Speakers

Bio

Dr. Kaoru Ogino is Principal Energy Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He has over 25 years of professional experience in the energy sector, specializing in power, gas, oil, and renewable energy. At ADB, he has worked for energy sector projects that promote regional cooperation and integration, energy security, pollution reduction, climate change, and public-private partnerships across the Asia subregions including East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. He holds a PhD in International Studies from the University of Tokyo and is a lecturer and visiting research fellow at the University of Tokyo.

Bio

Karen L. Freeman is the Acting Assistant Administrator for Asia.

A Career Minister with the U.S. Foreign Service, Ms. Freeman was previously the Assistant to the Administrator for the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs. Before that, she was the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA). Prior to that, she served as Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya and the East Africa Mission. Before being appointed Mission Director in Nairobi, she was the Senior Deputy Mission Director in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Other Senior Management positions include the USAID/Ethiopia Deputy Mission Director from 2002 to 2005, during the height of the 2002 to 2003 humanitarian crises, when she directed delivery of more than $530 million in relief. She also served from 2006 to 2011 as USAID Mission Director in Zimbabwe, overseeing a program focused on ensuring the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe during the height of historic hyperinflation, political transition and violence.

Ms. Freeman began her career with USAID in 1983 in the Office of Central American Affairs. In 1990, she joined the International Development Intern program and served in USAID/El Salvador as the Deputy Program Officer. In 1994, Ms. Freeman was Deputy Program Officer in South Africa and Director of Program and Project Development in 1998. She moved to USAID/Uganda as Chief of Program and Project Development from 2000 to 2002.

Ms. Freeman holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Master in Science Degree in Strategic Policy Making from the National War College.

Bio

Karen L. Freeman is the Acting Assistant Administrator for Asia.

A Career Minister with the U.S. Foreign Service, Ms. Freeman was previously the Assistant to the Administrator for the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs. Before that, she was the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA). Prior to that, she served as Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya and the East Africa Mission. Before being appointed Mission Director in Nairobi, she was the Senior Deputy Mission Director in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Other Senior Management positions include the USAID/Ethiopia Deputy Mission Director from 2002 to 2005, during the height of the 2002 to 2003 humanitarian crises, when she directed delivery of more than $530 million in relief. She also served from 2006 to 2011 as USAID Mission Director in Zimbabwe, overseeing a program focused on ensuring the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe during the height of historic hyperinflation, political transition and violence.

Ms. Freeman began her career with USAID in 1983 in the Office of Central American Affairs. In 1990, she joined the International Development Intern program and served in USAID/El Salvador as the Deputy Program Officer. In 1994, Ms. Freeman was Deputy Program Officer in South Africa and Director of Program and Project Development in 1998. She moved to USAID/Uganda as Chief of Program and Project Development from 2000 to 2002.

Ms. Freeman holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Master in Science Degree in Strategic Policy Making from the National War College.

Bio

Dr. Kari Dahlgren (PhD) is a Research Fellow in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab at Monash University in Melbourne Australia. Kari is a social anthropologist and ethnographer interested in the social and ethical aspects of energy production and consumption in Australia.

She currently works on the Digital Energy Futures ARC Linkage project, a partnership between the Australian Research Council, Monash University, AusNet Services, Ausgrid and Energy Consumers Australia Limited.

The project aims to understand and forecast changing digital lifestyle trends and their impact on future household electricity demand, including at peak times. The project expects to generate new knowledge by employing digital ethnography and sociological theories to investigate how changing social practices will impact on electricity sector planning.

Bio

Karina Barquet is a Senior Research Fellow, Team Leader of the Water, Coasts and Ocean group at SEI Headquarters, and Lead for SEI’s Global Strategic Policy Engagement for the Ocean. Her work is cross-disciplinary around questions of governance, participation, innovation and risk reduction connected to water, coastal and marine landscapes. Together with her team at SEI, Karina has explored how different types of infrastructures could increase resilience to climate events, reduce pressures to coastal and marine environments, and foster more multifunctional landscape planning.

