People

April Claxton (she/her) is a Finance Specialist at Global Energy Monitor. She has extensive experience in operations and finance with local and national non-profit organizations. Most recently she led the finance team for the Whatcom Community Foundation. Prior to that she supported the Arctic Team of Ocean Conservancy and co-founded Recreation Northwest in Bellingham, WA.

Flora Champenois (she/her) is the Program Director for coal at Global Energy Monitor and brings over a decade of experience working on environmental, energy, and social justice issues. Previously, Flora was the Research Analyst and Project Manager for Global Energy Monitor’s Global Coal Plant Tracker. She was also a Senior Research and Policy Analyst at Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization. During her seven years there, Flora primarily worked alongside Coal Program attorneys to secure, strengthen, and defend federal standards, ensure compliance, and prevent the industry from shifting the costs of uneconomic plants onto customers. Her role included leading toxic coal ash data analysis efforts and collaborating with international partners. Flora was a 2019 Fellow at the Clean Energy Leadership Institute, and a 2020 National ELP Fellow. She holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and GIS from the University of California, Berkeley. She is fluent in French and studied Mandarin.

Ashok (Ash) Ganguly is the Grants Manager at GEM, where he helps manage a pipeline of grant applications and reports. He has over a decade of experience in nonprofit grants management and communications with organizations based in the United States, the Netherlands, and India. Most recently, he was a Fund Developer with Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC). He was previously the Communications Director at The Timbaktu Collective, a grassroots organization in rural South India, and fulfilled various roles at the India Regional Office of Hivos, the Netherlands-headquartered international development agency. Ash holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy (Erfurt, Germany), a graduate diploma in Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (Chennai, India), and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Psychology and English Literature from Bangalore University.

Shuantxhis Her (she/her) is the Human Resources Specialist at Global Energy Monitor. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from the University of St. Thomas, she comes to GEM with extensive knowledge in human resources. Her most recent work experience has been at non-profit organizations that connect those in need with community resources.

Priscilla is one of the People and Culture Specialists at GEM. Her experience spans across the PEO, healthcare, and tech industries. For over 10 years, she has enjoyed strategically and administratively supporting her teams and is excited to branch out into the non-profit sector with global teammates here at GEM. When she’s not working, she’s the COO in her home with her husband and 4 children. Above all, she greatly values bringing empathy, kindness, and fun to her work.

Brianna Johnson (she/her) brings a background in human resources, training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion to her role as Human Resources Specialist of Training and Development at Global Energy Monitor. She has extensive experience in project management leading agile, cross-functional teams and driving project success for clients in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Most recently, she was a National Organizer and Facilitator at a non-profit training and equipping clients to do antiracism work. Brianna holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Calvin University.

Joshua Kruskal (he/him) brings a background in sustainable development and nonprofit operations management to his role as Operations and Finance Director at GEM. Previously, he worked as a Program Manager with the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement and as a Bartlett Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. Through his prior work with global NGOs and domestic nonprofits, he has pursued dual interests in community development and environmental sustainability. He received his master’s degree in environmental science and policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, and his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College. He joined Global Energy Monitor in 2020.

Justin Locke is the Executive Director of the Global Energy Monitor (GEM). A globally recognized leader in energy and climate policy, his work has been cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and featured in major media outlets including Reuters, The Hill, Cipher News and CBS 60 Minutes.

Before joining GEM, Justin served as Managing Director for RMI’s Global South Program, which he helped establish and expand tenfold into a leading global initiative. Earlier in his career, Justin was a Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank, where he built and managed one of the Bank’s largest per capita investment portfolios using innovative climate finance instruments.

Justin also worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Pacific region, where he served as a Community and Recovery Specialist at the UNDP Multi-Country Office in Samoa, managing programs across the Polynesian sub-region. Previously, he was a Development Specialist at the UNDP Regional Pacific Center in Fiji, supporting technical assistance across 14 Pacific Island Countries.

Justin holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on International Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Davis.

