Speakers

Bio

Quentin Vaquette is Co-Founder and Managing Director at ENGIE Factory Asia-Pacific, where he oversees ENGIE’s venture activities across the region.

Prior to holding this position, Quentin initiated and led the development of a renewable hydrogen energy business across Asia-Pacific with a primary focus on energy import and export. He also led several M&A and project finance deals in energy infrastructure across Asia.

As an innovator with extensive experience in energy tech business development and finance, Quentin is highly passionate about sustainable energy innovation and the exponential impact that startups and great founders can bring to this space.

Bio

Rachel Kyte is the 14th dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Kyte is the first woman to lead the United States' oldest graduate-only school of international affairs, which attracts students from all corners of the world and at all stages of their careers. Kyte is a member of the UN secretary-general’s high-level advisory group on climate action and an advisor to the UK presidency of the UN climate talks. Kyte is co-chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), and chair of the FONERWA, the Rwanda Green Fund. She serves on the boards of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the Climate Policy Institute and CDP. She advises investors, governments, and not-for-profits on climate, energy, and finance for sustainable development.

Bio

Rachel leads Google’s Government Affairs & Public Policy work in Singapore and on a number of regional initiatives including AI, data and sustainability. She works in close concert with government agencies and civil society as part of Google being a helpful, responsible and innovative corporate citizen. Prior to Google, she spent a decade with the Economic Development Board, and at PricewaterhouseCoopers Zürich while on sabbatical where, among other account management efforts, she led a sales culture change programme. Her experience spans strategic account management, strategy development and execution, and as a manager in the healthcare, India and Consumer teams. In particular, she focused on creating purpose-driven multi stakeholder platforms and is a firm believer in developing strong long-term partnerships. Outside of time with her two energetic kids, she is passionate about mentoring, quality connections between people and aeroponics.

Bio

Radia Sedaoui is the Chief of Section in the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster of the UN Economic Social Commission of West Asia (ESCWA) since 2016. Ms. Sedaoui brings more than 22 years of experience in both private and public sector, in energy, sustainable development and climate change, leadership and development of programs in the field, with track record and proven skills across several areas including negotiation of partnerships, mobilization of resources, international and intergovernmental co-operation and wide network of stakeholders.

Bio

Radtasiri oversees the Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) program in South and Southeast Asia, which has provided 90+ technical assistance and mobilized $131+ million in investments for nearly 40 innovators. Prior to joining WE4F, he was part of Agoda, New Energy Nexus, USAID’s Green Invest Asia and Environmental Resources Management, where he focused on clean energy, sustainable agriculture, climate finance, public policy, and startup acceleration. He also co-authored the Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s Inclusive Green Growth Index (IGGI).

Bio

Pioneer of the concept of Green Growth since 2005 as director of UN ESCAP and published a report titled “Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap” that presents strategies for stimulating economic growth and job creation by investing in climate actions and compiles best practices and success stories of Green Growth approaches that synergize climate actions and economic growth.

Participated in global climate change negotiations since 1991 as climate change Ambassador of Korea and as principal climate change advisor to UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and received a personal copy of Nobel Peace Prize 2007 awarded to IPCC in recognition of contribution to the IPCC special report on technology transfer.

Current Positions:
Chairman, International Award Committee, Global Energy Prize established by President Putin of Russia,
Board Director, Ban Ki-Moon Foundation for a Better Future

Former Positions:
Climate Change Ambassador, Korea,
Director, Environment and Development Division, UN ESCAP

Bio

Ragini Bajaj Chaudhary is a seasoned development finance professional with over 20 years of experience with passion for improving funding outcomes for women led enterprises and promoting gender equity in general. She has held leadership roles in microfinance, impact investment, and development organizations, including serving as CEO of GMC India and as a Private Sector Development Advisor for the UK Government's DFID India. Ragini's expertise lies in impact investment, training, consulting, and social performance management. She holds a management degree from IRMA and is a qualified Management Accountant from CIMA, UK.

Bio

Ragini Bajaj Chaudhary, Senior Advisor Caspian Debt, is a development finance professional with more than 20 years of experience in microfinance, impact investment and mainstreaming gender in financing. She leads gender lens initiatives at Caspian Debt which provides customised debt to first generation entrepreneurs building for a better World. She serves on the Gender Expert Committee of RBI Innovation Hub, Board of Trustee for Voice for Girls and Steering Committee Member of Greening of Finance By Women (GROW) network. Ragini is a management graduate from IRMA, a qualified Management Accountant (CIMA), UK and certified coach from ICF.

Bio

Rahul Gupta is an Associate Partners with McKinsey and Company. He has over 19 years of experience serving clients on Sustainability related topics including new business build opportunities across Asia Pacific.

Bio

Rainier is a geothermal engineer with a distinguished career spanning 16 years in government service. Equipped with degrees in Geothermal Engineering and Geothermal Energy Technology, alongside a Master's in Public Administration, he has dedicated his professional life to advancing the country's geothermal resource development and shaping related policies. Rainier's expertise lies in advocating sustainable management of geothermal resources for its adoption as a clean energy solution. Through his unwavering dedication and passion, Rainier continues to drive forward the transition towards a greener, more sustainable future."

Bio

Mr. Rajiv Kumar is working with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which is the principal financial institution of Government of India for promotion, financing and development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector. Mr. Rajiv is heading the Green Climate & Energy Efficiency Centre of SIDBI at New Delhi which is actively engaged in Green Financing of MSMEs. He has executed several multilateral & bilateral programs on Energy Efficiency financing in MSMEs. He is a Mechanical Engineer with Masters in Economics and Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management.

Bio

Rakesh has over 30 years of power sector experience in the full value chain from generation to customer and regulatory. Rakesh possesses experience of working with Electric utilities and institution-managed MNC, private sector, public undertaking, and Government. Presently, Rakesh is Vice President of Tetra Tech. Prior to joining Tetra Tech Rakesh worked with SIEMENS, and Tata Power.

Rakesh holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee and a Masters’ in Business Administration. He has recently been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy. Rakesh has co-authored four books and published several papers.