The 2020 WREN Pioneers

Prof Dr Waheeb Essa Alnaser

Prof Alnaser is currently is the Vice President for Academic

Programs and Graduate Studies at University of Bahrain. He is

professor of Applied Physics since 1998, Chairman for Arab Section

at International Solar Energy Society (ISES) since 1994, Ex-

Secretary General of Arab Renewable Energy Association at Jordan

and Consultant for Renewable Energy Network (WREN) at UK

since 1992.

He Served as Chairman of Physics Department, Dean of Deanship

of Scientific Research (Founder), Dean of College of Science and

Vice president for Planning and development. He Published more

than 130 international refereed scientific paper and published many

books (specialized and for public) with h-10 index 22, Cited by 1,000 researches, and Score of

34.76 at Research Gate (more than 92.5% of research members). He is an associate editor for many

journals and a referee for more than 20 International journals in Renewable Energy and Suitability.

His research is focused on Material Physics, renewable Energy, astronomy and Environmental

Physics. He won many local, regional and international prizes as a researcher. He organized many

International Conferences, Workshops, Seminars and Keynote speaker in Renewable Energy.

He was Chairman for Accreditation Committee at Higher Education Council (ACHEC) at the

Kingdom of Bahrain and currently is vice chairman of ACHEC, Member of National Committee

for Prevention of Mass Destruction Weapons, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Member of

National Bahrain Unified for Prayer Times, and Vice President of the Board of Bahrain Teachers

College. He was awarded First Class Medal of Efficiency, by the King of Bahrain on Dec 2013 at

by the King of Bahrain and the State prize for National Achievement in 1992.

Prof Derya Oktay

Derya Oktay (BArch, Gazi Univ / MSc, Middle East Technical Univ / PGDipUD, Oxford Brookes Univ / PhD, Yildiz Technical Univ & Oxford Brookes Univ) is currently a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, and Chair at the Department of Architecture at Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. Prof. Oktay has recently been elected as the President of Atakum City Council, and been working for a vision to promote the concept of “Green and Sustainable City: Atakum”. Prior to her position, she was a Professor and the Founding Director of the MS in Urban Design Program, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, and the Founding Director of the Urban Research & Development Center at Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus. In addition,

she has served as the President of Lefkosa (Nicosia - Cyprus) Chapter of the Society for International Development (SID), a global network of individuals and institutions concerned with sustainable developments based in Rome, Italy. Her areas of research and teaching are sustainable architecture and urbanism, housing and sustainability, urban identity, public urban spaces, and quality of urban life, besides her main expertise urban design. Professor Oktay has developed and offered various courses focusing mainly on architectural design in urban context, sustainable developments, ecological issues in architecture, and urban design theory and principles, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has founded new undergraduate and graduate programme at the two universities. She was a Visiting Professor in such universities as UC Berkeley (USA), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), University of Michigan (USA), and Oxford Brookes University (UK). She was a Jury Member at the 13th Biennale of Architecture - Venice Biennale 2012 - at "Recycling Common Ground" Workshop, and team member in various national and international urban/architectural design competition projects. She has experience in both qualitative and empirical research funded by the EU, USAID, TUBITAK, and EMU, all focusing on various dimensions of sustainability. Prof. Oktay has authored more than 150 publications including books, chapters in refereed books, refereed journal articles of the highest categories, conference papers and popular press articles. She also spoke in various international platforms as an invited or keynote speaker. She is on the executive board of various scientific/professional associations and on the editorial board of various prestigious journals. She is the Editor of the themed issues of ICE Urban Design and Planning (UK) on “Quality of Life in Cities” and “Urban Identity in the Era of Globalisation”, and of Ekistics and the New Habitat on "Turkey, Urbanism and the New Habitat" (Australia). Professor Oktay has been serving on the International Steering Committee of the WREN Conferences since 2014, and was recently awarded a silver medal for her commitment on sustainable urban practices and education.

PROF. CARLOS VÍCTOR MANUEL LABRIOLA - MSC.

