Our Team

Jessica Wu is a student at the University of Virginia studying Commerce and Environmental Thought and Practice. As a Marketing Intern at The Energy Pioneer, she applies her interest in sustainability and circularity to develop outreach strategies and storytelling that make climate issues accessible to everyone. She brings experience in environmental engagement, including organizing a campus-wide dorm energy race to reduce energy usage among first-year students. Jessica is particularly interested in how marketing, AI, and data can accelerate the transition to a more circular, climate-conscious economy.

Khalid Alhindi covers electric mobility, battery innovation, and the energy transition across MENA. With a background in mechanical engineering and specialization in clean propulsion systems, electric machines, and next-generation batteries—including solid-state and lithium-sulfur technologies—he bridges technical and commercial developments with broader shifts shaping the future of energy and transportation.

Otto Gunderson has been working in clean energy for the last 7 years, with the last two being spent split between South America, Africa, and SouthEast Asia reporting on the transition to clean energy. After traveling and writing for two years, his goal in founding The Energy Pioneer was to create a news outlet with a global approach to clean energy journalim.

He particularly enjoys writing about entrepreneurship, investment, and innovations that are contributing the green house gas reduction and clean energy development.

He has spent the last several summers working as a wildland firefighter.

Fares Arafat is a civil engineer driven by a deep awareness of the environmental challenges posed by human activity. This passion led him to pursue an MSc in Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London where his research focused on analyzing the integration of renewables into the grid, its impact on electricity markets, and the potential of green hydrogen as a transformative solution. Beyond his academic work, Fares has cultivated a broad interest in energy geopolitics, the feasibility of industrial decarbonization, and the financial viability of clean technologies in the Global South. Today, he is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to deliver articles grounded in transparency, factual accuracy, and insightful analysis.

Kelesha Williams is a multi award-winning Journalist at Television Jamaica, a member of the RJRGLEANER Group in Kingston, Jamaica. She is a reporter/producer and news anchor for the station’s flagship programme- Prime Time News, and has over 8 years in media. While she covers a variety of beats, her work is mostly centered around climate change, biodiversity and other environmental issues. She has covered several high-level climate change conferences over the years- from the United Nations Climate Change Forum in New York in 2019, COP15 in Montreal, Canada, in 2022 to COP28 in Dubai in 2023. Her news reports on climate adaptation and disasters were also featured in international organisations like CGTN London/ United States and  Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Germany.

Matías is an environmental and climate journalist with four years of experience, specializing in climate policy, international negotiations, and the energy transition across Argentina and Latin America. His focus is on telling compelling stories about how the region will navigate this transition and what it will mean for its people, ecosystems, and economies. Additionally, he is deeply committed to covering issues of climate justice and environmental crimes, shedding light on the impacts of these challenges in the region.

Wadee Deeprawat is an international development professional with over 20 years of experience in disaster management, climate finance, clean energy, and human rights. She has worked with international organizations across the United States, Thailand, and South Korea. Passionate about sustainable development, she advocates for solutions to end plastic pollution, promote clean air, and expand renewable energy. Wadee holds a Master’s degree in Communication, Culture, and Technology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Noah Ginsburg is a freelance journalist based out of New York City. A graduate of the University

of Virginia with a degree in Global Sustainability, Noah is focused on covering the fight against

climate change. He reports on developing technologies, sustainable business strategies, impact

investing, and environmental policy. By drawing attention to these universal issues, he hopes

more people will support the movement and stay informed.

Emmanuel is a Ghanaian journalist with a strong interest in Climate Adaptation and Energy Transition. He adopts varied journalistic tools to improve climate awareness in Ghana through innovative storytelling. He has published articles on climate change and its impact on local communities across major news outlets. His long-standing passion for climate journalism has seen him work in different capacities across TV, online and print media. His body of work has appeared in Guardian UK, EL Pais and Climate Home News. This extensive work has earned him recognition, including the Global Investigative Journalism Conference Fellowship 2021, Innovate4Climate Media Fellowship 2021 and CJID Climate Change Media Fellowship 2022. He is a member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network.

