Speakers

Dr Dhivya Sampath Kumar received her M.Eng. degree in Power Systems Engineering from the College of Engineering-Guindy, Anna University, India, in 2011 and her PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National University of Singapore (NUS) in June 2017. She also earned a graduate certificate in Management of Technology from NUS. She worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS)- National University of Singapore until Jan 2022. Since February 2022, she has been working as an Assistant Professor in Singapore Institute of Technology. Her research interests include Modelling, Control, Optimization & Management of Microgrid/Smart Grids, Analysis of grid security, reliability and planning issues pertaining to embedded integrated distributed generators, Application of machine learning to power systems and Optimal Integration and Management of DERs. She has worked on multiple NRF projects with Energy Market Authority of Singapore and Singapore Power Grid to analyze the impact of integrating renewable distributed generators on the reliability and protection of power networks. She is also actively involved in IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) activities and is currently serving as the Chairman of the IEEE PES Singapore Chapter. She is also a member of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore. She is a regular reviewer of IEEE and Elsevier journals and conferences and, has served in the organizing committee of flagship IEEE conferences.

Born in 1967, appointed in October 2017, Eka Satria is an expert in managing major project and business development with more than 27 years of experiences in oil/gas, energy business, power, geothermal, Infrastructure projects and LNG development. His major expertise is in the area of conceptual selection, project and construction management, operation management, assets commercialization, project financing and business development of the major and complex project.

Joined Medco in the year 2008, his extensive work experience includes positions as Medco E&P Indonesia Development Director, Vice President of Project Capability at Medco Energi International, BP Tangguh LNG Upstream Sr. Project Manager, as well as various positions at ARCO as development and engineering professional for various offshore and onshore projects.

His educational backgrounds involve a Master of Civil Engineering from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Magister Management from University of Indonesia and BP Executive Program – Major Project Leaders, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston.

Sharbini Suhaili is the Group CEO of Sarawak Energy, Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and producer.

Under his leadership, Sarawak Energy is delivering on full electrification targets, decarbonising the energy sector towards a low carbon economy, and growing Sarawak Energy’s aspiration to become a renewable energy powerhouse and battery of ASEAN.

Sharbini serves as an elected board member of the International Hydropower Association and a council member of Energy Transition Malaysia Alliance, a coalition consisting of Malaysian energy leaders to drive energy transition in the country. He also serves as the Chair for the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum or SAREF, Sarawak Energy’s biennial conference on renewable energy and sustainability for Southeast Asia.

Under his stewardship, Sarawak Energy became the first global patron to the World Energy Council from Southeast Asia. Sharbini has also been appointed as Singapore Management University’s International Advisory Council in Malaysia.

A former Royal Dutch Shell scholar who worked with Shell and PETRONAS in senior leadership positions before joining Sarawak Energy in 2016, Sharbini holds a degree in engineering (Hons) from University of Leeds, UK, and an MBA from Henley Management College, UK.

Prof. Michael Short is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, USA, an Adjunct Senior Principal Scientist II in IMRE at A*STAR in Singapore, and the Distinguished Professor of Fusion Technology at ST Engineering in Singapore. His group has spent over a decade investigating coupled materials effects impeding the rapid expansion of carbon-free baseload energy, with an emphasis on materials for nuclear power. Of particular interest to Prof. Short's group are the simultaneous effects of irradiation and corrosion present in nuclear plants, materials to enable the first fleet of commercial fusion reactors, and stopping corrosion in nuclear and geothermal energy systems. Prof. Short holds four degrees from MIT in Nuclear Science & Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Energy Management and Policy, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Master of Science in Energy Conversion, Power and Transmission, George Washington University, USA

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), Chulalongkorn University

Experience

2023 - Present   Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy

2020 - 2023        Director General Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency

2020 - 2020        Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy

2017 - 2020        Inspector General Ministry of Energy

2014 - 2017        Deputy Director General, Energy Policy and Planning Office

2013 - 2014        Executive Director of International Energy Cooperation office, Ministry of Energy

2009 - 2013        Director of Planning Division, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency

Training

The Rule of Law for Democracy, College of the Constitutional Court (RLD11)

The Executive Program in Energy Literacy for a Sustainable Future (TEA16)

Executive Education, Capital Market Academy Programs (CMA29)

Senior Executive Fellows 2016, Harvard University Boston Massachusetts, USA

Diploma, National Defense College, The National Defense Course Class of 2015

Top Executive Program in Commerce and Trade (TEPCoT8), University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce

Other directorship positions

2024 - Present   Chairman Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

2022 - 2024        Chairman/ Director PTT Public Company Limited

Jeanne Soh is currently the Managing Director and Head of Structured Finance Asia at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).

