Beyond Transition: Building Secure, Resilient, Inclusive, and Intelligent Energy Systems
8-11 June 2026 | ADB Headquarters, Manila
ACEF 2026 Speakers
ALL SPEAKERS
Nikoloz Sumbadze
ADB Expert
Nikoloz Sumbadze
ADB Expert
Bio
Nikoloz Sumbadze is an energy economist with over 14 years of professional experience across various areas of the energy sector. His expertise includes development of energy policy and regulatory frameworks, electricity market design and monitoring, clean energy finance, and renewable energy development at both national and regional levels. He has also been actively engaged in regional initiatives, contributing to the development of legal and regulatory frameworks for energy market integration and promoting effective stakeholder coordination. He previously served as Director of the Market Monitoring Department at the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (2021–2024) and as Deputy Director of the Electricity Department (2017–2020). In these roles, he played an active role in advancing Georgia’s energy market liberalization and its alignment with the Energy Community acquis. Mr. Sumbadze holds a master’s degree in economics, specializing in energy economics, from the International School of Economics (ISET) at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. He has also recently completed the Financing and Deploying Clean Energy certificate program offered jointly by the Yale School of Management and the Yale School of the Environment. He is a co-author of the books: Electricity Policy Modelling and Analysis, and Political Economy of Sustainable Energy.
Nina Melkonyan
Global Wind Energy Council
Nina Melkonyan
Global Wind Energy Council
Bio
Based in Lisbon, Nina Melkonyan is a key player at GWEC, tackling a range of global policy issues. She leads the GWEC Wind Sustainability Initiative (WSI)—a major project that brings together developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and investors to establish an assurance framework and global standards for responsible sourcing and procurement in wind energy supply chains. She also leads GWEC's offshore wind programme, coordinating the flagship Global Offshore Wind Report and convening industry task forces. Through this work, she advocates for offshore wind as a critical technology in building an electrified future. With a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from Central European University in Vienna, Nina brings deep expertise in energy policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement. She combines strategic communications with policy analysis to translate complex industry challenges into actionable frameworks.
Niñaliza Escorial
Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology
Niñaliza Escorial
Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology
Bio
Engr. Niñaliza H. Escorial, MSCHE, serves as Deputy Executive Director and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), Department of Science and Technology. She has played a key role in formulating and implementing high-impact programs for the Council. Educational Background She earned her degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Santo Tomas and obtained her Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from De La Salle University, Manila. Her work focuses on the formulation, recommendation, and implementation of policies, plans, programs, and projects that support the Council’s effective delivery of services. Current Role and Contributions At present, she continues to support the Council by strengthening capacities across science, technology, innovation, and business ecosystems. Through these efforts, she helps generate new knowledge and promotes the translation of scientific and technological advancements into the broader business economy.
Nisha Krishnan
Asian Development Bank
Nisha Krishnan
Asian Development Bank
Bio
Nisha Krishnan is a Senior Climate Change Specialist with ADB, bringing nearly 20 years of experience addressing climate-related challenges in the region. She currently manages ADB’s Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and Green Climate Fund portfolios and supports mobilization of concessional finance to deliver on countries’ decarbonization and climate resilience goals.
Nurzhan Kerimkulov
JSC KEGOC (Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company)
Nurzhan Kerimkulov
JSC KEGOC (Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company)
Bio
Nurzhan Kerimkulov was born on 18 October 1981 in Zhambyl Oblast. He studied at the Almaty Institute of Power Engineering and Telecommunications in Kazakhstan from 1998 to 2003, majoring in Electric Power Systems and Communications and qualifying as an electrical engineer. In 2003, he also graduated from the same institute with a degree in Economics and Enterprise Management, qualifying as an economist. From 2012 to 2016, he pursued postgraduate studies at Novosibirsk State Technical University in Russia, specializing in Automated Electrical Networks and Systems. He began his professional career in 2003 as an engineer in the Relay Protection and Electrical Automation Service at Akmola MES, a branch of KEGOC JSC, where he worked until 2006. He then held several roles at KEGOC JSC, including senior specialist in the Operations Department, deputy head of the Electrical Substation Operations Division, senior manager and later head of the Substation Division in the Operations Department. From April 2018 to September 2020, he served as deputy chief engineer at Akmola MES, followed by his role as Chief Engineer at Sarbay MES from September 2020 to September 2022. He was appointed Managing Director for System Services and National Power Grid Development at KEGOC JSC in September 2022, and since February 2024 has served as Managing Director for System Services at KEGOC JSC.
