Stefano Besseghini was born in Tirano (Sondrio) in 1966. Married, with one son, he graduated in Physics at the University of Milan and then at the same University specialized in Materials Science and Technology, graduating summa cum laude.
In August 2018 he was appointed President of ARERA, the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment for the term 2018-2025.
In September 2018 he was appointed Vice-President of Medreg, the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators.
In November 2010 he was appointed CEO of RSE – Ricerca Sistema Energetico, and then confirmed in May 2011 for a further three-year term 2011-2013. In June 2014 he was appointed Chairman of RSE while also retaining his position as CEO.
He has contributed to the development of a regional innovation project promoting the growth of the Valtellina Innovation Hub (Polo dell’Innovazione della Valtellina – Politec), to which he was appointed CEO from 2007 to 2011. He was also appointed President of Politec Banda Larga.
He carried out research activities at the National Research Council (Cnr), becoming head of the Lecco office in 1996, one of the most highly regarded institutions in the field of physical metallurgy in Italy.
He has been responsible for several national and international research projects, always working in close contact with the industry and leading to the development of several successful technology transfer projects.
He has co-written seven patent applications, published eighty papers and articles on a number of international publications, and given numerous presentations at national and international conferences and events. He is also an evaluator for international, national and regional research projects, and a referee for international journals.

Vice-Chair of the Committee on Sustainable Energy (elected by the Group of Experts on Renewable Energy) at United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In charge of International Relations at Gestore dei Servizi Energetici – GSE Spa (The Italian Energy Services Agency). Secretary-general at AREL (Centre for Studies, Research and Legislation Agency). Vice Chair of OMEC’s Strategy and International Cooperation Committee. With a background as economist, he served with the following institutions: AGCM (the Italian Antitrust Authority, the Italian Electricity and Gas Regulatory Authority, the Single Buyer (Acquirente Unico Spa), the Ministry for Industry and the Italian Prime Minister’s Office. In the latter institution, he coordinated the NARS (the counselling unit operating with the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning, or ‘CIPE’, on the regulatory themes related to network-infrastructure services). He also served with Eni and Enel (as the President’s assistant). From March 2007 to the current office, he served as: Director General of the Equalisation Fund for the Electricity Sector (CCSE). He has been Chair of WAREG (European Water Regulators) in 2015. Alberto Biancardi is the author of numerous publications on public services and economic regulation.

Marcello Capra is Senior Advisor of the Department of Energy of the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. He is graduated in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Rome La Sapienza, started his career in the power generation sector in F.B.M.-HUDSON ITALIANA S.p.A. (Milan, Italy). In 1983 he entered ENEA, the National Agency for R&D in Energy and Environment, where he took on many responsibilities, as Experimental Areas manager and director for Energy-Demand Technologies. In 2002 he has been appointed, by the Minister of Economic Development, Member of the Secretariat of the Department of Energy of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.  He represented the Ministry in many international organisations such as the International Energy Agency, the World Energy Council (WEC), the European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. He served also as member of the Board of RSE Spa, Milan. He actively contributed to the Italian participation to the international partnership Mission Innovation.  He is also member of the Italian Delegation of the Cluster “Energy, Mobility and Climate” of the Horizon Europe Programme for R&D funding.

Franco Cotana is an Italian engineer, scientist, and a member of the board of directors of the University of Perugia from 2014 to 2019. He was formerly president from March until October 2014 of the National Commission’s IPPC-AIA at the Ministry of the Environment. He graduated cum laude in electrical engineering from the University of Rome La Sapienza. In 2001, he became a full professor of industrial and technical physics in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Perugia to coordinate technical physics section of the Department. Author of over 300 scientific publications in highly interdisciplinary journals and holder of 20 patents, he is an expert evaluator of national and international projects MIUR with over 20 years of experience. From 2009, he has been the Italian representative in Brussels for the SET-Plan EIBI (strategic energy technology plan – European industrial bioenergy Initiative). In 2014, after several experiences in various boards of public companies-private, Franco Cotana became member of the board of directors of the University of Perugia as one of the 5 members elected by the University Senate representing the Engineering, Veterinary and Agricultural sciences. Since July 2023 he is the CEO of RSE.

