Keynotes Speakers and Thought Leaders 2018

Aniruddha Sharma

Co-founder & CEO, Carbon Clean Solutions

Aniruddha Sharma is Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Clean Solutions Limited.

Ashok Bhargava

Chair, Energy Sector Committee Director, Energy Division Central and West Asia Department, Asian Development Bank

As Director of the Energy Division in the Central and West Asia Department (CWRD) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Athena Ronquillo Ballesteros

Climate Finance Director, Asia, Growald Family Fund

Athena has many years of leadership and management experience in environment, development and natural resource governance in developing countries with a particular focus on climate change

Bambang Susantono

Vice-President (Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development), ADB

Dr. Bambang Susantono is the Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Carrie Thompson

Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3), USAID

Carrie Thompson is the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3).

Chunguang (Charlotte) Wang

​​Founder & CEO, EQuota Energy Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Charlotte is a serial entrepreneur and established EQuota Energy Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in 2014.

Danny Kennedy

Managing Director, California Clean Energy Fund and Cofounder of Sungevity and Powerhouse

Danny Kennedy leads the California Clean Energy Fund, connecting entrepreneurs everywhere to capital to build an abundant clean energy economy that benefits all.

David Elzinga

Senior Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank

David engages across a range of energy system technologies to support ADB’s investments in the energy sector.

Deborah Stokes

Vice-President (Administration and Corporate Management), Asian Development Bank

Ms. Deborah Stokes is the Vice-President for Administration and Corporate Management of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Dipal Chandra Barua

Founder and Chairman, Bright Green Energy Foundation

In 1983, Dipal Chandra, together with Muhammad Yunus, founded the microfinance institution Grameen Bank and remained its Deputy Managing Director until December 2009.

Diwakar Gupta

Vice-President (Private Sector and Cofinancing Operations), Asian Development Bank

Diwakar Gupta is the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Vice-President for Private Sector and Cofinancing Operations. He assumed office in August 2015.

Haukur Hardarson

Chairman and Founder, Arctic Green Energy

Haukur Hardarson is the founder and majority shareholder of Arctic Green Energy.

Laszlo Varro

Chief Economist, International Energy Agency (IEA)

Laszlo Varro, who has worked at the IEA since 2011, became the Agency's Chief Economist at the start of 2016, succeeding Fatih Birol, who took over as IEA Executive Director on 1 September 2015.

Leandro Leviste

Founder and CEO, Solar Philippines

Leandro Leviste founded Solar Philippines while only as a sophomore at Yale University. With his youth energizing him, he propelled the company into having 300 MW in projects, employing 600 employees, and providing renewable power to more households.

Monica Araya

Founder & Director, Costa Rica Limpia

Born in Costa Rica, Monica has worked on sustainability issues for over 20 years with a focus on Latin America.

Naoyuki Yoshino

Dean, ADBI

Naoyuki Yoshino is Dean of the Asian Development Bank Institute; Professor Emeritus of Keio University, in Tokyo, Japan

Peter du Pont

Co-chair, Asia Clean Energy Forum 2018

Peter du Pont is based in Bangkok and has more than 30 years’ experience developing sustainable energy and climate programs in the U.S. and Asia.

Rana Adib

Executive Secretary, Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN 21)

Rana Adib is the Executive Secretary of REN21, the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century.

Robert Guild

Chief Sector Officer, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank

Dr Robert Guild is Chief Sector Officer in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank.

Roli Gupta

Founder and CEO, Oorjan

Roli is the Founder and CEO of Oorjan Cleantech, an award-winning consumer solar startup which uses a combination of innovative solar technology

Takehiko Nakao

President and Chairperson, Board of Directors, Asian Development Bank

Takehiko Nakao is the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Chairperson of ADB’s Board of Directors.

Wencai Zhang

Vice President (Operations 1), Asian Development Bank

Mr. Wencai Zhang is the Vice-President (Operations 1) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He joined ADB in December 2013.

Yongping Zhai

Chief of Energy Sector Group, ADB

Dr. Yongping Zhai has been working on energy development in Asia and Africa for more than 25 years.

Young-Man Woo

Director General, Global Project Division, Korea Energy Agency

2017-Present Director General, Glabal Project Division, KEA