Born in Parana, province of Entre Rios, Mesopotamia, Argentina. I am living in Neuquen Province, North of Patagonia. He is working in Faculty of Engineering of National University of Comahue in Neuquen, as a Professor on Renewable Energy and The Environment (since 2000) and Electrical Machines (since 1988). Also works in Academic Unit of Caleta Olivia of National University of Austral Patagonia in Santa Cruz Province since 2010 as visitor Professor. He is working in Renewable Energy Applications since 1978 with Thermal Solar Energy (air solar heater), Hydroelectric generation during 1980 to 1995, finally since 1995 Wind Energy particularly

vertical axis Darrieus ones. Now I am working I my research of PhD studies on Aerodynamic brakes for Darrieus rotors used in urban applications. His graduate studies was in Electromechanical Engineering and I obtained my degree on December 23, 1985. In 1999-2000 he completed a MSc. Postgraduate studies in Reading University, UK and begun to study the conditions to develop Wind Energy in Argentina. The first problem was that there is no working resources trained in wind turbines installations. In this way he created on 2001 the first studies for technicians on Renewable Energy in Argentina where the students were trained not only in theoretical topics but also in practical workshop on renewable energy applications. He call this kind of studies “Technicature”. On December of 2003 there was the first graduation of 53 Technicians in Renewable Energy and The Environment in Neuquén, Argentina. He became an adviser of other two Technicatures and since 2005, each province created its technicatures adapted to the Renewable Energy that the provincial government want to develop. Since 2016 his work was focused on studies of Darrieus rotors to develop a system to auto start and brakes to maintain constant the power from the nominal wind speed to maximum one.

Prof. Mohsen Aboulnaga

He has 35 years of experience in teaching, Senior government positions and management, consultancy in sustainable cities, climate change topics, and sustainable energy and development, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. Prof. Aboulnaga is a senior expert on sustainable urban development, including green and smart cities and green building. He was involved in developing many concept notes for EU funded projects and for Union for Mediterranean. He is expert on sustainable development, strategy planning and policy development, and capacity building for Local

Governments and coaching training on strategic planning and leadership. Professor of Sustainable Built Environments, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University & Government Strategy Adviser, - Senior Expert and Member of Steering and Organizing Committee of Ministry of Local Development, Egypt - for the United Cities and Local Governments – Africa UCLGA Summit 2019, 18-20 June 2019, Cairo, - Developed the Sustainable Urban Development Concept Note for Union for Mediterranean , Barcelona 2017, - Appointed by European Union (EU) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs MoFA, Egypt Senior Adviser and National Expert of the “Clean Energy Savings Mediterranean Cities, EU project, (2015 - 2018). Dr Aboulnaga has been appointed Senior Expert by Human Dynamics Consortium – KG to develop the CES-MED National Recommendation Report on Sustainable Urban and Energy Savings Actions (SUESA) for Egypt Oct. 2015, - In May 2016, he has been appointed by EU and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Associated to Transitions - Sustainability Consultant – Paris, France to develop the Sustainable Energy Savings Climate Action Plan (SECAP) for the Local Governments - Egypt, - An Associate Partner at European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) in Vienna - Austria since 2010; and a registered expert with World Bank, UNEP and ESCWA, - Member, Task-force responsible for developing Egypt’s Strategy on Green Economy, Ministry of Planning 2014-16, - Senior consultant – Strategy and Sustainable Development at Oil and Gas Skills (OGS), Ministry of Petroleum - Associate Expert at the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), where he represented RCREEE at the high level meeting at the European Commission - Joint Research Centre (ECJRC) Ispra, Italy to review the Guidebook for the South ENPI. Environment & Infrastructure at The Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE (Feb 2009–April 2010); responsible for implementing and monitoring the federal Government Strategy (cycle 2008-2010). Prior to that, he held a position in the Capacity of Strategy& Policy Adviser – The Executive Council, Government of Dubai (May 2007–Jan 2009), - Selected member of the International Scientific Committee of Urban Farm 2019 International challenge in Italy. Lead author of a new Book entitled: ‘Climate Change Adaptation Policies, Projects, and Scenarios in Developing Countries’, ISBN: 9783030054045-2, by Springer Nature, published on March 21, 2019, Prof Aboulnaga is author of 11 books’ chapter by Elsevier and Springer Nature, . - Invited speaker to more than 425 international conferences, seminars, workshops; and more than 200 publications, - An external Examiner at University of Sheffield, England, UK (2013), - Supervised in (2017 – 2019) many MSc & PhD students.