Prof. Paul M. Cunningham has over two decades’ experience collaborating with key stakeholder groups to co-design and implement ethical, impactful Sustainable Development related policy, research and innovation and implementation activities including international policy and research conferences hosted by African and European governments. He is Executive Director of the not-for-profit policy and research IST-Africa Institute, a strategic collaboration with 18 African ministries and national councils responsible for Innovation, Science and Technology related policy, research, implementation, and adoption. As President & CEO, IIMC, Paul leads teams providing technological, strategic and policy expertise to national and international government organizations and research programs. Paul’s international, inter-disciplinary research track record was recognized by Enterprise Ireland (Irish Champion of EU Research – 2015, 2017). A Distinguished Lecturer with IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT), Paul is a Past Director, IEEE Division VI (responsible for 7 IEEE Societies); former President and VP Conferences, IEEE SSIT; and former Chair, IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee. Paul currently serves as Chair, IEEE UK and Ireland Section; Chair, Region 8 Climate Change Committee; Chair, IEEE Division VI Nominations Committee; and Vice-Chair, IEEE Conference Portfolio Review Committee. Paul also serves as a Member of the IEEE in 2050, IEEE Society and Council Review (SCRC), IEEE TAB Finance (TAB FinCom), IEEE TAB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and IEEE MGA Geographic Unit Operations Support (GUOS) Committees.

Francesco Del Pizzo is the Executive Vice President for Grid Development Strategies and Dispatching at the Terna Group, where he was hired in June 2020. From 2018 to 2020, he managed Acea S.p.A.’s Industrial Energy Infrastructure Area and was Executive Chairman of Areti, the energy distribution company for the metropolitan area of Rome. From 2005 to 2013, he was already working for the Terna Group, taking on roles of increasing responsibility: CIO, Dispatching and Energy Operations Director, President at Suntergrid, Chairman of Terna Plus and Terna Storage. Previously, he held various notable positions at international energy, technology and consulting companies: VP at IGT, a leading commercial operator and technology provider for regulated gaming markets worldwide; Renewable and Smartgrid Director at DEWA, a public water and power company based in Dubai. Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, a global strategic consulting firm.  Francesco Del Pizzo holds a degree in Information Sciences (Computer Science) from the University of Salerno and a master’s degree in telecommunications from the Polytechnic University of Turin. During academic year 2022-2023, he served as a lecturer on the “Smart Energy Management & Technologies for Sustainability” course at the University of Salerno.

Diego Gonzalez Ferreiro is the Chief, Solutions and Support Unit and UN Maps Product Manager at the United Nations Global service Centre (UNGSC) based in Brindisi, Italy. He manages a team of developers and GIS professionals delivering innovative geospatial services and products to users across the United Nations missions. For the last fifteen years, he has worked as a GIS Officer in various UN missions, such as Somalia, Kenya and DR Congo. Previously, he worked in an environmental consulting firm in Madrid, Spain, where he studied. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and a Master’s degree in Geodesy and Cartography.

René Garello (IEEE Grades M’85; SM’96, F’06, LF’20) was born in 1953. He received the Ph.D. degree in Signal Processing at the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG) in 1981. From 1982 to 1984 he worked as a Research Associate at Aeronomy Lab, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at Boulder, Colorado (USA). In 1988, he became Professor in this engineering school in the field of signal processing and image processing and in 1995, Prof. Garello obtained his Habilitation (HDR; Habilitation to Supervise Research). Prof. Garello retired in Sept. 2021 with the status of Professor Emeritus. His main research interests lie in Remote Sensing, 2D signal processing, statistical and spectral analysis applied to ocean surface features detection and characterization. For the last two decades, he has worked in the development of signal and image processing tools for the interpretation of radar signals and the extraction of sea surface features, either natural (wind, waves, currents) or manmade (ships, pollution). He is presently engaged in several initiatives on the topic of Marine Debris and Plastic in the oceans, sustainable developments and ocean best practices systems. Prof. Garello has authored or co-authored more than 60 papers, a hundred and thirty conference communications and three books. For all his works, Prof. Garello was elevated to the grade of Fellow of the IEEE, class of 2006, “for contributions to signal processing applied to remote sensing of the ocean”. Since 2023, he is co-chair of the OBPS (Ocean Best Practices System) Steering Committee, a UNESCO/IOC supported project. Prof. René Garello is presently President of the IEEE France Section, elected for the period 2023-2025.

