World Energy Council Announces 2026 Global Future Energy Leaders Cohort

World Energy Council Announces 2026 Global Future Energy Leaders Cohort

London, 20 April 2026 - The World Energy Council is pleased to announce the addition of 59 new members to its global Future Energy Leaders (FEL) programme. Designed to support and promote the energy leaders of tomorrow, the FEL Programme is comprised of exceptional young professionals from across the globe united by their commitment to shape a future of more and better energy for all.

FELs actively contribute to the Council's wide-ranging activities, network amongst like-minded peers across the world's energy sectors, and engage in national, regional, and global dialogues to fulfil our Humanising Energy vision.

Nominated by 18 of the Council's Member Committees, the 2026 FEL Cohort was selected from more than 361 applications spanning 73 countries. More than half of those accepted are women, while participants represent a diverse range of professional backgrounds, including renewables, engineering, technology and innovation, oil and gas, government, non-governmental organisations, power, utilities, and finance.

The majority of the cohort are drawn from Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a significant representation from Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and the Middle East and Gulf States.

Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, Chair of the Future Energy Leaders' Programme, World Energy Council, said: "The Future Energy Leaders programme is a unique platform that convenes exceptional emerging leaders from across the world. As energy increasingly shapes geopolitical and commercial decision-making, the need for the next generation of leaders has never been greater. The 2026 cohort will play a vital role in addressing the defining energy challenges of our time.

"I am delighted to welcome the new cohort to the programme and look forward to working with them as we challenge conventional thinking, collaborate on energy solutions, and develop the leaders of tomorrow. Together, we can help shape a future of more and better energy for everyone."

The 59 new Future Energy Leaders in 2026 are:

UK & Europe

• Raluca Andronoiu, Brand Media Strategist Corporate Communication & CSR, ENGIE Romania
• Akylbek Bakytov, Young Professional in Energy Management, EU
• Beāte Bruksle, Renewable energy project manager, AS Latvenergo
• Colas Cabriel, Market Designer, RTE - Réseau de Transport d'Electricité
• Guillermo Cavia Castro, Regulation & Markets Senior Specialist, EDP
• Erkinai Derkenbaeva, Researcher / Project Coordinator, Wageningen University and Research
• Rebeca Fayad, Director of Energy and Natural Resources, Frontier Technologies Laboratory
• Begonia Gutiérrez Figueroa, Consultant for Global Partnerships, IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency
• Nikolaos Fostieris, Global Equity Strategist, UBS
• Thaynara Furtado Constantinov Leal, Independent Consultant, IRENA
• Inês Reis Gaspar, Research Lead, Aurora Energy Research
• Gabriella Guinlle Ferreira de Oliveira Santos, Energy Markets & Policy Analyst, Erasmus Commodity & Trade Center
• Inchan Hwang, Managing Partner, SCC Partners
• Naim Kayabölen, CEO Office, Sabancı Holding
• Joonas Laitila, Project Director, Gasgrid Vetyverkot Oy
• Carlo Roberto Maria Mongini, Advocacy & Thought Leadership, A2A
• Kosta Peev, Chief Technical Officer, Tiveria
• José Manuel Pastor Prado, Senior Product Manager of AI for Sustainability, Siemens AG
• Emile Trévalinet, Strategy & Investment Analyst, EDF
• Ivo Walinga, China Programme Officer, International Energy Agency
• James Woolner, Chief of Staff, 44.01
• Okan Yildiz, Marketing and Sales Manager, ATA Energy Logistics

