• Email: aristeidis.tsakiris@un.org
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Bio

Aristeidis Tsakiris is a Mechanical Engineer with over ten years of experience driving energy efficiency initiatives globally. With an MSc in Sustainable Energy from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), he combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of policy and digital systems to support sustainable development in emerging and developing economies.

At the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), he leads the development of Monitoring & Evaluation systems, digital dashboards, and web-based Knowledge Management Systems (KMS). His work enhances data-driven decision-making and supports the dissemination of best practices through webinars, podcasts, and e-learning platforms, while also contributing to project development, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

Previously, Aristeidis held key roles at the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency (C2E2), where he managed digital tools, coordinated over 100 webinars, and supported international workshops and publications. His early career in research and consultancy focused on energy-efficient buildings and transport, laying a strong foundation for his current impact in global energy transition efforts.

• Email: jorge.rogatcastillo@un.org
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Jorge Rogat is no longer employed with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre or UNEP DTU Partnership since 2023

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Since my PhD graduation in environmental economics at Gothenburg University, I have worked for more than 20 years implementing projects in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 2010 and 2018, I was the global project manager of the Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In my capacity as global project manager of the project, I gained vast experience in technology assessments and technology transfer and interacting with public authorities, such as ministries of energy, transport, and natural resources, as well as the private sector. At UNEP DTU Partnership (UDP), I also conducted research on policy measures to promote sustainable transport. Since 2019, I have been working in energy efficiency with a focus on helping decision-makers in small-sized cities and municipalities in developing countries to improve energy efficiency in the building and transport sector. Before joining my current organisation, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (former UDP), I worked for two years at the Global Water Partnership (GWP), where I was the programme officer for Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Email: m.okure@eacreee.org
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Eng. Dr. Mackay OKURE assumed office as Interim Executive of EACREEE on 2nd November 2018. Prior to this appointment, he has been working as the Capacity Building and Research and Development Expert at EACREEE and an Associate Professor at the Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has been instrumental in the establishment of EACREEE. Following the designation of CEDAT as the Centre of Excellence for EACREEE, he was assigned the role of the Coordinator (caretaker) before the arrival of the other team members.

Prof. Okure has over 15 years’ experience in climate change mitigation including capacity building in the Clean Development Mechanism and national greenhouse inventories, compilation of national reports and international negotiations. He is the chair of the National Working Group on Mitigation of the Uganda Climate Change Forum.

Prof. Okure holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA (1994), MSc Mechanical Engineering Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (1986) and BSc. Engineering (First Class Honours) from Makerere University (1981), Kampala, Uganda.”

Prof. Okure brings in great expertise and experience in capacity building and applied research in the field of sustainable exploitation and utilization of renewable energy. He has been the principal researcher in a number of projects sponsored by organizations like the World Bank, NORAD, UNESCO, DFID, etc and has supervised several students’ thesis (at MSc and PhD levels). He has published several research papers on renewable energy technology.

• Email: gabriela.pratadias@un.org
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Gabriela Prata Dias is Head of the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency (UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre). Previously she was at ADENE, the Portuguese National Energy Agency, where she was the Coordinating Director (CEO) with responsibility for the implementation of energy efficiency policies in Portugal. She has MSc qualifications in Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, coupled with a very broad and long experience in energy efficiency, including with the Energy Charter Secretariat in Brussels, in private business and as a researcher.

• Email: xianli.zhu@un.org
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Xianli Zhu is no longer employed with UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre or UNEP DTU Partnership since 2025

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Xianli’s work focuses on analysing and designing enabling policies and programmes for energy efficiency improvement and climate change mitigation.

Her work focus has shifted to energy efficiency since 2015, and currently, she works on improving the transparency of climate actions in China, the monitoring, reporting and verification of district energy projects, as well as efficient cooling.

She has coordinated the preparation of multiple reports and publications on best practices for energy efficiency improvement in different sectors and countries, high-impact opportunities for energy efficiency, as well as policies and potential for energy efficiency improvement in Africa.

She has long-standing experience working on climate change mitigation, especially market mechanism and technology needs assessment. She has been involved in the implementation of multiple international technical assistance projects on energy efficiency, low-carbon development, technology needs assessment, and the Clean Development Mechanism as regional and national coordinator. In addition, she has in-country working experience (research, consultancy, project implementation) in China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Malawi, as well as Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Samoa.

Xianli holds a PhD in Economics and she has been working at UNEP DTU Partnership (now UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre) since 2006, first as an economist and then as a senior researcher.

• Email: rrds@ens.dk
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Rahul Raju Dusa is no longer employed with UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre or UNEP DTU Partnership since 2022

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Rahul is a Special Advisor at the Danish Energy Agency. He is currently managing key elements of the energy efficiency development engagements under government-to-government partnership programs such as the Danish Energy Partnership Programme III with Viet Nam and the Strategic Sector Cooperation with Egypt.

He earlier worked with UNEP DTU (now UNEP-CCC), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) where he contributed to undertaking comprehensive analysis and systematization of the main policy issues, conducted qualitative and quantitative studies providing expert technical advice on relevant measures, training and other direct support associated with energy efficiency.

Rahul is a Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) Certified Energy Auditor, in India. He has wide experience in accounting and mitigating GHG emissions, policy formulation and policy-driven projects, and evaluation of suitable energy efficient technologies for individual industries, buildings, local municipalities and national government bodies in Asia Pacific region, Africa and Latin America to support their climate change mitigation goals and enhance cost-effective outcomes.

Rahul has graduated in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Renewable Energy Engineering and Management.