Lwanga Herbert, is a Technology promoter, innovator, researcher, entrepreneur and enthusiast best known for promoting technology, innovation and entrepreneurship for the benefit of communities and society as whole. Lwanga Herbert currently serves a Global chair of the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB) that focuses on supporting impactful and ethically informed volunteer-led initiatives, programs and projects, and mutually beneficial partnerships, as well as to inform policy formulation that harness technology and innovation to address societal challenges in a responsive, effective, and sustainable way. Previously (2021 – 2022) he served as a Chair of IEEE SIGHT. He is also a co-founder of Logel Science Foundation, a non-profit organization which focuses on conducting research, development and innovation activities whose end results are aimed to benefit humanity. He also co-founded LOG`EL GROUP Ltd a technology company which emphasizes use of local talent to develop technology solutions that address locally based challenges and concerns. Previously, he has won different awards among others which includes the Ugandan Presidential Innovation Award 2005 – that focused on rewarding young innovators.

Recent fields of activities: Sector Coupling, Hydrogen and EV impact on power grids, Electrification of Industrial processes and Built Environment, Interconnections and Global Grids, Flexibility & Resilience studies, Energy Scenarios and Projects’ Economic Assessments, European Innovation Roadmaps.
Employed in Terna Rete Italia (Italian Transmission System Operator) since 23 years; currently in International Operations within Strategy, Planning and Despatching Dept; previous positions in international business development, interconnection projects, investment planning, technical innovation deployment, electricity market set-up and evolution.
Previously engaged 10 years in ENI, Italian major in Oil & Gas sector, engaged in strategic development, investment appraisal, international operations, merging&acquisitions.
Current active roles in International Organisations: CIGRE, ENTSO-E, MedTSO, ETIP SNET, ISGAN, IEC, IEA, WEF, Dii Desert Energy, GEIDCO,EPRI.
He is Chairman of Study Committee C1 (Power System Development & Economics), Senior Member of Technical Council, Chair of Africa-World Bank Initiative, Liason officer with IEC ACTAD, Member of IEEE-CIGRE liason Group.

After 3 years of academic research and teaching, Dr. Nader Imani joined Festo, a global leader in automation and technical education in 1992. Since then he has been assuming different roles and management responsibilities with Festo Didactic in Germany, as well as acting as CEO of Festo Didactic in the United States and Canada, since 2017 appointed as Executive Vice President Global Education, he has been responsible for larger educational projects with impact on socio-economic progress around the globe.
He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering of Ecole Centrale de Nantes in France as well as qualification degrees from Harvard Business School in the United States and Saint Gallen School of Management in Switzerland.
In 2014 he was elected as a member of the council and since the beginning of 2021, Dr. Imani has been appointed President of the Worlddidac organization. Within the frame of his professional activities, Dr. Imani serves WorldSkills International since 2017 as a member of its Advisory Board on Skills Development in Africa and is currently serving the European Union as a private sector advisor for the Global Gateway Program. Dr. Imani has been acting as an active partner of the United Nations as well as bi- and multi-lateral development agencies to drive innovation in the field of technical vocational education and training and industrial workforce development.

