Secretariat

Andrzej Ceglarz
Programme Manager - Socio-Energy Systems

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Andrzej Ceglarz

Programme Manager - Socio-Energy Systems

t: +49 30 233211014
andrzej[at]renewables-grid.eu

Andrzej has been working at RGI since May 2017, having previously cooperated as researcher in the INSPIRE-Grid project since 2014 at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). In his work he combines aspects derived from social and political realities with the functioning of the energy systems. Currently, he is managing two Horizon 2020 projects: SENTINEL and WHY, aiming to improve existing and develop new energy models by applying diversified stakeholders' perspectives to them. He holds a Master Degree in International Relations from the Wrocław University and is completing his PhD at the Bavarian School of Public Policy at the Technical University of Munich.

Alexandros Fakas Kakouris
Manager - Energy and Policy Systems

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Alexandros Fakas Kakouris

Manager - Energy and Policy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11021
alexandros[at]renewables-grid.eu

Alexandros joined RGI in March 2021 to support its Advocacy team. He is a fully qualified lawyer in Greece and prior to RGI worked as legal counsel in law firms and corporate environments in Greece and Germany. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and he is currently pursuing a Master of Business Law (MBL) with a focus on European and International Energy Law at the Technical University of Berlin.

Marie Delair
Manager - Fundraising

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Marie Delair

Manager - Fundraising

t: +49 30 2332 11036
marie[at]renewables-grid.eu

Marie Delair joined the Renewables Grid Initiative in December 2022 and is responsible for RGI fundraising strategy. Before joining the organisation, she worked as a researcher and project manager on European and German energy policy at the Jacques Delors Institute. She also trained in the section dedicated to Transport and Energy of the European Economic and Social Committee and at the European Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag. Marie Delair studied Social and Political sciences and graduated from Freie Universität Berlin and Science Po Strasbourg in European Studies.

Himakshi Gurnani
Manager - Finance

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Himakshi Gurnani

Manager - Finance

t: +49 30 2332 11016
himakshi[at]renewables-grid.eu

Himakshi joined RGI in June 2020 and is responsible for the financial management, reporting, and budgeting of RGI. She is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Himakshi has previously held several positions in the private sector within Accounting and Finance Management bringing experience of forecasting, financial statements preparation, and project financing. Her most recent position was as an External Auditor with a large auditing firm where she was solely responsible for the examination of Financial Statements as per the regulatory and statutory requirements.

Léa Hayez
Junior Manager - Energy Systems

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Léa Hayez

Junior Manager - Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11032
lea[at]renewables-grid.eu

Léa joined RGI in January 2022 as a Junior Manager, working mostly on the PAC 2.0 project. She studied Electromechanical Engineering (BA) and specialised in energy systems (MA), at École Polytechnique de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium and Royal Institute of Technology KTH, Sweden. Léa dedicated her Master thesis to power system resilience and further continued this research topic in cooperation with the ULB.

Liam Innis
Manager - Energy Ecosystems

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Liam Innis

Manager - Energy Ecosystems

t: +49 30 2332 11015
liam[at]renewables-grid.eu

Liam joined RGI in June 2019 and now works between the Onshore Environment and Communication Teams. As of 2021, he is responsible for the coordination of three national TSO/NGO collaboration projects in Germany and Ireland. He is also the contact person for topics relating to nature protection and ecosystem restoration. He has previously worked in public relations, research, teaching and sustainable development. Liam holds degrees in Modern Languages (BA - German, Spanish and French with Dutch) and Environment, Development and Policy (MA) from the Universities of Newcastle and Sussex (UK) respectively.

Sylvia Kessler
Office Manager

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Sylvia Kessler

Office Manager

t: +49 30 2332 11000
f: +49 30 7677194 59
sylvia[at]renewables-grid.eu

Sylvia has been part of the RGI secretariat since September 2011 and is in charge of administrative works. Until December 2013 her position also included office management for the Smart Energy For Europe Platform (SEFEP). Sylvia spent several years in Johannesburg, South Africa, working as a secretary for the industrial department of Mannesmann Anlagenbau and the AEG Industrial Dept. During the last 7 years before joining RGI she was in charge of sales and general administration for a Spanish trading agency in Germany. Sylvia has the Spanish nationality and grew up in Germany. She speaks English, German and Spanish fluently.

Iryna Kukuruza
Junior Manager - Communication

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Iryna Kukuruza

Junior Manager - Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11035
iryna[at]renewables-grid.eu

In February 2023, Iryna joined RGI as a Junior Manager in the communications team. Her professional background spans the pharmaceutical and medical insurance sectors. Iryna holds a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Bogomolets National Medical University in Kyiv. Relocating to Germany, she pursued her passion for web development, completing a comprehensive course at Wild Code School in Berlin. At RGI, her primary focus centers around design and website development, creating visually appealing digital experiences.