Africa

• Mohamed Alhaj, Founder & Managing Director, Terra Energy Ltd.
• Vanessa Chiponde, Legal Director, Globeleq Energia Mozambique
• Kapungwe Chibamba, Senior Strategy Officer, Rural Electrification Authority (Zambia)
• Yves Frederic Ndjoh, CEO & Founder, Kinetic Power Systems LTD
• Aina Kauluma, Energy Transitions Research Fellow, Africa Institute of Environmental Law
• Neerajha Krishna Kumar, Country Manager, Laterite
• Maloum Divina Stella, Youth Task Force Member, UN Decade Ecosystem Restoration (FAO/UNEP)
• Odellia Mangwengwende, Head of Development, African Transmission Corporation
• Elizabeth Obode, Advisor, Fellow Mission 300, Ministry of Energy, Sierra Leone
• Sylvia Okey-Ekebor, Investment Associate, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority
• Thabiso Phosholi, Head: Investment and Infrastructure, Matjhabeng local Municipality
• Cherop Soy, Program Officer, Enzi Ijayo Africa Initiative

Asia

• Elia Nauroz Ali, Application Research Engineer, SB Digital Software
• Oliver Hill, Program Leader, Electric Vehicles, The RACE for 2030 CRC
• Yu Lin, Engineer, Sino-Portuguese Centre for New Energy Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
• Weiwei Liu, Technical Specialist, Project Development, China Southern Power Grid International Co., Ltd.
• Ruth Marsh, Energy Analyst, New Zealand Steel
• Priyanka Nandi, Chief Product Officer, Cassetex Limited
• Sharmila Patel, Executive, NTPC Limited
• David Plunkett, Senior Consultant, AFRY
• Francis Sakato, Manager, Productivity, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission
• Mami Watanabe, Corporate Account Manager, ACT Solutions Japan K.K.
• Liu Yuhan, Senior Engineer - Division of Investment Promotion, Department of International Cooperation, China Electricity Council (CEC)
• Diah Retno Yuniarni, Research Analyst, Pertamina Energy Institute

Americas

• Axell Cooper Sutton Antonio, Head of Project Identification and Analysis, Secretariat of Economy and Labor of the State of Yucatán
• Javier Contador Labbé, Electromobility Portfolio Coordinator, Agencia de Sostenibilidad Energética (AgenciaSE)
• Nicolas Federico Goycoechea Freire, Assistant Professor & Energy Sustainability Consultant, Universidad de la Republica (UdelaR), Faculty of Engineering, Uruguay
• Hamna Khan, Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Asian Affairs
• Maria Paula Piedrahita Hoyos, Associate - Environmental & Energy Law, Posse Herrera Ruiz (Colombia)
• Caio Rodrigues, Chief Financial Officer, Youth4Energy
• Ezequiel Seillant, Business Development Associate, Pluspetrol

Middle East & Gulf States

• Shamma Saqer Alabdulla, PV Engineer, Masdar
• Hager Abunahwa, Green Hydrogen Project Engineer, Masdar
• Rahaf Alhumaid, Senior International Cooperation Specialist, Ministry of Energy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Hadeel al Maghrabi, Senior Electrical Engineer, Ministry of Energy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Reem Maarouf, Drilling Engineer, ADNOC
• Mohamad Saad, Energy Specialist, Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)

The global Future Energy Leaders programme promotes energy leaders of the future, providing participants from over 63 countries with a platform to develop their experience, knowledge and skills as part of a global community. The 2026 cohort join a community of like-minded energy experts and enthusiasts who participate in national, regional and global conversations about the ever-changing energy sector. Learn more about the Future Energy Leaders programme here.

About the World Energy Council

The World Energy Council is the world's oldest independent and impartial energy leadership community. Through our Humanising Energy vision, we involve more people and communities in accelerating clean and inclusive energy transitions in all world regions. Formed in 1923, the Council is a UN-accredited global energy body that has convened diverse interests from across the full energy ecosystem for a century. Today our global network has over 3,000 member organisations and a presence in more than 100 countries, drawn from governments, private and state corporations, academia and civil society, as well as current and future energy leaders. We collaborate on impact programmes and inform local, regional and global energy agendas in support of our enduring mission: to promote the sustainable use and supply of energy for the benefit of all people.

Find out more at https://www.worldenergy.org.