Prof Alessandra Battisti

Degree in Architecture and Ph.D. in Environmental Design & Planning. Qualified full professor in Design and Technology of Architecture in 2012, currently Associate Professor in the Faculty of Architecture of the “La Sapienza” University of Rome, where she is Head of the Master’s Degree in “Landscape Architecture” (since 2016); Head of the Master’s Degree in “Architecture-Urban Regeneration” (since 2019); Director of the 2nd level University Master's degree course in “Valorization and management of minor Historical centers; Member of the Faculty Board and Teaching Staff Member for the Ph.D. in Environmental Design & Planning, (since 2013); Member of the Faculty Board and Teaching Staff Member for the PhD in the “Environmental Architecture” (2007-2013); Lecturer at the 2nd level University Master's degree course

in “Sustainable Architecture and Sustainable Technology for the Environment”. (2000-2015); Lecturer at the 2nd level University Master's degree course in “ETD ENVIRONMENTAL, TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN/Green. Building Architectural and Urban Requalification/Green Blue Infrastructure. Architecture and Sustainable Technology for the Environment”.(since 2015). She was: Erasmus Scientific Coordinator for the Faculty of Architecture (2010-2015); Director of the AMSA (Analysis and Modelling of Environmental Systems) Laboratory in “La Sapienza” University of Rome. (2007-2013); Member of the Working Group for Energy Efficiency of MiBAC Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (2015); expert consultant for the European Community - DG XXII – in the Energy in Building sector, as part of the IEE (Intelligent Energy Programme, SAVE Programme); expert consultant on the Roster of Consultants and Permanent Roster of Auditors launched by the MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) involving funding for Research Programmes of National Interest. Former member of the Working Group on Renewable Energy promoted by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, as expert in the field of Integrated Passive Energy Systems in Architecture (2006-2008). Member of the Working Group for the Environment/Airport Programme of the ENAC Central Management for Infrastructures and Airports launched by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, as an expert in the field of energy efficiency in buildings and environmentally-sustainable architecture. Member of the interdisciplinary FOCUS research centre (Training Culture History) of “La Sapienza” University of Rome. Peer Reviewer for the International Journals: SOLAR ENERGY published by Elsevier; TECHNE; Energy, Sustainability and Il Progetto Sustainable. Regular member of the SiTdA (Italian Society of Architectural Technology), Has been awarded in many international design competitions (40), including Europan 5 and 6, Formia Waterfront, Eurosolar 2003, Cerite Park in Cerveteri, re-development of the Latina Marina. Scientific Director of the book series (“Project/Technology/Environment”), Casa Editrice Alinea, Florence (since 1999); has personally published a considerable number of scientific publications (more then 200) and 10 books.

Dr Sarah McCormack

Dr Sarah McCormack is an Associate Professor in the Dept of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin

and lead PI in the Solar Energy Applications Group. She graduated from University of Ulster with a PhD in Solar Engineering collaborating with Imperial College London, Saint Gobain and BPSolar. She continued her research at the Dublin Institute of Technology as a Research Fellow where she was involved in the development Trinity College in 2009 and became a Fellow of the

College in 2016. She has been working in the areas of solar energy and thermal energy research for over 15 years and has

published over 100 publications. She has supervised 14 students to completion and her team currently consists of 2 post docs and 4 PhD

researchers. She has worked on EU projects based on luminescent solar devices, evacuated glazing and adaptable facades and phase change materials for energy storage (from FP5 – H2020) and has been awarded national funding (from HEA, SEAI, SFI, EPA, Enterprise Ireland) and EU funding (COST, H2020). She has also investigated acceptance of renewable energy generation and identified a comprehensive review of the drivers for sustainable behaviour and transition of communities. She is a current recipient of an ERC Starter Grant (until 2021) and was recently successful in obtaining H2020 funding to coordinate a 14-partner project IDEAS (2019-2022), based on the integration of renewable energy technologies in a more holistic and integrated manner in buildings.

Prof Dr Manuel Correia Guedes

He is at Dept. of Civil Engineering & Architecture Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Portugal, Professor and Director of the Architectural Research Centre (ICIST-N8) Lisbon, Portugal. He is Responsible for several Disciplines of the courses of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Territorial Engineering. He is supervising several PhD and MSc. students. Participation in various research projects: Chief Coordinator of a COOPENER E.U. project (SUREAFRICA), National Coordinator of an ASIALINK project, Dr Guedes, participated in various international and national conferences, seminars and workshops. His Ph. D was on Environmental sustainability, covering passive design and energy. His M Phil were done at Cambridge University, Martin Centre. The M Phil thesis was sponsored by the E.U. “Praxis”

scholarship on Environmental Design, “Aspects of Environmental design. Since 1985 he participated in various projects, namely the Portuguese Pavilion in Seville’s EXPO 92, two residential buildings in Vila Real, the competition for the National Assembly building, and the building of the Agronomy Faculty (UTL). He worked as an architect in several Portuguese architectural companies. He published many architecture and the built environment papers. Presently he is the Host Chairman of World Renewable Energy Congress -20.