Diana Luepke (she/her) is an Operations Manager at Global Energy Monitor. She has an extensive background in operations and administration, and she loves to build effective, healthy systems. Immediately prior to her role at GEM, she worked as a freelance operations consultant for eight years, managing and streamlining operations for mission-driven organizations. Diana holds an undergraduate degree from Beloit College in English, and a graduate certificate from Edgewood College in Sustainability Leadership.

Liz Mason (she/her) is the Human Resources Manager  at GEM and brings an extensive background in supporting the HR needs of non-profit and government organizations and their employees. Liz holds an undergraduate degree in Non-Profit Business & World Religions from Luther College and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Social Work with a concentration on community practice focusing on improving the effectiveness and responsiveness of systems to serve as a catalyst for sustainable development and social justice. She is also an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna.

Louisa Plotnick is an Associate Director at GEM. She brings an extensive background in the climate space working across the public, private and non-profit sectors. Throughout her career she has held multiple management and leadership roles, most recently at Climate Group, where she was Head of Programs for North America. Prior to working at Climate Group, Louisa served as Director at the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC), Senior Director at the Clinton Climate Initiative, Program Director at the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and Program Manager at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Louisa holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York Maritime College in mechanical engineering and participated in the Executive MBA Program at NYU Stern School of Business.

Ryan Driskell Tate is an Associate Director at Global Energy Monitor, where he provides strategic leadership for the organization’s energy programs and energy transition projects. He joined GEM in 2020 and has over a decade of experience working on energy and climate issues. He previously worked in legislative and campaign politics and at a start-up nonprofit before entering academia. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University and still writes about the history of fossil fuels for popular audiences, peer-reviewed publications, and anthologies.

Carolina (she/her) is a media activist whose work has centered around environmental and social justice issues concerning immigration, mass consumption, and human rights abuses in the global south. Prior to joining GEM, Carolina worked with a variety of nonprofits both in the U.S. and abroad, including RAICES where she led the organization’s digital advocacy efforts as the Director of Social Media. She holds two degrees — a BA in Media Production, Management, and Technology from the University of Florida, and an MSc in Digital Humanities from la Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. She is fluent in Spanish.

Stefani Cox (she/her) is GEM’s Editorial Manager. She comes to the position from a communications and editing background with nonprofits such as the Better Bike Share Partnership and literary group Clarion West. Stefani is also an experienced writing instructor—she has taught writing courses/workshops and served as a writing consultant for UC Riverside and GrubStreet. Prior to specializing in communications, Stefani worked in policy and research for several affordable housing and equitable development nonprofits. She holds a master’s in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley, as well as a master’s in Creative Writing from UC Riverside.

Alice Feng (she/her) is the data visualization editor at GEM. She has extensive experience designing and developing data tools and visualizations for a variety of organizations, ranging from research organizations to newsrooms. Alice is especially passionate about using design to make data and information more accessible to broader audiences and has been exploring ways to bring equity and accessibility into the way data are visualized. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and animate arts from Northwestern University and a master’s in statistical practice from Carnegie Mellon University.

Before joining Global Energy Monitor in 2022, David worked for a number of years with grassroots groups in eastern Europe as the Communications Director for Bankwatch, a network of non-profits holding international finance to account. His work there appeared in publications including the Financial Times, Guardian and the New York Times, among others. He holds degrees in anthropology and economics from the University of Vermont and is conversant in Czech and German.

Stephen Osserman (he/him) is the Data Visualization Lead at GEM. Before coming to GEM he worked building custom data tools, dashboards, interactive explainers and visual stories for non-profit, civic, and media organizations.  He had previously worked in the fields of data science and analytics; advocacy and organizing; and music. He holds degrees in Music and in Ethnicity, Race and Migration from Yale, and in Spatial Analysis for Public Health from Johns Hopkins.

