Professor Nathwani will briefly describe the global change initiative –“Affordable Energy4 Humanity’ launched at the University of Waterloo to advance sustainable solutions for most disadvantaged populations. Specifically, he will highlight the features of a project – ‘Mending Broken Lives with Clean Energy Solutions’ -  designed to serve at least 500,000 people at refugee camps in Eastern Africa and provide access to electricity, cooking, clean water and support to health and educational facilities. The ultimate goal is to advance sustainable solutions that are low cost, durable and scalable at the global level over the long term. 

Professor Nathwani is the founding Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) and holds the prestigious Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy at the University of Waterloo. Professor Nathwani, with Co-Director, Prof Joachim Knebel (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany), has established a platform for a Global Change Initiative - Affordable Energy for Humanity (AE4H). The consortium comprises 150+ leading STEM and social science researchers, energy access thought leaders and practitioners from 50 institutions in 30 countries committed to eradicating energy poverty by 2030.

WISE brings together the expertise of UW faculty members to develop and implement large-scale multi-disciplinary research projects in collaboration with business, industry, governments and civil society groups. The vision of the Institute is simple: clean energy, accessible and affordable for all.

Prior to his appointment at the University in 2007, Professor Nathwani worked in a leadership capacity in the Canadian energy sector over a 30 year period. He brings a unique combination of academic perspectives with extensive experience in the business sector that includes corporate planning and strategy, energy sector policy developments, power system planning, environmental and regulatory affairs and research program management.