I have been collaborating with the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy Network and Environment (ARERA) since 2011, being involved in the integration of the European electricity market and the implementation of EU regulations on that subject. In particular, I co-chaired the ACER Task Force aiming at implementing the EU Regulation 2015/1222 (CACM) and EU Regulation 2016/1719 (FCA). In parallel, I co-chaired the ECRB Electricity Working Group and chaired the CACM Pentalateral Coordination Group.
Since 2017, I have been closely following, on behalf of ARERA, the market-coupling project between Albania, Italy, Montenegro and Serbia.
In 2022, I actively contributed to establishing the Balkan Energy School, whose activities I have been coordinating until today. Since the second half of 2023, I have been co-chairing the Joint Expert Team for enlarging market coupling to Energy Community Contracting parties.
My initial work experience was as a risk manager at the Italian Single Buyer. I got a PhD in Economics.

Dr. Tom Murad, The IEEE Canada President & Director IEEE – R7. A member of Engineering Order of Honour – Professional Engineers Ontario “PEO”, is a respected Technology leader, Innovator, thinker, Board Member, award-winning Educator, and distinguished speaker& advocate of innovation and creativity specifically in the Areas of: Engineering & Technology, Mechatronics, Digitalization, Smart Infrastructure, Industry – 4.0 & 5.0, Leadership, and technical education & talents / skills development.
He Joined Siemens in Canada ( 2010 – 2023 ). His latest role was the “Country Lead (V.P.) of “Engineering , Technical Excellence & Academics”, as well as being the founder & Director of “ Awards winning “ the Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy “SCETA”, and the Siemens Mechatronics Systems certification Program ( 2014 – 2020 ). Prior to that, he held different Executive Management & C – Level roles with an extensive career in Professional Engineering, Innovative Technical Operations and including Academia and R&D work. He is now Adjunct professor at the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences- University of Guelph and “ CTO “ of Innoventus Engineering, also serving as a member of various advisory Boards of Directors in Industry and Academia. Dr. Murad holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronics), and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Power Electronics and Industrial Controls from Loughborough University of Technology in the UK, with a Leadership Program Certificate from Schulich Business School, York University in Ontario, Canada.

Mr. OZKOC is the Director of the Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG). He leads MEDREG in developing activities, tools, regulatory standards and good practices to promote a functioning, interoperated, compatible and sustainable regulatory framework in the Mediterranean region. Prior to MEDREG, he occupied the position of Sector Manager for Energy at the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, managing reform process, implementation and follow-up of pre-accession developments, monitoring and coordinating the programmes/projects under the EU Financial Assistance to Turkey between July 2010 and March 2018. In 2006, he worked as Senior Gas Expert (Head of Hydrocarbons) for the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna, where he contributed to the development of strategies for gas market structures in the South-Eastern European Countries and monitored the compliance of Members with the EU’s internal energy directives. He worked for the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) from its establishment in 2001 until 2009. He was involved in the preparation and implementation of the implementing legislation of the Natural Gas Market Law. Following his graduation, he joined Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) in 1994 as a natural gas engineer and specialised on natural gas and LNG sales and purchase agreements as well as gas infrastructures. He received a BS in Metallurgical and Materials Science Engineering and later an MS from the Middle East Technical University (METU).

Francesca Portincasa serves as the General Manager of Acquedotto Pugliese, a leading Italian water utility and a key player in the European water and wastewater management sector. She is the first woman to hold the top position in the company’s century-long history.
A biologist by training, Mrs. Portincasa joined Acquedotto Pugliese in 1989 and has taken on progressively greater responsibilities throughout her career. Her previous roles include Industrial Coordinator and Director of Operations, positions through which she has driven the company’s commitment to sustainable development and technological innovation.
Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing Acquedotto Pugliese’s ecological transition, championing increased investments in a sustainable growth model that integrates innovative technologies. As a dedicated advocate for the well-being and prosperity of Apulian communities, she oversees both the efficient management of drinking water supply and the reuse of wastewater for irrigation, initiatives that not only improve seawater quality but also support local fisheries and boost tourism.