Taylor Higgins (she/her) is a Data Engineer at Global Energy Monitor. Prior to joining GEM, she worked with spatial data for a research project funded by the European Commission that analyzed the impact of saline agriculture on food security in Europe and Africa. In the past, Taylor worked as an Integrations Engineer at a startup in NYC where she acted as a bridge between the engineering and sales teams. Taylor holds a B.A. in History from Barnard College and a Laurea Magistrale in Sustainable Economic Systems from Università degli Studi di Firenze.

Hannah Howell (she/her) joined GEM in May 2023 as a skilled Data Engineer. With a B.S. in computer science and minors in biology and mathematics, Hannah brings a diverse skillset to her role. Previously a software developer at FDA CBER, Hannah is driven by a passion for using data to address global challenges. With her analytical prowess and expertise in data manipulation, Hannah optimizes data pipelines and fosters collaboration between engineering and analysis. Committed to promoting sustainability, she actively engages in professional development and contributes to GEM’s mission of global energy accountability.

Maisie Bird (she/her) has worked on climate and energy issues since 2008, and has been programming since 2011. Prior to becoming GEM’s Chief Data Officer, she held positions at the organization as a project manager and as the Oil and Gas Program Director.

David Raznick (he/him) joined Global Energy Monitor in July 2023, after a year of helping develop a database for GEM as a contractor. His role will be to continue to develop the database, and to help GEM staff and contractors use the database to support their work. David has a background in open data and open source software, and has worked on a variety of projects in the open data space, including CKAN, an open source data portal and on software around a variety of open data standards (e.g IATI and Open Contracting) whilst being a software developer and director at Open Data Services.  Before working as a software developer, David used to be a data analyst working for Amnesty International.

Bob Burton (he/him) is the Editor of CoalWire, Global Energy Monitor’s weekly bulletin on global coal industry developments. He has been researching and writing on energy and the mining industry for over thirty years and is a regular contributor to the RenewEconomy website. In 1992 he was entered on the United Nations Environment Program Global 500 Roll of Honour for an outstanding contribution to the protection of the environment. With Guy Pearse and David McKnight he co-authored Big Coal: Australia’s Dirtiest Habit. He is also the author of Inside Spin: The Dark Underbelly of the PR Industry and co-authored Secrets and Lies: The Anatomy of an Anti-Environmental PR Campaign.

Wynn Feng joined Global Energy Monitor in 2020. She previously worked as a financial manager for a venture capital corporation and a solar energy company in China. She has also worked in research and accounting roles at environmental organizations including Conservation International, International Rivers, and Pacific Environment. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political economy.

Lucy Hummer (they/them) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor and is focused on the Global Coal Plant Tracker. Lucy graduated from the George Washington University with a Master’s degree in Environmental Resource Policy in 2021. Before GEM, they worked as a research assistant on an ongoing energy justice project in Washington, DC. Lucy has backgrounds in community organizing and developing metrics for understanding energy systems. They are also interested in studying food justice, groundwater sustainability, and the intersections of all of these topics.

Sarah Lerman-Sinkoff is Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor focused on developing methane emissions estimates across coal mines, oil and gas fields, pipelines, and LNG terminals. Sarah is a researcher and environmental planner with an academic background in low-cost methane monitoring, geospatial analysis, and energy geographies. They hold a Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University and a BA in Earth & Environmental Science from Wesleyan University. Prior to beginning their graduate studies, Sarah facilitated data sharing activities between federal agencies and community-based organizations participating in the Lower Passaic River Urban Waters Federal Partnership, and supported citizen science air and noise monitoring efforts with the Barry Commoner Center for Health and Environment and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

Jeanette (she/her) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor working on the Global Coal Plant Tracker. Prior to joining GEM, she researched and wrote about environmental health, low-cost environmental monitoring tools, and community science for Public Lab. She has also managed content for an open online library about nature-inspired technologies, and studied hagfish swimming and slime. Jeanette holds a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University.

Dorothy Lan Mei has years of experience in international and grassroots NGOs and venture capital researching issues including climate change, urban planning, energy, and air pollution. In 2015 she was selected as a U.S.-China Professional Fellow by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs to work with the National Trust for Historic Preservation on historic building preservation in the US. She’s from an ethnic minority group of Southwest China and is very passionate about ethnic culture heritage preservation. She holds a Master’s in Development Practice from University of California, Berkeley.