OD Naidu
Hitachi Energy
OD Naidu
Hitachi Energy
Bio
Dr. OD Naidu, Senior Principal Scientist, brings over 18 years of expertise in power systems, protection, fault location, monitoring, and grid management. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and has been with Hitachi Energy since 2009. A prolific innovator, he has filed 120+ patents (60 granted patents) and authored 130+ publications in leading international journals and conferences. His research spans power system protection, renewable integration, inverter-based resources modeling, FACTS devices, and AI-driven solutions for power system protection and monitoring. An IEEE Senior Member and active CIGRE WG contributor, Dr. Naidu is a sought-after keynote speaker and recipient of the INAE Young Innovator Award (2022).
Pathik Kumar Nayek
WBSEDCL
Bio
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Paul Richard Santiago
Hilti Philippines Inc.
Paul Richard Santiago
Hilti Philippines Inc.
Bio
Paul Richard Santiago is a seasoned International Business Developer and Electrical Engineer for Oil and Gas Projects Onshore and Offshore Projects. He had handled various roles on different types of Oil and Gas projects which allows him to understand the challenges of his current Clients in the business of Hilti Corporation and provide solutions for a cost competitive project execution. He currently has a total of 18 years of experience in sales and business development, engineering, design, and construction both in horizontal and vertical, and process and non-process projects in diverse industries such as infrastructure, energy (offshore and onshore), petrochemicals, power, and manufacturing. Prior to Hilti, he has been in Business Development role and is responsible in conducting market research and analysis in various industries for the opportunistic pursuit of projects in the local market, support proposal efforts including contract reviews and negotiations, risk analysis, management reporting, and client relations management.
Paula Valencia
Rocky Mountain Institute
Paula Valencia
Rocky Mountain Institute
Bio
Paula Valencia is a Manager at RMI, advancing clean energy transition, energy resilience, and sustainable development initiatives across Southeast Asia and the Global South. Her work focuses on strengthening resilient and affordable energy and industrial systems through policy, market development, and stakeholder engagement, with experience spanning renewable energy deployment, battery energy storage systems, and strategic planning. She currently supports engagements with the Philippine Department of Energy and industry stakeholders on enabling environments for renewable energy and storage deployment, including work related to grid flexibility, resilience, and coal-to-clean transition strategies. Through RMI’s Third Derivative program, Paula also supports climate tech startups developing solutions for hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, petrochemicals, and energy systems. Her background includes extensive experience in stakeholder facilitation, multilateral coordination, and organizing high-level convenings involving governments, development partners, and private sector actors across Asia and the Global South.
Paulo Tanarte
Schneider Electric
Bio
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Pavit Ramachandran
Asian Development Bank
Bio
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Peck Khamkanist
Impact Electron Siam (IES)
Peck Khamkanist
Impact Electron Siam (IES)
Bio
Peck Khamkanist is the Founder and CEO of Impact Electrons Siam (IES), where he initiated and championed Asia’s first cross-border renewable energy project—the 600MW Monsoon Wind Power Project in Lao PDR. He previously served as Managing Director of CLP Power Thailand and held senior roles at ABB Energy Ventures (Zurich), Edison Mission Energy, and Sempra Energy (California). With extensive experience in power project development, M&A, risk management, and energy trading, Peck brings strategic depth to the clean energy sector. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering-Economic Systems and Operations Research from Stanford University.