Is the President of the Energy and Water Regulatory Agency of Montenegro. Before being elected to the position of President, he held the position of Board member for one term. For three terms, from 2013 to 2017, Mr. Prelević chaired the Energy Community Regulatory Board, the coordinating body of the national regulators of the Energy Community. Also, since 2019, he has been a Member of the Advisory Committee, which was established within the Energy Community Regulatory School. Under his leadership, the Energy and Water Regulatory Agency became an observer at the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) in 2018, as the first Energy Community Contracting Party to be granted observer status. For the last two years, he has held the position of Vice-President at the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG). Mr. Prelević is an economist, holding a Master of Science in Energy Management – B.I. Oslo, IFP Pariz, ESCP Paris. Since 2012 he is Lecturer at Energy Economics at the University of Donja Gorica (UDG) in Podgorica.

Elton B. Radheshi was born in Tirana/Albania in 1973. He holds a degree of Master in Science in Electrical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Tirana in 1996 and started his working career in the power sector immediately after graduation. During his long and successful career in the Power Sector, Mr. Radheshi held many key and important positions in the power sector such as the chief of cabinet of the CEO of KESH (Albanian Power Corporation) head of the Project Implementation Unit in TSO, Director of Market Operations Department of TSO, Deputy Chairman of the board of directors in SEE CAO (Podgorica/Montenegro) and chairman of the Western Balkan 6 Task Force for the Regional Group South East Europe of ENTSO-E. Mr. Radheshi started his journey in ERE first as a senior adviser of the Board of Commissioners, to become the head of international affairs. Since August 2019 he holds the position of the Secretary-General of the Authority in charge of the Administration of the Staff of the regulator as well as support to the Board on their decision making. Since April 2019, Mr. Radheshi was is also appointed as the Chairman of the ECRB Remit working group.

Vincenzo Ranieri is the CEO of E-Distribuzione and the President of the EU DSO Entity, the association of European DSO. Since joining Enel in 2000, he has held the position of Head of Planning and Control for the Global Infrastructure & Networks Division and subsequently for the Enel Group. Prior to that, he held several key roles, including Chief Financial Officer for the Group’s subsidiaries in Romania and Slovakia. He holds a degree in Corporate Finance from LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.

Brendan is the digitalisation lead in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Inclusive Transitions (EEIT) at the International Energy Agency (IEA). He specialises in power system modernisation, digitalisation, and the electricity demand from data centres and transmission networks. He has around two decades of experience in the power sector and holds a master’s in International Energy Policy from the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris.

Born in Granada, Spain. Received the MS and PhD degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Technical University of Madrid, Spain. Since 2004 she is with the Department of Signal Theory and Communications, Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain, where she has been Full Professor, head of the Department and co-director of the Radiofrequency, Electromagnetics, Microwaves and Antennas Research Group. She is now Honorary Emeritus Professor.
Her research deals with several topics, like electromagnetic field theory; advanced computational and numerical methods for microwave and millimeter wave passive components and antennas analysis and design; advanced network theory for passive devices, filters and multiplexers theory and design; antenna arrays, smart antennas, and more. Author of 754 publications, among them 9 scientific books, 122 articles in scientific journals, 406 contributions for international symposia. Coauthor of 2 European/USA patents and several software packages, under exploitation by multinational companies. Participated (as PI or researcher) in 97 research projects and contracts financed by Spanish, European, and USA public institutions and companies. Served in accreditation panels for institutions in Spain and abroad. Served in evaluation panels of the Commission of the European Communities, and other countries, including the National Science Foundation in USA. Associate editor of several scientific journals, member of the Technical Program or Organizing Committees of many international and national symposia, and reviewer for many international scientific journals, symposia, and editorial companies. She received three research awards and in 2016 a Honorary Doctorate from Aalto University, Finland. Received other awards and recognitions, among them the elevation to IEEE Fellow and the induction as member of IEEE-HKN. The Spanish Official National Association of Telecommunication Engineers gave her the 2022 IT Pioneer award. In 2024 she received the R8 Clementina Saduwa Award.
Member of IEEE since 1989. From 2020 she is IEEE Life Fellow. Member of five IEEE Technical Societies: AP-S, ComSoc, Education Society, MAG-S, MTT-S, and three AGs: WIE, LF, and YP. Since 1989 she served IEEE under different volunteer positions (around 120) including Spain Section Chair, WIE Committee Chair, Antennas and Propagation Society President, Region 8 Director, General Chair of IEEE Sections Congress 2014, Chair of IEEE Ethics and Member Conduct Committee, and many more. Currently she is member of IEEE HTB, IEEE Fellow Committee and Fellow Diversity Oversight Subcommittee, IEEE Conduct Review Committee, IEEE Honorary Membership Committee, IEEE WIE N&A Committee, Chair of the IEEE European Public Policy, member of TAB Periodicals Committee, TAB N&A Committee, Vice Chair MGA GUO, member of AP-S Strategic Planning Committee, MTT-S MAG Committee, R8 representative to Africa Council, and more.