Tiffany Nakano is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor who has worked closely with partner organization WattTime to support the Climate TRACE initiative. Before joining GEM, she received her undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics from UCLA, spent some time working in the film industry, and studied GIS & Geospatial Technology.

James Peng joined Global Energy Monitor in 2021 as a Researcher. He worked as a documentary director and senior reporter in China for 16 years, focusing on China’s culture and history. He received his doctoral degree in China and studied film production in Canada.

Claire Pitre (she/her) joined Global Energy Monitor as a researcher in 2023. Preceding her employment at GEM, she studied Integrated Natural Resource Management as a graduate student at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. Her focal areas of study and research were community-based resource management and the Social and Solidarity Economy. She also holds a bachelor’s degree of geography from the University of North Texas, where she researched soot pollution accumulation on biomonitors in Denton, Texas. Over the past 8 years, Claire has been involved in international grassroots environmental movements including the anti-hydraulic fracturing movement,  organic and sustainable agriculture movements, and various projects of environmental justice.

Christine Shearer is project manager of the Global Coal Plant Tracker (GCPT). She recently returned to GEM from the Climate Imperative (CI) Foundation, where she served as Research Manager modeling and analyzing the greenhouse gas impacts of the foundation’s initiatives. Prior to CI, Christine worked as a Research Analyst and Program Director at GEM for over a decade, where she co-created the GCPT and oversaw the development of several subsequent energy trackers. Christine also worked as a postdoctoral scholar in Earth System Science at the University of California in Irvine and as a research fellow at Project Drawdown and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. Her peer-reviewed research has appeared in publications such as AGU Advances and Earth’s Future, and has been featured in The New York Times and The Economist, among others. Christine holds an M.A. and PhD in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara, and is author of The Everywhere Atom: A Journey Through the Carbon Cycle and Climate Change (Haymarket Books, 2024) and Kivalina: A Climate Change Story (Haymarket Books, 2011).

Aiqun Yu joined Global Energy Monitor in 2014. Before working at GEM, she was a journalist and TV documentary editor in Beijing, China, focusing on environmental and social justice topics before moving to the US in 2012. She received a master’s degree in journalism from the Communication University of China, and spent two years as a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. She currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

Mingxin Zhang (she/her) joined the coal program as a Researcher. She’s thrilled to utilize her native language Chinese in various data research at GEM. Before joining GEM in 2023, she worked as a policy specialist on grid decarbonization in Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) territories. She provided technical research for convening groups and produced one-pagers to explain how wholesale electricity markets work and any relevant regulations on utilities.

She also interned as an energy market analyst to provide ISO reports on electricity price predictions and renewable energy trends for wholesale electricity market players. She holds a master’s degree in Public Affairs, concentrating on energy analysis and policy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Xing joined GEM at the beginning of 2023. Xing worked for IEA Clean Coal Centre for almost 22 years with experience in a wide range of technical and policy report writing, coal-fired power plants database management, and organizing international events. Xing also worked for the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air as a senior analyst. Xing was educated in China and worked for the Chinese Academy of Sciences before moving to the UK.

Nagwa Abdallah (she/her) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor. Nagwa holds a master’s degree in international media from American University in Washington DC and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Cairo University in Egypt. She previously worked as the Head of the Foreign Affairs Desk and as a Quality Control Editor in digital and traditional media outlets in Egypt and the United States. She published and covered the Middle East and international affairs. Nagwa worked as a Research Fellow at “Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism,” and at the University of Oxford in the UK. She is the author of The Role of the Media in the Democratic Transition in Egypt and other publications in Arabic and English.

Greig Aitken (he/him) has worked on fossil fuel finance with non-profit groups for more than 15 years. For seven years from 2003 he was Media Coordinator for CEE Bankwatch Network, focusing on preventing environmentally and socially destructive financing from multilateral development banks primarily in central and eastern Europe and also globally. Prior to joining Global Energy Monitor he worked for BankTrack, providing research and analysis for publications such as the Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card which have helped bring about increased global pressure on major international commercial banks to restrict their financial support for the coal, oil and gas industries. He has also worked for the Scottish Green Party, is fluent in French and speaks Czech.

