Steering Committee asia

DEFILLA Steivan, Swiss national, President Assistant of the APEC Sustainable Energy Center APSEC since 2018, oversees the APEC Cooperative Network of Sustainable Cities created by APEC Leaders in 2014. His APEC Sustainable Urban Development Report – From Models to Results has been published in 2019 as a first APEC publication of APSEC, followed in 2021 by the APEC Integrated Urban Planning Report – Combining Disaster Resilience with Sustainability and the APEC Green Finance Report – Unlocking the Urban Energy Transition, the second ever report of APEC on green finance. He co-authored and edited the APEC Urban Energy Report 2023 – Driving Cities Through the Low Carbon Transition and the Promoting Carbon Neutrality in North Sulawesi – Vision, Targets, Benchmarking and Monitoring (forthcoming). He is a Professor at the School of Architecture, Tianjin University, China, teaching a graduate course on Sustainable Urban Development in APEC under the SDGs. He is the former Director of the Energy Charter (2010-2016), an intergovernmental energy organization with 50 Member states, headquartered in Brussels. He managed the expansion of the Energy Charter to include 30 new observer states, among them China, who all signed the International Energy Charter declaration in May 2015 in an ad hoc Ministerial conference in The Hague, The Netherlands. He also supervised or co-authored 26 studies and analyses and 2 books on energy-related subjects. As Senior Energy Advisor to the Swiss Economics Minister (1999-2010), he contributed to the reform of the Swiss electricity sector, the Swiss infrastructure strategy, and the Swiss foreign energy policy. He wrote a book and co-authored 13 articles in English, German, French, and Russian languages. He also attended Governing Board meetings of the IEA and co-chaired multilateral negotiations at the Energy Charter. Steivan holds Masters degree in Statistics and a Bachelor degree in Economics from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He also holds a Postgraduate degree in Energy from the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Lausanne.

My interest in evaluation and impact measurement began after seeing clients challenged by program implementation. I started Aartha, a consulting company, to focus design, implementation, and evaluation of program investments. Our work began with Human Capital programs and is expanding to other areas.

I am a keen student in the field of evaluation. I lead Columbia University’s Venture Capital Club’s Impact Program and serve on Asia Pacific Evaluation Association committee on the regional strategy theme of measuring Sustainable Development Goals. I also represent the ROI Institute USA as their Regional Director in Asia Pacific. The ROI Methodology is used to evaluate program effectiveness and impact in many organizations globally.

I hope to contribute to making evaluation more accessible and widely applied in all sectors for all impacts. Much of our success in development and humanitarian goals depends on the ability to measure and value the outcomes we want to achieve.

On another note, I love the outdoors, nature, and hiking. I read voraciously and love to travel. Above all, I aspire to develop genuine relationships with people in all I do.

Dr. Archana Walia is a practicing development professional with over twenty-four years of core experience of working on issues across the sectors ranging from climate change; clean energy, energy efficiency, urban development, water management and integrated resource management.

She has served in several leadership position as a country director, deputy office director, senior climate change advisor and a team leader with demonstrable experience to lead teams of professionals and administrative staff, planning strategies and programs, managing the portfolio for results, planning budgets and financial management.

Serving as the Director of India program at CLASP, she provides leadership, management, and strategic direction to all program activities to ensure the efficient use of resources and achievement of results. She oversees strategies and activities for India’s participation in the Global programs such as Superefficient Appliance and Deployment program (SEAD) under the Clean Energy Ministerial as well as actively develops business development strategies.

Archana served as the deputy director of the Office of Clean Energy and Environment at USAID/India. In this capacity, she served as the senior energy and climate change advisor at USAID providing intellectual leadership, advisory and analytical inputs in the development of climate change program strategies including clean energy, sustainable landscape and water. Her experience ranges from developing program strategies and analyzing the financial, economic, institutional, technological and environmental costs and benefits of various regulatory, policy and technological changes especially relating to clean energy and energy efficiency. Prior to this, Archana worked with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK bilateral agency for over four years managing the first ever Power Sector Reform Program in India in the state of Orissa. She worked with the British Council division as Project officer for three years administering and managing projects and training program in the field of Natural Resources and Environment.

R.M. Soedjono (Jon) Respati is currently Chairman of the Indonesian Energy Efficiency and Conservation (MASKEEI). Before taking his current post at MASKEEI, Jon was a senior clean energy development and a long activist with Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI) in which he served twice at its Board of Directors, and in other capacities including Director of Business Development, Solar Energy Focus Group, and in organizing several national and international conferences on renewable energy on METI’s behalf. He is currently a member of METI’s Board of R.E. Business Association.