Gianluca Sambucini is the Secretary of the Group of Experts on Renewable Energy (GERE) within the Sustainable Energy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).In 2020, he was Acting Chief of the joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section. He has been working at the UNECE since 1994 with an experience at the EBRD between 1997 and 1998 in the Agribusiness Team and the office for the Central European Initiative (CEI) Fund at the EBRD. Within UNECE, he was managing a cooperation programme with CEI/EBRD from 1998 to 2004. He was programme manager and one of the founders of InterSOS, humanitarian aid organization, in 1992. He also worked for the Insitute for Economic Cooperation and Development Issues (ICEPS) in 1990-1991 and the National Research Council (CNR) in 1988, and the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) in 1987. Gianluca hold a PhD in International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies (University of Bologna) and a Master Degree in Rural Development Planning (University of East Anglia, Norwich). He also hold a Master degree in Political Science with specialization on International Relations (La Sapienza, Rome) and a post-graduate diploma on diplomatic career and international organization careers at the SIOI.

Dr. Gianmaria Sannino is a climate scientist with a Ph.D. in Marine Science and Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II. Since 2022, he has been the Director of the ENEA Division for “Models, Observations, and Scenarios for Climate Change and Air Quality.” From 2015 to 2022, he led the ENEA Climate Modeling and Impacts Laboratory, focusing on climate science and environmental impacts.
He has coordinated national and international projects on climate change and marine energy production. His expertise is regularly called upon for research evaluations by organizations such as the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR), the French National Research Agency (ANR), the Dutch Research Council (NWO), and the European Commission.
Since 2010, he has been a member of the Scientific Committee for Marine Renewable Energy within the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA). In 2017, he began representing Italy in the Strategic Energy Technology Plan’s Working Group on Ocean Energy, becoming the European Coordinator in 2021. Dr. Sannino is also a member of the Technical Scientific Committee for the BIG-Blue Italian Growth Cluster (since 2018), represents ENEA within the European Global Ocean Observing System (EuroGOOS), and participates in the Italian Oceanographic Commission (COI). Additionally, he is a Scientific Committee member for both the European Climate Research Alliance (ECRA) and the Mediterranean Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (Med-CORDEX). From 2015 to 2022, he coordinated the ECRA program “Sea Level and Climate Change.”

Semida Silveira is a Professor of Practice in the Systems Engineering Program at Cornell University and a member of the CEET Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition created by the UN Secretary-General to accelerate climate change actions. Her goal is to contribute to science-based societal transformation, a global low-carbon circular economy, and sustainable development through transdisciplinary research, education, and actions with impact. Previously, she was a Full Professor in energy systems planning at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, where she established and led the Energy and Climate Division of the Energy Technology Department for twelve years. She worked as a sustainability and climate expert at the Swedish Energy Agency, program manager for energy and climate at the Stockholm Environment Institute, and did research at MIT, IIASA (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis), the University of Tübingen, and the University of Stockholm. She has acted in various company boards of directors, and advisory committees including the Swedish Royal Academy of Science, Swedish Research Council, and Finnish Academy of Sciences, among others. She won the Jabuti Literature Prize in 2001 in Brazil for the book Electricity for Sustainable Development (in Portuguese) and received an honorary medal from the Brazilian Embassy in Stockholm for her extensive work to build cooperation on innovation between Sweden and Brazil. She has developed and managed projects in collaboration with academics, multi-lateral organizations, governments, and the private sector in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa, and is the author of dozens of academic journal articles and books.