Madlie Le Bihan
Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

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Madlie Le Bihan

Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

t: +49 30 2332 11033
madlie[at]renewables-grid.eu

Madlie Le Bihan joined RGI in December 2021 as a project manager working on the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature. She previously worked in the environmental sector on projects related to the energy transition, mitigation and adaptation to climate change. She also conducted policy and advocacy work on topics such as indigenous rights, deforestation and trade. She has a background in law and holds two Masters degrees, in International Relations and Sustainability from Université Paris Sud and Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne respectively.

Roland Lleshi
Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

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Roland Lleshi

Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

t: +49 30 2332 11012
roland[at]renewables-grid.eu

Roland joined RGI in March 2021 and now works as a junior project manager. Previously, he worked in the nature conservation sector as project manager for safeguarding endangered avifauna linked to human-induced conflicts in his home country, Albania, and as lecturer assistant at Polis University in Tirana. He has studied Forestry and Urban Environment Management and recently graduated from an M.Sc. in Global Change Management from Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Germany, focussing on natural resource management under global change.

Anna Maldryk
Personal Assistant to the CEO Antonella Battaglini

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Anna Maldryk

Personal Assistant to the CEO Antonella Battaglini

t: +49 30 2332 11025
anna[at]renewables-grid.eu

Anna Maldryk joined the Renewables Grid Initiative in September 2022 as Personal Assistant to the CEO. Prior to joining RGI team, she worked for the private sector, state authority, and Council of Europe office in Ukraine.
Anna has a Master’s degree in International Relations from Kyiv University, and a Master’s degree in Public Management from the University of Potsdam, Germany.

Eston McKeague
Manager - Communication

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Eston McKeague

Manager - Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11030
eston[at]renewables-grid.eu

Eston joined RGI in April 2022 as a Junior Manager - Communication. His primary responsibilities are strategic communications and design. Previously, he worked as a freelancer helping NGOs and social-enterprises design communications and public affairs strategies. Eston has a BA in Global Affairs with minors in Economics and Religion & Culture from Western Washington University (USA). Additionally, he has an MSc in Political Science: Public Policy and Governance from the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands). He is a member of the his local neighbourhood council in the Wedding district of Berlin.

Ana Miljanović Rusan
Junior Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

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Ana Miljanović Rusan

Junior Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

t: +49 30 2332 11024
ana[at]renewables-grid.eu

Ana joined RGI in June 2022 as a Junior Project Manager in the Offshore Energy and Nature team. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a research student assistant at Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change. She studied Environmental Sciences (BSc) at Faculty of Science in Zagreb and Environmental Planning (MSc) at the Technical University in Berlin.

Morjana Moreira dos Anjos
Manager - Socio-Energy Systems

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Morjana Moreira dos Anjos

Manager - Socio-Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11000
morjana[at]renewables-grid.eu

Morjana joined RGI in 2023 as a Manager - Socio-Energy Systems. She is a seasoned energy engineer with a master’s degree in Energy Systems Analysis and Planning and an MBA in Project Management, backed by various certifications. She has extensive professional experience in the energy, climate change, and sustainability domains, excelling in designing, coordinating, and implementing projects to foster sustainable energy systems and address the climate crisis. Moreover, she has a strong track record in stakeholder engagement, fostering robust collaborations and partnerships to drive meaningful progress.

Charlotte Mueller
Manager - Communication

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Charlotte Mueller

Manager - Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11026
charlotte[at]renewables-grid.eu

Charlotte joined RGI in April 2022 as a Junior Manger with the communications team. Prior to joining RGI, Charlotte completed internships with the GIZ and Canadian agricultural ministry working on topics including energy, agriculture and water security, trade policy and climate communication. Charlotte studied History and Economics at Carleton University in Canada and she holds a Master’s degree in Politics and Public Administration from the University of Konstanz in Germany.

Damiano Ottavi
Manager - Energy Systems

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Damiano Ottavi

Manager - Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11028
damiano[at]renewables-grid.eu

Damiano joined RGI in July 2022 as a Project Manager – Energy Systems. He has a technical background as he has studied Energy Engineering in Università degli Studi Guglielmo Marconi (Rome, Italy) and he has done an experimental thesis on a research fast nuclear reactor, in collaboration with ENEA, in Rome. He has also worked for several years as a Project Engineer in HVAC systems related field for residential and civil buildings.