His business and professional career spans over more than four decades in which he has held senior positions at various national and international companies and organizations in Indonesia and abroad.  He began his professional career as a government civil servant in the early 1960s with the Ministry of Public Works, before moving to the Netherlands to pursue his study in Economics and Business at the Vrije University, Amsterdam. In Indonesia, he worked for an international oil company before he took up the position of CEO with a major international brewery and beverage company, and later in various senior positions with companies in the fields of Tourism Business, Power, Plantations and Renewable Energy.

He was a lecturer in Green Economy at a local University, and led the founding of the Center for Sustainability at the same university. He was also a guest lecturer at several high learning institutions and a speaker at many seminars, workshops and conferences on clean energy. He was involved in the founding of the Indonesia Renewable Energy Society in early 2000, and became a senior activist promoting Indonesia development of renewable energy in collaboration with the government. He later founded the Indonesian Energy Conservation and Efficiency in 2014 and became its first Chairman.

Jon attended a Doctoral Studies program at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and Business.

Yoonyoung Jung specializes in evaluation and impact assessment within the sustainable development and green growth sectors. Since joining the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in 2013, she has contributed to advancing evidence-based programming and organizational learning. In her current role as an Officer in the Impact and Evaluation Unit (IEU), she both leads and supports project evaluations funded by international partners, post-intervention assessments, and the production of evaluation reports, including for GGGI’s Rwanda Country Program. Her work is focused on synthesizing evidence to inform decision-making and enhance program effectiveness.
Her experience also includes co-leading the Green Growth Evidence Base initiative, which examines indirect impact pathways and contextual influences when direct outcome measurement presents challenges. Yoonyoung is particularly interested in the intersection of robust evaluation practices and the practical needs of green growth policies, recognizing that adaptive learning and continuous improvement are key to scaling climate-positive, socially inclusive results.

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Development Cooperation at Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea, Yoonyoung holds a Master’s in Criminology from Dongguk University and a Bachelor’s in Global Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

I am currently an Affiliate at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)*, where I was involved in the evaluation of energy efficiency programs and technology performance measurement for over 45 years. I have been working with colleagues around the world in developing a community of evaluators of energy programs in Asia Pacific. As part of this effort, I have been involved in organizing workshops and webinars in Asia, as well as organizing our first conference in Asia, in Bangkok in November 2017.

Evaluation is critical for improving our way of life: Developing new energy programs and policies as well as improving existing energy programs and policies, for implementing the path to sustainability. Effective evaluation will lead to many opportunities in the private and public sectors in the design, implementation and evaluation of renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and policies. I look forward to working with others (especially the “next generation of young evaluators”) in promoting evaluation.

*Disclaimer:  My current work with EEAP is not supported by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory or the US Department of Energy. The views and opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of these organizations.

Ma Dingping is a leading expert in energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE), with over 20 years of pioneering work in China and across Asia. As the Secretary General of the Chongqing Renewable Energy Society (CRES) and a Fellow at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), he has played a crucial role in advancing sustainable energy solutions through strategic capacity building, policy development, and cross-border collaboration.

A dedicated mentor and thought leader, Ma has guided over 100 companies in China and Southeast Asia on EE/RE technology upgrades, project implementation, and policy alignment. His contributions include authoring five nationally adopted energy conservation training manuals and leading industry-specific workshops on industrial and building energy efficiency.

With a strong focus on global knowledge exchange, Ma has trained more than 200 international students at CRES and supported Chinese energy enterprises in expanding into Asia and Africa. He has organized over 200 academic delegations and facilitated 50+ institutional partnerships, fostering on-site EE/RE collaboration worldwide.

His policy influence extends to advising Chinese governmental bodies on sustainable energy roadmaps and contributing to the development of four national EE standards. His expertise also includes conducting energy audits, providing project consultations, and leading regional conferences to scale China’s EE/RE best practices globally.

Committed to international engagement, Ma has partnered with UN agencies such as ESCAP and ILO to promote climate action and green employment initiatives. He has been instrumental in bridging international funding channels to accelerate EE/RE adoption in Global South nations and has spearheaded knowledge-sharing programs across 10+ Southeast Asian countries. Through his leadership, he has also curated Chongqing study tours, welcoming over 100 foreign delegates to explore China’s advancements in sustainable energy.

Ma Dingping’s work continues to drive impactful change in the global transition to clean energy, shaping policies, businesses, and collaborations that advance a more sustainable future.

Mr. Dang Quoc Bao currently serves as Deputy General Director of Trungnam Group, concurrently holding the position of General Manager at GEIT, a subsidiary dedicated to delivering green transformation solutions in Vietnam. He earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Schidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, USA.

With over 15 years of extensive professional experience in investment, marketing, and corporate communications, Mr. Bao has developed a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics and strategic management. He joined Trungnam Group in 2016 and rapidly advanced through several senior management roles, demonstrating his exceptional leadership capabilities.

