minigrids for People and Planet

• Dabira will be speaking at the UNDP Pavilion from 11:45 – 12:35

Green Jobs in the Energy Transition

• Dabira will be speaking at the We Mean Business Pavilion from 11:30 – 12:30

COP27 Energy Day Implementation Lab “A cleaner power sector by 2030: Scaling renewable and storage-based systems.”

• Eduarda will be speaking at the Lotus Room (Action Room 2) from 14:00 to 15:30

Indigenous & Youth Leadership in Canada’s Road to Net-zero

• Student Energy and SevenGen will be co-hosting this event at the Canada Pavilion from 15:15 – 16:00

November 17

Meeting with Global Affairs Canada

• Student Energy will be co-hosting and pitching this event at the SDG 7 Pavilion

About the SES 2019 Changemakers:

Churchill Agutu – South Africa

Founder of the Africa Green Collar Project

Churchill attended SES2017 in Merida, Mexico, where he first began to explore energy solutions from a socio-techno-economic perspective. Churchill has a background in Chemical Engineering, and presented some of his research findings on improving the performance of solar cells, to students during SES 2017. Residing in South Africa where the energy transition is still in its nascent stages and an estimated 60% of the population are youth, he’s pursed work focusing on the intersection between youth empowerment, climate change, and energy policy. Churchill is the Founder of the Africa Green Collar Project, which is working to build a knowledge economy for young people in Africa, to enable them to create a sustainable future for the continent. He also works as an analyst at a global not-for-profit company working in the low carbon space. Previously, he worked as a Climate Change Advisor at a climate change advisory firm working in South Africa’s climate change environment.  

 Churchill is also a former project leader for the Engineers Without Borders UP Litre of Light (LOL) Project in South Africa, and he has been involved in other projects that originated at SES 2017, including a project where he worked with an international cohort of students to build cooking stoves for a local community in Zavalla, Mexico.

Joshua Miguel Lopez – Phillippines

Assistant Program Coordinator, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Philippines

Attending SES 2017 introduced Joshua to climate and renewable energy work, where he was exposed to changemakers who, despite their youth, had pursued leadership roles in shaping the energy future. Joshua works in the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Philippine Office on climate action and renewable energy and created the Renewable Energy Bootcamp or REBOOT, a program that trains youth from various professions to pilot renewable energy projects that also solve development needs in marginalized communities.  Joshua also created the Renewable Energy Congress, a national multi-stakeholder conference that brings together leaders from politics, local government, industry, academe, and civil society. Its goal is to build a broad consensus and develop catalytic projects that will accelerate the renewable energy transition in the Philippines.

Alec Macklis – USA

Founder and CEO of Gridspan Energy

At SES 2017 in Merida, Mexico, Alec gained access to key advisors and mentors who have helped him to build his company, Gridspan Energy. The company is pioneering new market and new use-case for energy storage systems with clear value and market in small island developing states (SIDS). To date they have raised over $700,000 in funding, have public-facing signature and agreement of 1st project with both the Government of Anguilla and ANGLEC a local utility. Alec has lived the Student Energy experience of creating a company that understands multi-disciplinary nature of energy and the challenging road of commercializing a novel, technology-enabled business model.

“Student Energy has had a huge influence on my career path. I ended up meeting a great mentor who was a founder of Student Energy, a co-founder of Student Energy: Janice Tran and she played a big role in mentoring me and advising during the last two years of starting this company” – Alec Macklis

Emma Wiesner – Sweden

Energy Marketing Analyst at SWECO; Centerpartiet First Substitute for the European Parliament

Emma gained valuable understanding of the international perspective of energy while attending SES 2015 in Bali, Indonesia. Her experience there inspired her to work in the European energy system and ultimately to run for European Parliament in the 2019 election as an engineer wanting to change the energy system politically. She’s working as a young candidate to the European Parliament to empower youth in the energy sector through politics. With a foot in both the energy industry and in energy policy, Emma helps her clients understand the energy transition, create scenarios for the future energy system, and analyse policy instruments. 

“Student Energy gave me this really international perspective. I’ve always been involved in politics, so I’ve been mixing politics with engineering and energy engineering and always knew that I wanted to work with policy to influence society, but before Student Energy I was more interested in national politics. But Student Energy really broadened my perspective, I was starting to think more in an international way, how can we influence the energy system on a global level. So being at Student Energy Summit in Indonesia really gave me perspectives from all around the world and really seeing that the energy system is much broader and you have to work with it on a global level.” – Emma Wiesner

It’s official, London will be the host city for SES 2019! We here at Student Energy could not be more excited to see you there. 

For those who have never been, the International Student Energy Summit is a summit for students by students, seeking to inspire the future generations of energy. The 2019 Summit headquarters are at Imperial College in London, with students from all across Europe forming the multi-disciplinary team making this Summit a reality.

Want to be part of the future of sustainable energy and the biggest energy conference for students in the world?

PRE REGISTER NOW TO BE A DELEGATE! 

Over the course of four days, 650 delegates from all corners of the world will attend inspiring talks from +50 academic, industry and policy leaders. The program will encompass industry & technology, society & environment, markets & finance, and youth empowerment topics.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to shine in front of +50 leading companies spanning different sectors and industries. A blend of panels, workshops, and a recruitment fair will give delegates many opportunities to build a strong network, gain valuable insights, and build skills alongside the companies attending the Summit.

We can’t wait to see you there!

It’s that time of year again enernerds! Join us March 23rd – 25th for the third annual Alberta Student Energy Summit.

Students from all around Alberta and beyond are invited to come together in Edmonton to debate and discuss the energy future of Alberta, and explore the topic Creating Common Ground. 