Warda (she/her) is a Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor. She provides regional support from South Asia for various GEM projects. She holds a PhD in Public Policy from Oregon State University, with a background in Energy Systems Engineering (MS) and Environmental Engineering (BE). Her doctoral research focused on the socio-technical transition toward microgrids and other decentralized energy systems and has been published in reputed academic journals such as Energy Research & Social Science; Energy Policy; and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Before joining GEM, she was an Assistant Professor at the U.S. Pakistan Center For Advanced Studies In Energy, National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan.

Norah joined Global Energy Monitor as a Researcher in 2023. Previously, she worked as a sustainability analyst for Naqa’a Solutions, an environmental startup in Saudi Arabia that collaborates with corporations to implement solutions aimed at reducing their carbon emissions. Norah also served as an EDF Climate Corps fellow, working with Bentall Kennedy, a real estate company, to optimize their energy efficiency across their portfolio. Norah holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from Emory University and a master’s degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University.

Hanna Fralikhina is a researcher at Global Energy Monitor. She holds a BA in Environmental Economics and Policy from UC Berkeley, and an MSc in Natural Resource Management from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Prior to joining GEM, she worked at Both ENDS, an environmental organization in the Netherlands.

Julie joined Global Energy Monitor in 2019. Previously, she was the Associate Professor of Natural Resources Law and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, focusing on land and resource management issues. She received a master’s degree from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a law degree from Georgetown University. Her research has been published in many academic journals.

Baird Langenbrunner (he/him) is a Research Analyst working on the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker. Before GEM, he worked as an editor at Nature Climate Change, where he handled research and commentary on the physical impacts and broader implications of contemporary climate change. Baird has a bachelor’s degree in Geophysics from Brown University, a PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from UCLA, and a keen interest in the decarbonization of the global energy system.

Amalia Llano (she/her) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor. Amalia holds a BS in Biology from the University of Antioquia and an MSc in Earth Sciences (Future Ecosystems Science) from the University of Amsterdam. Before joining Global Energy Monitor in 2023, she worked as the Director of Education and Research for an environmental NGO. Amalia brings experience in rainforest conservation, research, science communication, and content creation.

Isabel Mahon (she/her) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor. Prior to joining GEM, she interned at SkyTruth, where she investigated oil pollution from vessels and offshore infrastructure. Isabel earned her bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University in 2024. During her studies, she worked as a research assistant analyzing US sanctions on Venezuela. Outside of work, Isabel enjoys exploring new coffee shops and hanging out with her dog, Waddles.

Jenny Martos is a Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor. She previously worked as an energy consultant focusing on power procurement and wholesale energy markets. Her work included research and quantitative analysis, energy price forecasts, and testimony support for regulatory-related projects funded by public utility commissions in the U.S. and Canada. She received her bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Andrew is a Researcher for the Oil and Gas Monitor at GEM. Originally from Malawi, He holds an MSc in Environmental and Water Science from the University of Western Cape, South Africa. With a background as a Data Analyst and Hydrogeologist, his prior role involved auditing water supply data, executing field campaigns and establishing and cultivating database management initiatives.

Alyssa Moore (she/her) is the project manager for GEM’s Global Gas Finance Tracker. In addition to her experience as a professional writer, editor, and proofreader, she was a 2020-2021 CreatureKind Fellow exploring the intersections of sustainability and food justice, and previously worked in water-use efficiency for City of Santa Rosa Water. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of San Francisco and a Master’s degree from Santa Clara University.

Dan joined GEM in 2025 as a researcher on the Oil and Gas team. Prior to his role at GEM, he worked in environmental economics research for the Wildlife and Conservation Economics Lab, analyzing the relationship between finance and deforestation. He previously completed a Killian Research Fellowship with GEM in 2021, and in 2022, he worked with GEM and Earthjustice researching groundwater contamination from coal ash storage sites. He holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin, an MSc in Computer Science from University College Dublin, and an MSc in Environmental Economics from the University of British Columbia.