Mr. Bao’s strategic vision and practical expertise have been instrumental in positioning Trungnam Group as a leading investor in renewable energy within Vietnam. His commitment extends beyond corporate success; he actively advocates for sustainable development, driving impactful solutions to promote green growth and energy transition in both Vietnam and the wider region.

Abhishek Gupta is a seasoned energy sector professional with over twenty-four years of experience in energy generation, energy efficiency, demand-side management, renewable energy, and carbon markets. He has played a pivotal role in designing and executing large-scale clean energy programs, advising governments, multilateral organizations, and industry stakeholders on policy, program evaluation, and market-driven solutions for energy transition.

As Head of International Business, Strategy, Appliances, Rooftop Solar at EESL, Abhishek has spearheaded initiatives that have transformed India’s energy landscape, including:

• Super-Efficient Technologies: Leading market transformation efforts for IE-4 motors, BLDC fans, and energy-efficient appliances, exceeding national efficiency mandates.
• Renewable Energy & Demand Flexibility: Partnering with Sequoia, RMI, AEEE and DISCOMs to develop a demand flexibility platforms and solutions that optimize grid performance.
• Policy & Program Design: Contributing to national energy policies, such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at accelerating rooftop solar adoption across ten million households.
• Carbon Markets & Sustainability: Developing market-based mechanisms to monetize energy efficiency and renewable energy through carbon trading.

Key Contributions in Policy & Energy Program Evaluation

Abhishek has been instrumental in shaping energy efficiency policies and evaluating large-scale energy programs across diverse geographies. His contributions include:

• Demand-Side Management (DSM): Designing utility-led DSM programs for major Indian DISCOMs, promoting energy conservation and peak load reduction.
• International Energy Policy Advisory: Consulting with World Bank, ADB, and UN agencies on clean energy financing, regulatory frameworks, and impact assessment methodologies.
• Performance Standards & Testing: Assisting Oman’s Authority for Public Services Regulation in developing energy performance, testing, and labelling frameworks for lighting products.
• Industrial Energy Efficiency: Spearheading energy efficiency programs for large industrial consumers to implement super-premium energy-efficient technologies.
• Smart Cities & Urban Energy Efficiency: Leading energy-efficient street lighting and smart infrastructure projects across major Indian cities, including Indore, Bhopal, and Gwalior etc.
• Regional Energy Cooperation: Working with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council to advance clean energy and net-zero strategies under their Green City Action Plan.

With deep expertise in energy markets, policy formulation, and project execution, Abhishek continues to drive innovative and scalable clean energy solutions for a more sustainable future.

Margery B. Bautista is a development, policy, advisory and research professional — leveraging her over 18 years of versatile experience and affiliations in the business, government, non-profit, academe and international organizations. Her diverse background and exposure with different key stakeholders and institutions honed her expertise and interests in varied areas from human development, energy, environment, tourism, corporate governance, ESG, sustainable development, industry relations, and responsible investment, among others.

Being aware and experiencing the adverse effects of climate change in a vulnerable country like the Philippines, she currently serves as a Climate Change/Climate Resilience Specialist and Coach with DevConsult Inc. together with the University of Queensland under the Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program-Philippines. She mentors and advises national and regional level program managers, supervisors, and implementers in mainstreaming climate resilience in different projects and activities through the use of the theory of change framework to improve the competencies of civil servants which in turn will have a multiplier effect in the delivery of public services. She previously consulted for Oceanus Conservation, Asia Group Advisors, and the Evaluation Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), served in various Philippine national government agencies as Chief Officer, and worked at MSCI Hong Kong Limited and Institutional Shareholder Services Inc, both are US-based research and financial services advisory firms.

Advocate, consultant, and speaker for renewable energy development, corporate social responsibility, ESG, sustainable development, and impact evaluation, she is keen and actively participating in different energy and industry conferences and seminars to influence key stakeholders in the industry towards climate-smart development pathway, encourage thought-provoking discussions, represent an inclusive voice for development of women, children and most vulnerable sector and spark ideas in the evolving energy and power landscape and prominent trend of renewable energy in emerging markets in Asia and the Philippines.

With a growth-mindset and as a continuous learner, she holds a Master’s in Development Policy from De La Salle University; a Certified Professional Manager (CPM) license under the International Federation of Professional Managers (IFPM) London; Decent Work Specialty Course Certification from ITC Turin-International Labour Organization; and Bachelor’s in Political Science from De La Salle University-Dasmarinas.

She hopes to contribute to the evaluation community and the institutionalization of the use of evaluation in examining the performance of all programs and projects in all fields. Highlighting its crucial role, individuals and organizations can adapt and become more resilient in identifying areas for improvement and allowing for adjustments in strategies to better achieve sustainable development outcomes.