Bio

"Mr. Karma has been associated with the power sector of Bhutan since 2001 and currently works as a Chief Engineer in the Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources, Bhutan. He is presently associated with the energy strategy and policy formulations, renewable energy planning and studies, preparation of guidelines, implementation of plans, programs, evaluation and apprisals. Prior to this, he worked as the Joint Managing Director for construction of 1,200MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project Authority on secondment from October 2018 till September 2023. He served as an Engineering Officer to the Minister/Chairman of the 1,200MW Punatsangchhu-I and 1,020MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Projects from 2012 to 2018. He was associated with the preparation of various hydropower studies under the 10,000MW initiative, formulation of Hydropower development plans & guidelines, National Transmission Grid & Integrated Energy Management Master Plans, bilateral energy trade and regional connectivity."

Bio

Karma is currently the focal person for air quality management in the Environment Thematic Group (ETG) of SDCC. Under this role she is working on implementing a TA on Strengthening Knowledge and Actions for Air Quality Improvement. The TA is focused on developing city level clean air action plans for 7 cities in Asia and preparing the Asia Clean Blue Sky Program which is looking to scale up ADB investments in air quality improvement.

Bio

Kasan Muhri is the Head of the Trade Policy Agency under the Ministry of Trade in Indonesia.

Bio

Kate has 18 years of experience working on climate change and sustainable development policy, financing, and technology projects across the Asia Pacific region. Kate is a Senior Climate Change Specialist at ADB and focuses on climate policy and financing, including developing and managing programs and technical assistance projects to support countries to pursue transformational change to low-carbon and resilient development pathways; supporting operations departments to enhance climate considerations in their activities; and promoting multilateral and regional cooperation on climate change. She is leading the development of ADB’s institutional Just Transition agenda with a focus on supporting countries to manage just transition across all sectors as an enabler of climate action. Prior to joining ADB, Kate ran a climate change consultancy in Sydney. Kate holds a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Engineering majoring in Energy Policy and Planning.

Bio

"Kate has over 16 years of experience working on climate change and sustainable development policy, financing, and technology projects across the Asia Pacific region. She is passionate about building a sustainable and inclusive global future and helping people to be educated, effective participants. Kate is a Senior Climate Change Specialist at the Asian Development Bank based in Manila where she focuses on climate policy and financing, supporting countries in the Asia and the Pacific region with the transformation to climate-resilient and low carbon development, and promoting multilateral and regional cooperation on climate change. Prior to this, Kate ran a climate change consultancy in Sydney. Kate holds a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Engineering majoring in Energy Policy and Planning."

Bio

Katrin Lammers works at the Reiner Lemoine Institut as a researcher specializing in the development of off-grid energy systems that can withstand the effects of climate change. She is also investigating the potential for electrification of healthcare facilities and surrounding communities with solar energy systems in Ghana, and is therefore estimating energy demands and modeling appropriate energy systems. Katrin is currently completing her dissertation, which examines electricity access and climate change impacts on Southeast Asian islands. Sustainable electricity access is a prerequisite for many adaptation measures. Therefore, she investigated what climate resilient energy systems can look like to maintain positive adaptation potentials for local communities. Katrin is concerned about climate change and wants to integrate climate change risk assessments into energy system planning. She is particularly passionate about environmental protection, energy transition, and social justice.

Bio

Kavita Gandhi has an extensive background in environment and developmental sector spanning over last 20 years. Kavita has been involved in multi-dimensional projects like United States Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP) and was Instrumental in setting up of Clean Technology Environmental Management Centre (CTEM) in the Singapore Manufacturer’s Association. She has experience working with environmental sector startups and SMEs in her capacity as a manager of the Singapore Association for Environmental Companies (SAFECO). Kavita was one of the key personnel involved in setting up the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore and securing a grant from SPRING Singapore to run programs in the area of local enterprise development, market development and training & conferences for clean energy industry. She also represents the association in various government and non-government committees related to clean energy. She was instrumental in developing and managing some unique programs like the SME Energy Efficiency outreach as well cleantech incubator. Kavita has an MSc in Environmental Management from Wye College, University of London.