Valeria Termini is a Full Professor of Political Economy at RomaTre University and a Senior Fellow at the Luiss Institute for European Analysis and Policy (LEAP). She serves as a Scientific Advisor for the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and Ernst & Young (E&Y). She collaborates with the Encyclopedia Treccani and the United Nations Working Group 5 on investment, finance, energy, and climate. From 2006 to 2008, she led the Italian delegation on Energy and Climate Change at the G8, United Nations, and OECD, and served as the Personal Representative of the Prime Minister Romano Prodi at the Major Economies Meetings (MEM), established by the U.S. Presidency to build the “post-Kyoto” governance. Between 2011 and 2018, she was a Commissioner at the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks, and Environment (ARERA), and from 2013 to 2017, she served as Vice-Chair of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), as well as being a member of the Board of Regulators of the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) from 2011 to 2015. She was also the Vice-President of MEDREG (Mediterranean Energy Regulators) from 2016 to 2018. In January 2021, she joined the United Nations Technical Working Group on Investment and Finance in the High-Level Energy Dialogue for COP 26. Currently, she is a scientific expert for the National Council of Economics and Occupation (CNEL), appointed by the President of the Italian Republic.

Roberto Vigotti is the Secretary General of RES4Africa Foundation, gathering more than 30 stakeholders to accelerate Africa’s sustainable transformation, supporting wider participation of private players in delivering investments in Africa, with Africa and for Africa. In his 40 year-long career he has covered various positions at Enel, University of Pisa, IEA, IRENA and Eurelectric. In 2012, he embarked on the RES4Africa Foundation promoting a number of activities like public-private dialogue, market- driven analysis, training and capacity building activities, and on-field projects.
With a Master’s Degree in 1971 in Electrical Engineering, Roberto Vigotti spent 35 years in Enel power company R&D Division, first in the field of ultra-high voltage transmission and from 1982 in the co-ordination of R&D programmes in the field of new renewable energies.
During his career he was delegate in the Renewable Working Party of International Energy Agency (IEA) since 1989, where he was Chair for 12 years and started the IEA PV power system cooperation agreement. Mr. Vigotti is also member of the Coalition for Action of IRENA.

Soichiro Yasukawa is the Chief of the Unit for Disaster Risk Reduction at UNESCO Headquarters. He oversees geo-hazards risk reduction and coordination of DRR activities across different Sectors in UNESCO to promote multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder and multi hazard approach. Before joining UNESCO, he worked at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Cabinet Office of the Japanese government on DRR, building code, urban/territorial planning and international cooperation. He obtained a master degree in architecture from Kyoto University, Japan and a master degree in public administration from Columbia University, U.S.A.

Mr. Kais Zouabi is an engineer in informatics with extensive experience in Geospatial Information, Remote Sensing, and Information Technologies. He has ten years of experience in the private and public sectors and over twenty-five years with United Nations peacekeeping field operations. Since November 2017, Mr. Zouabi has been the Chief Client Solution Delivery at the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) in Brindisi, where he provides and supports corporate field technology solutions for geospatial, information, and innovative technologies to UN field missions and the Secretariat (UNHQ). Prior to this role, from April 2014 to August 2016, he was the Chief Geospatial Information Systems at the UNGSC, responsible for implementing the General Assembly GIS mandate and providing Geospatial Information support to all field missions. Mr. Zouabi joined the United Nations in September 1999 as an Information System Manager for the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), where he supported the identification/eligibility process and ensured Y2K compliance of the IT infrastructure4. He later served in various roles, including Chief GIS for the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), where he implemented significant GIS solutions and systems. He has also participated in several critical missions, including the OPCW-UN joint mission for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons and the United Nations Missions for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Zouabi worked in software development and at the Tunisian National Centre of Remote Sensing (CNT).