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*All recordings are available for 60 days.
Date: June 27
Student Energy shares the story of its evolution from a single student-led summit in 2009 to becoming the world’s largest youth-led energy nonprofit, now engaging over 50,000 young people in 120+ countries. Founded in response to the lack of meaningful pathways for youth to shape energy systems, Student Energy emerged from the belief that young people can lead ambitious action on the energy transition, when supported with the right tools, knowledge, and community.
In this CSIF session, Student Energy reflects on how it has grown over time, building a Programs Ecosystem of 8+ initiatives that help young people forge diverse pathways in the energy sector. Presenters will discuss the early challenges of building a global organization, rooted in Canada, from the ground up, how trust was built within a global and highly diverse youth network, and how the organization earned credibility with partners, funders, and institutions. The session will explore how Student Energy’s unique youth empowerment model took shape, and how structures were developed to ensure that young people remain at the heart of decision-making.
Presenters will also share key lessons from building programs like the Student Energy Summit, a network of 60+ university-based Chapters, and the Energy Systems Map, while collaborating with over 100 partner organizations in the climate and energy space.
The Climate Solutions Innovation Forum is a multi-year program that highlights newer innovative environmental nonprofits who share the story to inspire emerging leaders and/or to expose seasoned leaders to new ways of affecting change and reaching new audiences. CSIF shines a light on less traditional policy-oriented NGOs, youth led organizations as well as recently emerged culturally-focused ENGOs.
We thank the Ivey Foundation for their funding support of this series.
Our Presenters
Helen Watts is the Executive Director of Student Energy. A Forbes and Corporate Knights 30 Under 30 honoree, she advocates for youth inclusion in decision-making and energy project implementation. Helen oversees Student Energy’s programs, strategic vision, and partnerships. Under her leadership terms as Executive Director and as Partnerships Director, Student Energy launched its UN-Energy Compact for youth contributions to SDG7, the first Global Youth Energy Outlook, the Greenpreneurs global accelerator, supported 10 youth delegations to COP and international forums, and directly administered 1M of resources to youth.
Shakti Ramkumar is Senior Director of Policy and Communications at Student Energy. She is a climate action and clean energy advocate, passionate about collectively building a globally equitable energy system that operates within our planetary boundaries. Shakti regularly speaks about the crucial role of youth in just energy transitions in spaces including UN Climate Change Conferences (COP) in Madrid, Glasgow, and Sharm El-Sheikh, the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation forum, the Canadian Energy Regulators’ Conference (CAMPUT), and media outlets including the CBC, BBC, and National Observer.
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