Mr VIDYA AMARAPALA

Vidya Amarapala had his primary, secondary & high school education in Sri Lanka under the local free education scheme. His higher education was on Aeronautical Engineering, initially from India & then from USA. Later he was engaged in a MBA program in International Business Management. From 1984 till 2010, he was in the private sector working with some of the best known brands such as Honeywell, Motorola, American Science & Engineering, Datron World Communications etc. In early 2010, he was invited to join the government to manage the power sector of the country. Mr. Amarapala was appointed to the Ceylon Electricity Board as the Chairman, to manage this class one state owned enterprise with

a turnover of over one Billion Dollars, which was bleeding for some time. He was able to turn the institution around in a matter of months & made it a financially viable enterprise to the government without increasing electricity tariff to the consumer. Sri Lanka had just over 70% of electricity grid penetration in 2010 and in a very short spell, CEB expanded its grid to near 100% penetration under his leadership. In addition to the expansion of the grid, he made sure the grid was able to deliver quality electricity 24x7. Further, the rooftop solar grid connectivity was introduced during his time at CEB, which enabled the CEB grid to have more renewable energy base from its original capacity. Presently he serves the Government of Sri Lanka as the Advisor to the Ministry of Megapolis & Western Development, driving the Multi-Billion-Dollar development program from the master plan to the implementation.

Tony Book JP, BSc, F Inst M, M.IDM Born on Tyneside where he went to Newcastle RGS, Tony was

awarded a Knowlson Trust Scholarship whilst at the University

of Bristol.

From university he went into marketing spending eight years

with Lever Brothers in brand management and market research

before joining American Express as Marketing Director for

Europe, Middle East and Africa. He was later promoted to

Director of Consumer Services.

Winner of the British Computer Society Award for

Applications 1983

Winner of UK Renewable Energy Award for installations

2008, South East Business Man of the Year 2012

Went on the run a renewable energy business for 25 years

becoming an advocate for Climate Change presenting at conferences across the world. Author of

numerous articles on renewable energy applications for industrial and domestic use.

Dr Ali Al-Alawi

Dr Al-Alawi has obtained his B Engineering in Mechanical from Reading University, UK and PhD from Australia in Solar Energy. His qualifications are: PhD: Solar Energy, MSc: Renewable Energy, BSc. Mech. Eng. He taught for few years at University of Sultan Caboose. He published several papers in journals and books. We run few workshops in renewable energy in Oman. He is an active member of WREN and a member of WREN Council. Dr Al-Alawi attended several World Renewable Energy Congresses

and Seminars. He is a Senior Corporate Environmental & SD

Advisor at Petroleum Development Oman. His main field of

interest are: Renewable Energy and Energy.

Dr Antonella Trombadore

Contract Professor at the University of Florence, senior researcher, PhD, MSc, Architect from 1999 she works at the Department of Architecture and ABITA Interuniversity research center. PhD in Architectural Technology in the University of Florence, MSC in Energy Management, she works as senior expert Integrated Projects, Sustainable Urban Design, energy Conscious Design, Low energy buildings, Sustainable architecture and bioclimatic design. Communication and dissemination strategies. Team leader of several European Research integration of innovative solutions for buildings as

well as integrated smart process for Abita re-Mediterraneo, multi issues platform as interactive Network for technical regulations management, technologies data base and best practice dissemination activity. Collaborator for the management of European Master Course “Sustainable design and technologies for built environment” and Post-graduate courses in Bioclimatic Architecture and Energy Saving in Buildings at the University of Florence.

Dr Ming Jun Huang

Dr Ming Jun Huang is a Reader in the Renewable Energy in the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment in the University of Ulster. She gained a BEng (Hons.) in Building Services Engineering at the Beijing University of Technology (1988). Her academic career has taken her to the Beijing University of Technology as a Teaching Assistant and then Lecturer. She went on to do a PhD in Solar Energy Engineering in the University of Ulster, UK. She has been working as Research Assistant and later Research Associate on Solar Energy thermal application in buildings and Research Fellow

on Heat Pump applications in the University of Ulster. She then worked in the University of Exeter as a Lecturer in Renewable Energy, prior to joining the University of Ulster since 2009. Dr Ming Jun Huang’s research include: Phase change material for thermal energy storage and thermal regulation; Energy Storage, Solar energy thermal application; Building Integrated Photovoltaic thermal regulation; Heat transfer enhancement; Efficient cooling technology; Heat Pump; Numerical modelling with heat exchanger design and optimisations and CFD. Her research has been supported by the UK Engineering Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), European commission H2020 and the industrial companies. She is currently supervising four PhD students and have eight successfully completed PhDs since 2011. She is a member of Energy Institute and CEng, Solar Energy Society and Panel member of Energy Institute for Individual Case Procedure (ICP).

