Principal Strategist - Energy Transition (Philippines) 

Background

I see myself as a Swiss army knife for the clean energy transition, shaped by experiences that span deep technical research, education, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking. I grew up in southern Philippines, where frequent brownouts inspired a lifelong mission to make clean, reliable energy a right, not a privilege.  

Before joining Forum for the Future, I spent 16 years in academia, rising through the ranks to become Full Professor, mentoring more than 50 MS and PhD students and postdocs, and co-founding the largest energy research laboratory in the Philippines. I’ve published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and worked across Asia, Europe, and the US, experiences that taught me how science, innovation, and policy must work together to drive lasting change.

At Forum for the Future, I serve as Principal Strategist for Energy Transition (Southeast Asia), leading the Circular Renewable Energy Futures workstream under the Responsible Energy Initiative – Philippines. I also co-founded a deep-tech start-up developing sodium-ion batteries, translating years of laboratory research into practical solutions for clean mobility and energy storage. I’ve consulted for local and international organizations, helping bridge science, policy, and real-world energy solutions. While I now focus more on applied work, I continue to teach and do research at a limited capacity, guided by curiosity and the pursuit of meaningful impact.  

My dream project

My dream project is to build a progressive school that combines STEM, liberal education, and AI-enabled learning, a place where curiosity, creativity, and compassion thrive.

What floats my boat outside work?

Outside work, I find balance in the simple things that keep me grounded. I love playing chess, staying active through exercise, and traveling to learn from different cultures and enjoy their cuisines. I also enjoy stock market trading and active investing, which satisfy my curiosity for strategy and long-term thinking. In quieter moments, I appreciate listening to a good podcast episode or celebrating life’s small successes with a dram of a nice Islay single malt. My happiest moments, though, are those spent with my wife and daughter, exploring, laughing, and rediscovering the world together through Rocio’s eyes.