Nathália Pimentel
Junior Manager - Communication

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Nathália Pimentel

Junior Manager - Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11035
nathalia[at]renewables-grid.eu

Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union's International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC), mainly involving tasks of project management, event organization and reporting. Nathália studied in the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelors' Degree in International Relations.

Manon Quetstroey
Manager - Energy and Nature

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Manon Quetstroey

Manager - Energy and Nature

t: +49 30 2332 11034
manon[at]renewables-grid.eu

Manon joined RGI in July 2022 and is currently working as a Manager in the Energy and Nature team. Prior to RGI, Manon worked as an ecologist in a consulting office in Berlin, engaged in the protection of bat populations in Europe in the context of Wind energy projects. She also worked on diverse projects in Africa, particularly in the protection and conservation of African mammals. Manon holds a Master’s degree in Biodiversity management from Université de Perpignan in France and completed her Master’s thesis in South Africa.

Mara Radulescu
Manager - Communication

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Mara Radulescu

Manager - Communication

On leave, alternative contact: communication[at]renewables-grid.eu

Mara joined the Renewables Grid Initiative in 2021. Her main responsibilities at RGI encompass communications and media work as well as event management. She previously worked as a training coordinator at the Center for International Peace Operations in Berlin and at the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) within the European University Institute. At the FSR she was also responsible for donor relations and policy events. Mara studied in Sibiu (Romania), Salzburg (Austria) and Berlin (Germany) and holds degrees in German and English Philology (BA) and Arts and Media Administration (MA).

Photo taken by fotostudio-charlottenburg.

Sabrina Rahman
Finance Assistant

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Sabrina Rahman

Finance Assistant

t: +49 30 2332 11016
sabrina[at]renewables-grid.eu

Sabrina joined RGI in March 2023 as Finance Assistant and is responsible for supporting the Finance Manager with financial management and reporting activities related to the RGI business plan. She has a BBA and MBA in Finance & Banking, both obtained from Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Following her studies, she joined an international NGO as a Young Professional-Finance. In 2020, Sabrina moved to Germany and completed a master's degree in International and Development Economics from Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW Berlin). During her time in Berlin, she worked as a student assistant in an international firm and also received professional training in business finance.

Amanda Schibline
Manager - Socio-Energy Systems

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Amanda Schibline

Manager - Socio-Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11022
amanda[at]renewables-grid.eu

Amanda joined RGI in October 2020 and is a Manager - Socio-energy systems. Her work on several Horizon Europe projects focuses on stakeholder engagement in energy system modelling and the just transition. She brings expertise in energy efficiency and energy justice, along with additional past experience in teaching, advocacy, and research. Amanda has an MBA in Building Sustainability from Technische Universität Berlin, a BA in Political Science and Environmental Policy from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire in the United States and spent time studying environmental governance at Linnaeus University in Växjo, Sweden.

Ira Shefer
Manager - Energy Systems

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Ira Shefer

Manager - Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11000
ira[at]renewables-grid.eu

Ira joined the Technical Team at RGI in July 2023. Previously he worked in the BMBF-funded research project Ariadne on local acceptance of wind energy in Germany. Ira holds a Ph.d. from the Technical University of Munich, researching transnational collaborations and their impacts on local climate governance and policy making. He has a MA of Environmental Studies at Nagoya University (Japan) and has a joint Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Asian Studies from Haifa University (Israel. Ira was engaged in several research initiatives that addressed, among others, urban climate governance (at RIFS, Germany) and green building (ILGBC, Israel). He was also a reporter and sections editor at an Israeli magazine for seven years, covering environmental and development issues.

Cristina Simioli
Programme Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

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Cristina Simioli

Programme Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

t: +49 30 2332 11023
cristina[at]renewables-grid.eu

Cristina Simioli is responsible for RGI's portfolio of offshore activities, which have the objective of finding solutions to reconcile energy and nature in renewable and grid infrastructure development. She has extensive experience in the instigation and coordination of national, regional and European cross-sectoral collaborations and in participatory and stakeholder engagement techniques. Before joining RGI, she worked on climate and nature protection for an environmental NGO, a UN agency and an engineering consultancy.

Trouble
Senior Director - Networking and Wellbeing

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Trouble

Senior Director - Networking and Wellbeing

Although he may sound like a lot of trouble, quite the opposite is true. Trouble is the well-behaved, friendly and compassionate office dog that knows how to put a smile on every person’s face. Trouble often hangs around the coffee machine and entices anyone to stay that is trying to grab a quick beverage or just simply walking by. Before you know it, Trouble has brought together people in discussion on various topics ranging from climate change to the de-stressing effects on humans brought on by canine interaction. Due to his long experience, Trouble also has direct responsibility for the recruitment of staff into RGI's expanding team.