Maria Katrina Volante

WOMEN WE ADMIRE

President, The NUS MBA Energy Club

WHICH TECHNOLOGY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT THE CURRENT STATUS QUO IN YOUR FIELD?

Energy efficient technologies, renewables, and electric vehicles are already a given. In the coming years, what I believe will reshape the industry at an unprecedented pace are energy storage and industry 4.0 applications such as blockchain, advanced robotics, human-machine interfaces including augmented reality, and additive manufacturing.

VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF ENERGY:

Experts believe that burgeoning energy demand coming from emerging centers, especially from Asia, will likely persist in the future. I envision all stakeholders, both public and private, working together to secure adequate supply to fuel economic expansion, while promoting sustainability at an affordable cost for the energy poor. 

EXCITING CURRENT PROJECTS :

My mandate as President of the NUS MBA Energy Club revolves around four pillars: Education, Ecosystem, "E-nnovation", and Equality. I spearhead organization of events (e.g., Energy 101 session) to increase awareness on trends and issues surrounding the energy landscape. I connect MBA students to industry leaders and mentors via company visits which we aptly call "Power Moves" and volunteer work to international conferences such as CleanTech Forum Asia. In collaboration with other business schools, I launched a regional chapter for a cleantech competition to promote energy innovation ("e-nnovation") and foster an entrepreneurial mindset among energy industry enthusiasts. Lastly, I advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry by linking up with Women in Energy Asia.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO KNOW WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER IN ENERGY?

I wish I knew then that even though the energy industry is perceived to be a male-dominated territory, there still exists many women leaders globally whose drive and persistence I can look up to, and whose journeys I can learn a lot from.

IF INVITED TO SPEAK IN AN ENERGY EVENT, WHAT ARE THE TOPICS YOU WOULD PLAN TO SPEAK ABOUT?

The 3Ds that are rapidly changing the energy industry landscape: decolonization, decentralization, and digitalization.