Robert Rozansky is a Project Manager & Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor studying liquified natural gas infrastructure. Previously, he has advocated for clean energy innovation with a DC-based think tank, and served in a fellowship supporting science and technology policy initiatives from the White House and other agencies. He has authored reports on renewable power, emerging technologies, and U.S. innovation policy. He received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Brown University and a master’s degree in physics from Aix-Marseille University, with a thesis at the international nuclear fusion project ITER, while on a Fulbright scholarship to France.

Natalia joined Global Energy Monitor as a Researcher in 2023. She previously worked as an energy consultant advising on the introduction of Demand Response in Russia. She also worked as a Manager for International Relations at GO15, an international association of power grid operators, and as a researcher with Russia’s major energy companies focusing on the national electricity sector reform and liberalization of the energy market. She authored a number of articles on the topic. Natalia holds an MBA degree from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s in Linguistics from Northern (Arctic) Federal University in Arkhangelsk (Russia).

Aiganym Valikhanova (she/her) is a researcher at Global Energy Monitor. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from Rice University and a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Nazarbayev University. Her main area of expertise is economic sanctions related to energy and dual-use goods, with a regional focus on the former Soviet states.

Maggie is a researcher at the Global Oil & Gas team of Global Energy Monitor. Prior to joining GEM, she worked at the Australian Energy Transition Institute and is also a member of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS). She received her Master’s in International Business Trade from the Centre of Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee. She has rich life experiences living in many countries and cities including Scotland, Beijing, Canberra, Jakarta, Brunei, and Singapore. She is currently based in Sydney.

Scott Zimmerman (he/him) is a project manager at Global Energy Monitor. He previously worked at the Center for Media and Democracy where he researched corporate power. His writing has appeared in Truthout, ExposedbyCMD, and The Cap Times. He received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Art from the St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Sophia Bauer joined Global Energy Monitor as Researcher in 2021. She received her BA in Global Affairs from George Mason University and holds an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of South Florida. She has worked as a socio-cultural researcher focused on Latin America using open-source and geospatial data to inform work related to climate refugees, environmental change, and social justice movements. She speaks Spanish & Portuguese and has spent extensive time in Central and South America.

Joe Bernardi (he/him) uses his research, programming, and data visualization skills in his work on Global Energy Monitor’s Hydro Power and Nuclear Power Trackers. He is passionate about supporting the growth of a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable world. Before joining GEM, he worked in the energy data and analytics sphere to improve the transparency of North American energy markets. He reported on short-term and long-term market trends, maintained data collection processes, and built models and forecasts of supply, demand, and prices. He has a BA with a double major in Biology and Music from Washington University in St. Louis.

Ilyne Castellanos joined Global Energy Monitor in July 2025 as a researcher on the Renewables and Other Power team. Before this role, she supported sustainable land use and conservation efforts at the Elkhorn Slough Foundation as a Development and Communications Assistant. Ilyne earned her B.A. in Global Studies with an emphasis in Development in Latin America from the University of California, Berkeley, after transferring from Hartnell Community College. With an academic background in environmental politics and movements, she enjoys supporting hands-on projects like community gardens in her hometown of Salinas, CA. Ilyne is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Jessie Cato (she/her) joined Global Energy Monitor as the Program Director for Renewables and Other Power In March 2025. Prior to joining GEM she was a Strategic Fellow with ClimateWorks Foundation, and from 2020 to 2023 was the Head of Natural Resources and Just Transition at the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre. Jessie has also previously worked at Oxfam America, as the National Director for Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Australia and as a Ministerial Advisor for the South Australian Government. She holds a BSocSc from the University of Adelaide. Originally from Naarm/Melbourne, she is now based in Berlin.

