UPG Viewer

34 Years Old

Bangladesh

Female

You? There must be some mistake. Surely you are not good enough.

As a minority immigrant in a male-dominated industry, my journey has been challenging yet rewarding, teaching me resiliency and kindness in leadership—qualities I hope to pass on to future generations. Hi , I am Zenan and I am a sustainability and data professional. I have a PhD in Renewable Energy Systems and over 10 years of experience across academia, industry, and the energy sector. Graduating as Valedictorian from BRAC University, I completed my MSc and PhD at the University of Nottingham, supported by prestigious scholarships. My doctoral research focused on community energy systems and helped me realise their impact on citizen empowerment and democracy.In my career, I’ve led complex projects, advised clients on decarbonisation strategies, and implemented data-driven solutions at a research institution, a top 10 global environmental consultancy and a boutique EU firm. I have experience in energy trading, technical due diligence, and securing major projects through innovative bid applications.My commitment to a sustainable energy transition extends beyond the workplace. I currently advise the European Youth Energy Network’s Young Energy Consumer Task Force, advocating for youth and marginalised communities in policymaking. I also founded a youth group in Bangladesh to connect young people with global opportunities and mentor youth through The Girl’s Network and Women in Engineering Society. In 2023, I was selected for the highly competitive McKinsey Women Leadership Programme and received a full scholarship for a Data Science diploma, enhancing my understanding of how data can advance sustainability. I have previously published my research on renewable energy technologies and am currently working on launching my own sustainability consultancy for SMEs and a global community energy-based social enterprise.

My relevant strengths are: creative, data-oriented, problem-solver, critical thinker, stakeholder engagement, collaborative, strategic and resilient

The strength I choose is collaboration, demonstrated through my active participation in the European Youth Energy Network, where I have fostered meaningful partnerships. A significant instance of my collaboration skills was when I introduced my youth group to the European Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) for advocacy, encouraging them to engage in collaborative efforts. My team participated for the second time, and I helped structure the workshops while promoting stakeholder engagement with a focus on youth. This EU-level conference provided us with a valuable platform to connect with key stakeholders and discuss youth perspectives on housing and energy poverty, resulting in increased awareness. Additionally, I attended an academic conference as the only representative of youth, which underscored the importance of including young voices in energy policymaking discussions. During this conference, I established partnerships with Women in Solidarity for Energy and the Fuel Poverty Research Network. These collaborations are crucial in exploring how youth can actively contribute to advancing the charter for youth in energy policymaking. I gained valuable insights into the importance of inclusive dialogue and highlighted the significant gap in youth representation in energy poverty research.

Through these experiences, I learned that effective collaboration not only amplifies youth voices but also can foster meaningful change in energy policy.

I’ve volunteered throughout my life, shaping my understanding of community needs and my commitment to making a positive impact. Recently, my work with the European Youth Energy Network (EYEN), the Women in Engineering Society, and The Girl’s Network has stood out.

Through EYEN, I advocate for youth voices in energy policy, while in the Women in Engineering Society, I promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. My role with The Girl’s Network allows me to mentor young girls in STEM, guiding them through their educational journeys.

Besides faciliating personal development, these experiences have shown me the power of collaboration and the importance of nurturing diverse voices, reinforcing my belief in driving sustainable change through community and stakeholder engagement.

Graduate: I have completed a graduate degree (e.g. I have a Masters degree or PhD)

If I were to lead a sustainability-related project, I would start a global alliance of community energy initiatives. This project would focus on creating a comprehensive database of all community energy initiatives worldwide, enabling easy access to valuable information and resources. Additionally, I would implement capacity-building programmes aimed at empowering non-technical community members to undertake renewable energy projects. By fostering collaboration and sharing lessons learned and best practices, we can build a library of knowledge.Through this platform I aim to highlight community champions to encourage others to undertake similar initiatives and support unlocking access to available grants and funding to implement projects. This approach not only strengthens local efforts but also acts as a vital tool to combat fuel poverty and enhance climate resilience, ultimately driving sustainable change within communities.

Finding and connecting with community energy initiatives on a global scale can be quite challenging. Many of these groups operate in remote areas, often working in silos with limited digital literacy, which makes collaboration difficult. However, this is where the UPG community becomes invaluable. By expanding my network to include individuals from all over the world, I can tap into diverse resources and insights. To tackle this, I plan to take a hands-on approach. First, I’d leverage local networks and partnerships. By collaborating with organisations already rooted in their communities, we can tap into their existing connections to identify grassroots initiatives that might not be on the radar yet. I’d also focus on creating user-friendly platforms and tools. I know firsthand how daunting technology can be for some people, so I’ll ensure everything we develop is accessible and easy to navigate. Offering training and support will be crucial in helping bridge the digital divide. Outreach is key, too! I’d run campaigns that blend traditional and digital methods—think community gatherings, local events, and engaging social media content—to spread the word about the alliance and the benefits of joining. Finally, I’d create incentives for participation. Whether it’s access to funding opportunities, training resources, or showcasing successful projects, giving organisations a reason to engage can make a big difference. Together, we can develop strategies to improve digital literacy and create inclusive platforms for sharing knowledge and experiences, ultimately fostering a more interconnected global community focused on sustainability.

About 30 people

Yes

EYEN, EN-ACT, FPRN, Mckinsey NGWL Leaders Group

They can help share my event in their network and also introduce me to grassroot organisations in their network

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VESFEAFKJXzGYp3z09OzKW79uOK_sMXW/view?usp=drive_link

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