Dr Carlos Santos Silva

He has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Dr Carlos Santos Silva currently works at the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEM), Technical University of Lisbon. Carlos does research in Engineering Education, Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Their current project is 'Suscity Project'. His skill and work on Renewable Energy Technology, Logistics, Mechanical Engineering Topics and Energy Engineering. He is a member of the Organizing Committee of WREC-20, published

many papers on his various research topics.

Engr. Prof. Abubakar S. Sambo

Born on the 31st July, 1955 in Zaria, Kaduna State. Prof. Sambo graduated with a First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979. In 1983, he obtained his Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Thereafter, he returned to Bayero University, Kano, from where he rose to the post of Senior Lecturer in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed Professor in Energy Studied at the same University Between 1980 and 1989, at Bayero University, Prof. Sambo has

contributed extensively in the areas of Thermo-fluids Mechanics Research and Energy Studied , Turbo machinery and also substantial contributions have been made concerning the analysis of Lamina and Turbulent Flows in rotor-stator Cavities with emphasis on the heat transfer characteristics, he developed a solar radiation measurement system that has been used to analyze solar radiation data of Kano and several other cities in Northern Nigeria. He Design and Constructed Solar Water Heater and analysed their performance. Prof. Sambo joined Sokoto Energy Research Centre in 1989 as a Director and in 1991, he was appointed Professor of Energy Studies. He led and coordinated several research groups in Research and Development activities in renewable energy covering Solar Radiation Data Studies, Solar Thermal Conversion, Biodigesters, Improve Wood burning Stoves and Solar Photovoltalics. Prof. Sambo served as Vice-Chancellor of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State for two terms 1995-2004. He is presently the Director General / Chief Executive of the Energy Commission of Nigeria and has been Vice Chair, World Energy Council (WEC) African Region since 2007. He is a registered Engineer (COREN) and member of many professional bodies including International Solar Energy Society (ISES), 1986, the International Energy Foundation (IEF), 1990, the World Renewable Energy Network (WREN), 1992. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, the Nigerian Academy of Science and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.

Dr Osman Benchikh

EX-Head of Energy Programme - UNESCO EX-Member of UN-Energy Expert, Energy Watch Group Governing Board Member - International Sustainable Energy Development Center - UNESCO Manager, ESMER - Ecole Supérieure des Métiers des Energies Renouvelables - Dr. Osman Benchikh is Doctor in Physics, graduated at “Ecole Supérieure de Physique et

Chimie Industriel - ESPCI" in Paris. Dr. Benchikh is former Head of UNESCO Energy Programme and Chief of the Section “Capacity Building in Science and Engineering”. He designed different conceptual initiatives addressing the use and application of renewable energy sources at international level. In promoting renewable energy sources at global level, he contributed to the conceptual design and implementation of the “World Solar Programme - WSP” launched as a United Nations framework for international cooperation and partnership in renewable energy. He also conceptualised the “Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme” (GREET Programme) launched as a United Nations conceptual framework for building human and institutional capacities and supervised its implementation at international, regional and national levels. Dr Benchikh initiated several “Regional Solar Councils” launched as frameworks for international and regional cooperation in renewable energy. He is author of several energy related publications and Learning/teaching materials. He conceptualised and supervised the organisation of UNESCO’s “Regional Annual Summer Schools on Renewable Energy” launched in the different world regions. Dr Benchikh is Expert at the Energy Watch Group and Member of the Governing Board of the International Sustainable Energy Development Center – UNESCO. He also acts as Manager of ESMER (Ecole Supérieure des Métiers des Energies Renouvelables). His international activities led him to act as Member and UNESCO Representative at UN-Energy, UNESCO Commissioner at Astana Expo 2017, Secretary General of UNESCO “International Basic Science Programme” (IBSP), Secretary General of the “Mediterranean Solar Council”; Member of the “European Solar Council”; Chairman of the “European Solar Council Commission on Education and Training” (Club de Paris des Energies Renouvelables); Chairman of the “Renewable Energy Commission of the French Academy of Engineers”, Member of the “Arab Permanent Committee on Renewable Energy sources”; Member of “GEMFOR” (International Study Group on Education Methods), Member of the “International Advisory Council of the World Renewable Energy Technology Congress”.