Siyan Fan (she/her) joined Global Energy Monitor as a Researcher for the Renewables & Other Power team. Prior to joining GEM, Siyan worked as a Policy and Media Fellow at the United States Hydrogen Alliance, where she supported hydrogen advocacy through policy analysis, research, and communications. She holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Global Political Economy from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan.

Andrew Gamez (he/him) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor. He received his BA in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research background includes Environmental Law and Policy, and his passion lies in Environmental Justice issues. Based in Long Beach, CA he focuses on Ocean Conservation in his free time.

Yujia is a researcher at Global Energy Monitor’s Renewables & Other Power Team. She previously worked at the International Energy Agency in Paris, specializing in China’s energy transition and policies. Yujia holds a Master’s in International Relations with a focus on Energy, Resources, and Environment from Johns Hopkins University, SAIS. Her life has been a journey through various countries and cities, including Paris, Chengdu, Warsaw, Beijing, Shenzhen, Inner Mongolia, and Washington DC.

Ye Huang (she/her) is a researcher for Renewable and Other Power at Global Energy Monitor. Prior to joining GEM, she had working experience at UN Global Compact and UNFCCC on Climate Change and Sustainability issues. Before focusing on a career in the energy and climate sector, she spent several years in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America researching wildlife conservation, community development, and Chinese overseas investment. She holds a master’s degree in International and Comparative Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Diren Kocakuşak (he/him) is a Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor. He holds a Ph.D. in Planning and Public Policy from Rutgers University. His research focuses on climate change, environmental policy, renewable energy transition, urban sustainability, and environmental economics. He published in academic journals such as Climate Policy, npj Urban Sustainability, and Risk Analysis. His research was also featured in popular outlets such as ABC News. Before joining GEM, he worked as a consultant at the United Nations and United Nations Development Programme, analyzing the linkages between renewables and human development indicators. He has a Master’s Degree in Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments and a Bachelor’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Middle East Technical University in Türkiye.

Zhanaiym Kozybay (she/her) is a Researcher at Global Energy Monitor. Prior to joining GEM, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Notre Dame, investigating the socioeconomic impacts of the climate crisis. She received her BA in Political Science from Nazarbayev University and a Master’s in Global Affairs with a specialization in Sustainable Development from the University of Notre Dame.

Vanessa Levy is a researcher at Global Energy Monitor working on the Global Hydropower Tracker. She received her BA in Gender Studies from Swarthmore College in 2022 and has focused her research on the intersection of environmental justice and feminist movements. Prior to joining GEM, Vanessa worked at Energy Justice Network and continues to support their anti-incineration work.

Sophie Lu (she/her) joined Global Energy Monitor as Researcher for the Renewable and Other Power team in 2023. Prior to joining GEM, Sophie worked as a Business Development Manager for a French high-tech textile manufacturer, where she managed markets in East Asia’s industrial sector. Her work experience fueled her passion for sustainability and climate change, prompting her to pursue a master’s degree in International Relations and Economics at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. During her studies, Sophie concentrated on Energy, Resources, and Environment and conducted an Urban Conflict Prevention Analysis for DAI in her second year. Her analysis explored the complex intersection between urban conflict, natural resources management and climate change. She is from Taiwan and fluent in Mandarin, English, and Korean.

There’s always at least one research nerd in every radical activist space — Julie is one of them. She has been working on fossil fuel resistance and climate justice initiatives for years, focusing mainly on Enbridge and their subsidiaries (Energir and Vermont Gas). She’s been part of several successful campaigns to stop or hinder pipeline expansion and works closely with the regional campaign No Coal, No Gas to shut down the last coal plant in New England. Julie also worked with Save Our Skies VT in their efforts to stop the basing of F-35 nuclear bombers in Vermont and works locally on issues of eviction defense and police brutality. You can find Julie working here at GEM, and often doing something a little unorthodox, like running for City Council from an occupied Line 3 construction site. She lives in Burlington, VT with her partner, guinea pigs, and gecko.