Jeanne has over 25 years’ financial structuring, arranging and sector coverage experience in Asia, of which the recent 20 years were in SMBC covering Power, Renewable, Infrastructure and ECA financing with SMBC. Over the course of this tenure with the bank, Jeanne has accumulated extensive knowledge and expertise in financial advisory and debt arranging.

Jeanne holds a Bachelor in Arts and Social Science (Major in Economics and Maths) from National University of Singapore.

As the Asia Engineering Leader, Som is responsible for leading the engineering functions to deliver on our customer needs and their business priorities, by supporting the entire engineering lifecycle of GE Vernova’s Gas Power technologies in Asia. He, also supports the decarbonization initiative for Asia region, including opportunities in carbon neutral fuels like Hydrogen, Ammonia, and carbon capture technologies, among others.

During Som’s 31-year career within the Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution industry, he served the conventional power generation space ranging from Steam, Diesel and Gas power plants, and Grid in various capacities including operation and maintenance, testing and commission, design, and engineering. Throughout his career journey, Som operated in four different countries at eight different locations. Som completed his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from National Institute of Technology-Rourkela, India in 1993. In 2010, he completed his master’s in business administration from Walden University, Minneapolis, US.

After having worked in various roles in companies such as INDAL, Power System Consultant, ENRON, and International Power Plc among others for 14 years, Som joined GE in 2007 as Product Service engineer in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region. Later in 2016, he moved to Singapore to help build and strengthen the Gas Power engineering muscle in Asia. During his stay in MEA, Som published two patents in the power generation and protection space. Currently, he is based out of Singapore with his family.

Mr. Chanthaboun Soukaloun is the Vice Minister of Ministry of Energy and Mines of Lao PDR (MEM). As the Vice Minister, is honored to oversee the policy and regulations related to the energy and mining sector on Lao PDR. He is also a member of the National Assembly. His tenure at the Ministry of Energy and Mines includes holding the position of Director General level for the Department of Business (DEB) and Department of Planning and Cooperation (DPC). His knowledge and experience in energy business development especially in Project Financing and power sector management with finance and legal background exemplifies his knowledge to take the role of the Vice Minister.

Mr. Chanthaboun graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Degree and obtained a Master in Business Administration (Finance). Prior to join Ministry of Energy and Mines in 2004, Mr. Chanthaboun spent several years at the hydropower plant to gain the hand-on expertise of energy sector of Lao PDR. Mr. Chanthaboun has held various recognitions from the Governmental and international organizations in the region related to energy development. Prior to his appointment as Vice Minister, Mr. Chanthaboun has held several senior management roles in Energy Sector. These include Managing Director of power utility like Electricite du Laos (EDL), vice chairman of Board of Director in several state own companies. Most importantly he was the Key person from Lao side to promote and contribute to the success of Lao-Thai-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS PIP), etc.

Ramesh Subramaniam has been with ADB for over 26 years. He oversees the work of the Sectors Group to deliver all lending and technical assistance operations in seven sectors across the Asia and Pacific region in coordination with all regional, private sector-related, and other support departments within ADB. Trained as an economist, his work at ADB has focused on economic policy reforms, infrastructure financing, and urban development. He established the ASEAN Policy Network and the Green Finance Hub and oversaw ADB’s efforts to help Southeast Asian countries overcome the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is passionate about helping developing countries avoid and overcome economic crises as well as manage disasters caused by natural hazards. Mr. Subramaniam has served on various Global Future Councils of the World Economic Forum since 2012, including as co-chair of its Sustainable Development Investment Partnership ASEAN Hub.

Beni Suryadi is an accomplished energy professional with over 15 years of experience in managing energy and climate change programs. On 26 August 2024, he was appointed Acting Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), where he continues to support the development of climate-friendly energy policies across Southeast Asia. His extensive expertise includes providing strategic support to the governments of 10 ASEAN countries, under the oversight of ASEAN Ministers on Energy.

Beni is also a Non-Resident Fellow at The Energy for Growth in Washington, D.C. and serves on the Steering Committee of the Global Consortium on Power System Transformation (G-PST). Additionally, he is a Core Member of the Green Grid Initiative Asia-Pacific Working Group and an Advisory Board member of AGENCE FRANÇAISE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT (AFD) Indonesia. His past roles include serving on the Sustainability Advisory Council of PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (GO-JEK).

With a commitment to advancing the ASEAN energy transition, Beni Suryadi stands as a prominent advocate for sustainable energy solutions in the region.