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.

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.

Amit Khare is a global clean energy and climate policy expert with over 18 years of experience at the intersection of energy transition, energy efficiency, international policy, and strategic philanthropy. He currently serves as Program Manager at the Sequoia Climate Foundation, where he leads grant-making to accelerate energy transition.

Amit is recognized for his ability to translate complex energy policy challenges into actionable strategies and to forge high-impact partnerships. He has worked extensively with senior policymakers, international institutions, and leading think tanks to drive the implementation of clean energy policies.

A key highlight of Amit’s recent work was his role in supporting partners for the energy track of India’s G20 Presidency. Amit has also played a key role in advancing industrial decarbonization, including efforts to decarbonize the steel and cement sectors. He is also a Member of the UN SEforALL’s Mission Efficiency Global Ambition Task Force.

Disclaimer:  My current work with EEAP is not supported by the Sequoia Climate Foundation. The views and opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Sequoia Climate Foundation.

 

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.

Andhika Prastawa – A Principal Engineering Researcher at Indonesia’s Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN),
Andhika is a distinguished expert in energy systems, engineering research, and innovation. His work focuses on developing sustainable and efficient energy solutions, contributing to Indonesia’s and the region’s energy transition.

 

Dr. Narro R. Navarro is a sustainability professional with specialization in environment, social and governance (ESG) frameworks development and implementation. He has 14 years of combined experience in quality management system, laboratory management, risk analysis and management, environmental management, and business model development. He has been working with several government units and the private sector to provide training and continuous improvement for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME). Dr. Navarro is also a recognized researcher in educational sector with specialization on industry-academe collaboration frameworks. He finished his doctorate degree in Management at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, Magna Cum Laude, and awarded outstanding dissertation distinction. He is currently an Associate Professor at National University, Philippines and serving as Chair of the Graduate School and Professional Studies.

 

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.

 

Mr. Wongkot Wongsapai is currently vice president of the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), Thailand and an associate professor in energy engineering, Chiang Mai University. His interest in evaluation is deeply rooted in his 30 years of experience managing over 240 projects focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change. he has actively developed the Thailand data analysis system under the Energy Conservation and Promotion Act and co-developed the performance tracking methodology and system for Thailand’s greenhouse gas emission mitigation in national level reported to UNFCCC.

 

Disclaimer from Mr. Wongkot Wongsapai: My current work with EEAP is not supported by the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) or Chiang Mai University (CMU). The views and opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of these organizations.

 

Dr. Cristina Alfonso is an economist with over 15 years of experience in Asian economic policy analysis particularly in Asian Regional Cooperation and Integration. Regional cooperation and integration research closely looks at the linkages and interconnection of national economies for mutual benefits. Her research covers the different dimensions of Asian cooperation such as cross border infrastructure, regional supply chains, investments, finance, macroeconomic policies, and regional public goods. The latter includes policy analysis on climate change, renewable energy, and energy transition issues. She has worked for the Asian Development Bank, the Philippine government and the private sector. Throughout her career she has been engaged in crisis related projects. She was involved in monitoring the economic recovery from the 1997 Asian Financial crisis of Asian economies. She was also the regional cooperation expert for policy advice on COVID-19 economic recovery in Southeast Asia. As the region contends with the energy crisis resulting from the Middle East conflict, she has advocated for energy policy reforms to fast track the transition to clean energy. She was the resident energy economist for the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA), bridging the interests of the corporate sector and the Philippine government. Currently, she is the Research Associate on Energy Infrastructure of an Asian Development Bank project supporting the Philippine Department of Economy, Planning and Development.
Dr. Alfonso received her PhD in Energy Economics from Curtin University in Australia. She hopes to impart to the energy evaluation community a holistic approach to policy analysis encompassing macroeconomics, development, and energy economics.

 

Mr. Sadeep Acharya is a Mechanical Engineer and Project Manager from Nepal with expertise in energy systems, infrastructure development, and engineering management. He pursued a Master’s degree in Energy System Planning and Management at Tribhuvan University, where his research focuses on AI-driven probabilistic forecasting of power demand and renewable energy generation. His professional experience includes project management, HVAC systems, sustainable energy planning, and engineering leadership. Sadeep is committed to promoting evidence-based decision-making, innovation, and continuous improvement through evaluation.

Dwiagus is a seasoned planning and M&E specialist with over 20 years of experience in the development sector, spanning public policy, infrastructure, and socio-economic governance. He brings over 15 years of dedicated expertise in project design, performance management, and quality assurance. Throughout his career, he has driven technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives for major Indonesian government agencies (including Bappenas), bilateral donors (such as DFAT, GIZ, USAID), and multilateral bodies (including the World Bank, ADB, and UN agencies).

He holds a B.Eng. in Regional and City Planning from ITB and an M.A. in Urban Management from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Passionate about advancing the profession, he is also the co-founder of the Indonesian Development Evaluation Community (InDEC).

He has been always committed to professionalization of evaluation, and campaign for use of evaluation in Indonesia. He co-founded InDEC, and manages and facilitates the interaction and engagement among evaluators in Indonesia for learning and capacity building.