Kasandra O’Malia (she/her) brings over a decade of experience in data analysis and visualization, programming, and technical writing to the Global Renewable Power Tracker project as a Research Fellow. Before transitioning to a career in the energy and climate sector, she spent many years as a spacecraft and instrumentation engineer working on programs for NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Her undergraduate degree in Physics is from Lewis & Clark College and she holds a master’s degree in Astrophysics and Planetary Science from the University of Colorado.

Janna Smith (she/her) began research for Global Energy Monitor in 2021. She holds a BA in Chinese language and culture from the University of Edinburgh, and an MSc from the Global Security Institute at Durham University, UK. Her Master’s research focused on Chinese corporate response to local protest within the resource extraction industry in Peru.

Martin Weil has been working on China energy and environment issues for decades. His experience includes marketing clean power generation technologies for the ABB group, contracting to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s global climate change division to do feasibility analysis for methane recovery projects in China, and representing the US-China Business Council in Beijing.

Gregor Clark (he/him) has worked as a writer and researcher focusing on Latin America and Europe for 20 years, including intermittent stints at Global Energy Monitor dating back to 2014. Since 2020 he has been the project lead for the Portal Energético para América Latina, a regional tracker that synthesizes GEM’s research on Latin American and the Caribbean and makes it available in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Gregor holds a degree in Romance Languages from Stanford University, with additional undergraduate work in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz and graduate work in Spanish at Middlebury College. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and German.

Hailey (she/her) joined GEM as a researcher in May 2023. In this role, Hailey leverages past experience in climate and research to support the Special Projects and Renewables & Other Power teams. Prior to joining GEM, Hailey worked at the Southeastern Wind Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the wind energy industry across the Southeastern United States. In this role, she led the organization’s coalition-building work in Virginia and South Carolina. Hailey received a degree in Earth Systems from Stanford University in 2019. Throughout her undergraduate career, Hailey supported research efforts in geology and environmental engineering labs focused on understanding past extinction events and empowering citizen scientists. Her thesis focused on the effects of climate change and fisheries management strategies on red abalone populations along the West Coast.

Alex Hurley (he/him) is a Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor, working on the Private Equity Tracker. Prior to joining GEM, he worked as an Energy and Climate Analyst for Climate Strategies Lab, which builds and implements industrial decarbonization campaigns across various sectors. In the past, Alex also conducted analytical work for Donovan Energy, covering topics such as gas and coal plant finance, clean energy transition strategies for public utilities, and feasibility studies for clean energy hardware projects such as solar PV systems and EV charging stations. Early in his environmental career, Alex worked for the US EPA’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory and a startup focused on accelerating the development of smart and sustainable cities through technological and financial solutions. Alex holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Centre College and a M.S. in Environmental Studies from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service at Ohio University.

Gabe Louis (he/him) is a researcher at Global Energy Monitor. He previously interned at GEM in 2021 and has experience working in US state climate policy, energy transition research, and global energy ownership research. Gabe received a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Alabama and a Master’s in Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Anna Mowat (she/her) is the Project Manager for the Global Energy Ownership Tracker. Her experience in the clean energy and sustainability industry spans the international development, NGO and corporate spaces. Most recently, she was a managing consultant designing and implementing 100% renewable energy strategies for Fortune 1000 companies. Anna holds a bachelors in Physics and Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a Masters in Data Science at U.C. Berkeley. When not at the office, you can often find her marathon canoe racing.

James Norman is a Research Analyst for the Global Integrated Power Tracker. Before joining GEM, he completed his PhD in renewable energy and climate science at the University of Leeds, UK. His doctoral thesis focused on analyzing the impact of summer monsoon on wind and solar PV generation in India. Before pursuing postgraduate studies, James worked as an energy consultant and researcher in both the private sector and an environmental think tank. James holds a Master’s degree in Climate Change from the University of Copenhagen, and a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Bristol, UK.

Before joining GEM, Cheng Cheng Wu (she/her) worked at an environmental NGO for five years, where she accumulated experience in advocating for energy policies. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a double Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science from National Taiwan University. She is Taiwanese and is fluent in Mandarin and English.