Stay up to date with speaker announcements by following the event Facebook Page. 

Tickets can be purchased here. 

For more information contact: olivia@studentenergy.org

We all want to relive SES 2017, so we decided what better way to relive the fun than with an awesome giveaway. We want to see all your favourite moments from the Summit so be sure to use the hashtag #MySES on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to be entered to win.

All submissions will be entered into a  draw for prizes; this competition is not based on likes or shares, just use the hashtag to enter. You can share as many photos as you want. Each photo with the use of our hashtag will be one entry to the draw.

By using the hashtag, you give Student Energy the right to share your photos on our Social Media pages.

Prizes include: enernerd t-shirts, SES 2019 bursaries, and movement cards!

If you are sharing photos on Instagram, make sure that your Instagram page is public so that we can view your photos.

Contest closes September 7th, 2017.

If you have any questions reach out to olivia@studentenergy.org 

Our 5th International Student Energy Summit happened last month in Mexico, bringing together delegates from across the globe to innovate on our world’s energy issues. On this episode of Energy Voices, our host, Meredith Adler interviews three of our amazing delegates and dives into the post summit movements happening in their local communities.

First, Meredith checked in with Natalia Pulido from Monterey, Mexico. Natalia is a student studying Sustainable Development Engineering.  She is interested in renewable energy and the direct correlation between energy growth and the economy.

She came to SES with the goal of wanting to meet people who will inspire her entrepreneurial spirit and continue to build upon her global network of industry leaders and aspiring changemakers.

Natalia moved her entrepreneurial mindset into action when she pitched her idea during the Summit’s Innovation Jam. Energia Latinoamericana(ENERLAM), was born, with a mission to create a dialogue between representative members of Latin American countries. The goal is to increase sustainable energy initiatives and energy knowledge across Latin America, well addressing the energy poverty issues that exist in these countries. They hope to create a database of energy information to encourage collaboration and sustainable energy knowledge across Latin America.

The group was a huge success, drawing over 80 students at the summit to the table to discuss the potential of ENERLAM (the largest innovation jam group in SE history!) with meetings continuing post summit and over 425 active members to date. We are excited to see what is to come from ENERLAM.

Next up, Meredith spoke with Churchill Agutu, from Pretoria. A Chemical Engineering student with a focus in solar energy development, Churchill is challenging the traditional mindset of who can engage in the energy conversation and wants to encourage those from different educational backgrounds to leverage their skills to create a conversation around energy.

Churchill went to the summit with a similar vision to Natalia. However, he hoped that the summit would provide him with the insight of where he can be most effective in instigating change within the energy industry.

Finally, Meredith checked in with Vancouver, Canada resident Braeden Peterson, a business student at Simon Fraser University with a focused degree in marketing and entrepreneurship. Braeden caught interest in energy issues during an entrepreneurship project he was working on at school. His entrepreneurial spirit quickly recognized the huge opportunity that exists within the energy industry for disruption and innovation.

Braeden found the Summit the perfect place to further his knowledge of the energy industry, especially on a global scale. He loved meeting people from around the world with different backgrounds but who shared the common goal of improving our current energy system.

Braeden also took part in our Community Contribution Program that took place after our Summit. Braeden found this experience to be quite profound, and he felt it gave him a real understanding of how energy system improvements can impact people’s lives.

Braeden feels the Summit opened his eyes to how he can leverage his existing networks, with his own nonprofit to start tackling energy issues in his community.

Overall, this episode just solidified that amazing work that has continued post summit. We couldn’t be more proud of our delegates and the work they are doing in their communities. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

THE CHANGEMAKERS OF THE 2017 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENERGY SUMMIT

These individuals span four continents, with four unique, inspiring and impactful stories of how they contribute to our sustainable energy future.

Manuel Wiechers (Mexico) sparked his passion at the 2009 Student Energy Summit, inspiring him to co-found the social enterprise ILUMEXICO building solar home systems in off grid areas. Manuel’s company has provided energy access to more than 10,000 people!

“My company was inspired directly at SES and we are a young team…[You] can make a living and have a huge impact at the same time.”

– Manuel Wiechers

Rebecca Watts (Australia) attended the Student Energy Summit in 2015, which inspired her to travel to rural Cambodia and initiate a solar energy project providing households and schools with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity. Rebecca is passionate about the role of youth as positive changemakers of our future.

“It is through working across continents and across borders that we collaboratively transition to a more sustainable energy future.”

– Rebecca Watts

At SES 2015 Kakembo Galabuzi Brian (Uganda) was inspired to start the Waste to Energy Youth Initiative (WEYI), rallying youth to transition East Africa from wood fuel to affordable fuel briquettes and bio-gas. Kakembo’s initiative has engaged over 200 young people providing energy for the 85% of Ugandans who cannot afford major clean energy sources

“Diversity in education, gender, language, location, origin, culture and nationality will be a very big advantage to any initiative. In my case, my finance background was helpful in sourcing and managing funds, but every colleague in the initiative plays a unique role”

– Kakembo Galabuzi Brian

After SES 2013 Vishal Gajjar (India) started gathering local solutions that successfully reduced fossil fuel consumption in his own country. By transitioning IOT technology in energy insecure countries in Africa, Vishal is helping telecommunication companies minimize their dependence on diesel, and building a green energy future.

“There is no age to create a mark in energy sector. One may need to be an expert to ‘develop the solution’ from scratch but one doesn’t need to be an expert to ‘find the solution’ in this well-connected world of technology.”

– Vishal Gajjar

WANT TO HEAR MORE AND SPARK YOUR OWN FUTURE WITH ENERGY?

Join the movement at SES 2017: http://bit.ly/2jqVjjV