Sonam Zam

Sonam Zam is a civil engineer committed to advancing renewable energy and sustainability. Equipped with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bhutan and a Master’s in Renewable Energy from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Sonam has gained experience in the field. Since January 2023, she has served as a Project Officer at ADB, Bhutan Resident Mission, focusing on energy and urban projects. Prior to joining ADB, she spent over a decade at Druk Green Power Corporation, where she gained valuable experience in hydropower development and project management.

Charlotte MacAlister

Charlotte is a Senior Researcher leading the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health program on Water Security. She has over 20 years of experience in Research for Development in the Water Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, and the Caribbean.

She holds a PhD in Hydrology and MSc in Irrigation from Newcastle University, UK. She has worked as a Research Scientist and Manager for the Mekong River Commission, UNDP, IWMI, and World Wide Fund For Nature and as a donor representative for the International Development Research Centre.

Aziz Raza

Engr. Aziz Raza Malik is a professional Engineer having more than 27 years of experience in the field of project management/development and in completion of infrastructural projects, mainly related to  hydropower, solar, road construction, tunnels and buildings . He played an integral role in leading a team for developing the Government and Private sector hydropower / solar projects in Pakistan.   

Dawa Bhuti

Dawa Bhuti is Head of the Corporate Planning & Strategy Division at Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd. Prior to this assignment, she was Deputy Executive Engineer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of New South Wales.

How Renewables Can Optimize Water-Energy-Food Tradeoffs in the Mekong Basin

Through deepening solar, wind, and biomass contributions to power mixes in the countries of the Mekong Basin and rethinking how hydropower and cross-border power trade are positioned to meet regional power demand needs, it is possible to achieve a low impact, low carbon, and low cost energy transition AND conserve the Mighty Mekong's natural resource base. This presentation demonstrated decision making tools and policy pathways for system-scale energy planning and tradeoff analyses at the basin-wide scope that should be used to deliver this transition. Mr.

Women-Centric Mini-Grid Enterprises in South Asia: Micro Hydropower in Nepal and Pakistan

Renewable energy mini-grids are becoming a widely accepted solution for cost-effective and reliable energy access. Hydro mini-grids in Nepal and Pakistan reveal that the long-term sustainability of projects is dependent on whether they are run as enterprises that generate revenue which is re-invested into the project. Our experiences show that women-centric approaches to mini-grid ownership, management, and productive end-use result in longer-lived micro-hydropower systems.

Hydro-Economic Modeling to Address Trade-offs between Food Production and Biofuels

Food production, energy generation, and water supply systems are inextricably linked. Achieving clean energy goals requires careful consideration of the various interactions among these systems. With population growth and rising temperatures, demand for water is increasing. As economies develop and income increases, per-capita demand for food, energy, and water grows putting stress on natural systems. Rising demand among competing water uses, coupled with uncertainty from climate change, can lead to critical water shortages.