Andrew Mambondiyani is a journalist based in Zimbabwe with bylines in local, regional, and international publications, including BBC, U.S. News and World Report, MIT Technology Review, Yale E360, The Telegraph, Al Jazeera, Mongabay, Vice, and The Daily Beast, among others. He has an interest in climate change, clean energy, agriculture, sustainable development, and the environment in general.

Patrick Masendi is a seasoned renewable energy professional with expertise in Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solar projects, Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE), energy efficiency, and energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. With over a decade of experience, he has played pivotal roles at Makerere University’s CEDAT, the Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), and other leading energy institutions. Patrick has been

instrumental in advancing renewable energy adoption, delivering technical training to over 1,500 professionals, and contributing to more than 30 successful projects. His expertise spans project design, implementation, energy audits, solar-powered irrigation, mini-grids, and consultancy services, working with global development partners such as GIZ, UNDP, IFC, UNCDF, UK Innovate, GGGI, Horizont3000, UNIDO, among others. Holding an MSc in Renewable Energy from Makerere University, Patrick has significantly influenced Uganda’s renewable energy landscape by developing national solar training curricula and leading verification audits for large-scale solar projects. His commitment to sustainable energy solutions continues to drive impactful change across the region.

Belén López Mensaque is an environmental journalist based in Córdoba, Argentina. For more than five years, she has been reporting on climate change, energy transition, biodiversity, and climate negotiations. Her work has been supported by Climate Tracker, and in 2023 she covered COP28 in Dubai with the organization. She is part of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network. In addition to writing, she also works as a TV producer at El Doce, the leading news channel in Córdoba.

Stuti Upadhyay is an aspiring environmental journalist with a strong academic and research background in plant sciences and microbial biotechnology. Her work spans microalgal-mediated wastewater treatment, carbon capture, and sustainable technology design, reflecting her commitment to advancing climate action and environmental conservation. Alongside her scientific research, she actively contributes articles and thought pieces to leading environmental magazines, including The TERRA Green and The Bioenergy Times, where she highlights critical issues on climate change, sustainability, and policy. With her combined expertise in science communication and environmental policy analysis, Stuti aims to bridge the gap between research and public awareness, fostering informed dialogue on environmental challenges and solutions.

Genevieve Mallet is a journalist and policy analyst with a focus on international climate and energy issues, particularly in Asia. She has conducted research and reporting on China’s environmental footprint, India’s political dynamics, and the broader geopolitical implications of the clean energy transition. Her work has supported projects funded by the Henry Luce Foundation and the Tara Climate Foundation, and has included writing articles, policy briefs, and multimedia content that explore the intersection of climate, technology, and global affairs. Genevieve holds a Master’s in Global Affairs from King’s College London, where she specialized in Chinese and Indian politics. She brings a multilingual and cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, and is committed to making complex environmental issues clear, engaging, and globally relevant.

Tsitsi Bhobo is a freelance journalist covering Southern Africa. Her work focuses on the energy transition, EVs, infectious disease and economics. Her journalism appears in The Xylom, Earth Island Journal, The Sick Times, and GAVI.

Rahma is a multi-awarded freelance journalist, media trainer, and the founder of Climate School. She is based in Egypt and is particularly interested in covering the Climate Crisis and sustainability in the MENA region and North Africa.

She collaborated with Arab and foreign media, including IJNET, Scientific American (Arabic version), Climate Tracker, VICE, CFI, and ARIJ websites and networks. She won ten local, regional, and international press awards, including the Covering Climate Now Award for 2021. She built out her platform, “Climate School,” which offers climate journalism training to Arabic-speaking journalists.

Tyler is a freelance writer and entrepreneur based in Washington, DC, with a deep passion for sustainability and climate. He studied the intersection of business and sustainability at the University of Virginia, focusing on industrial symbiosis and closed-loop business strategies. He is particularly interested in emerging climate technologies, clean energy, and innovative decarbonization solutions. Through thoughtful and informative writing, Tyler aims to make complex sustainability challenges accessible and actionable.

Audrey Peters is a second-year student at the University of Virginia studying Global Environments and Sustainability and intending to pursue a second degree within the Batten School for Leadership and Public Policy. Audrey’s work with the Energy Pioneer aims to bring global environmental research to the forefront to educate and benefit a greater population.