Energy Now 2022 team

Liam Geschwindt - Program & Content

Hey there! I am a Sustainable Innovation student at the TU/e and the program and content coordinator of EnergyNow 2022! I chose my study and my career path in response to the urgent necessity to address and rethink the ways in which we interact with and exploit our own environment. Climate change is the greatest threat to the stability of our future and it is up to each and everyone of us to act in order to prevent catastrophic and irreversible ecosystem changes. The energy transition is one of the first major hurdles in mitigating the impacts of climate change and as such it is a privilege to take on this role in the biggest energy congress of its kind in the Brainport region. With a fantastic team and partnerships with some of the biggest companies in the region, this congress will present a unique opportunity for students and companies to network and engage in critical discourse necessary to approach this monumental challenge. That is the goal and our team will make it happen.

Ilse van Deventer - Chairperson

Hello, my name is Ilse van Deventer, I am a fourth year Psychology &Technology student and my role is chairperson. Sustainability has been an interest of mine since I was little. As a small kid, I learned that I should close the indoor doors, that I should not take showers too long, and do similar actions. Otherwise, “it would be bad for the polar bears”, as my parents used to say. To me, the polar bears were a visual representation of the effects of global warming so I could understand and visualize it. At that time this made me aware of  the consequences my own actions have.

In the past years I gained much more knowledge on global warming, the impacts of it and how we can mitigate these impacts. Now I know that closing doors will not make a difference, and I believe energy transition is one of the best solutions. So now, some 15 years later, I am organizing the biggest annual congress on the energy transition in the Brainport Eindhoven region, and I never imagined that I would do it! So far, I really like the process of designing the event by brainstorming and meeting and working towards one big event, together with a group of people who all have the same goal in mind. It feels like an honour to lead such energetic and enthusiastic people. I look forward to the day that all our ideas come together in Energy Now 2022!

Zenas Felipa - Treasurer

Greetings! My name is Zënas, I am a second year Mechatronics Engineering student at the Fontys and I have the position of Treasurer in Energy Now 2022! Growing up in Curaçao, energy transition was not a hot topic, and ever since I came to Eindhoven to start with my study it is all I hear about. Recently I went back to Curaçao and I saw the potential and impact a small country could have by being part of the energy transition. Being part of a team that is organising a Congress where companies and students come together with the mind-set of accelerating and coming up with solutions for our sustainable future, is a great honour. Change doesn't happen overnight, but you can be the start. See you at the Congress!

David Melamed - Acquisition

Hello! My name is David, I am an enthusiastic and challenge-driven second year Industrial Engineering student at the Eindhoven University of Technology. I am motivated to continuously learn and develop from new experiences. In addition, I strongly believe that in order to accelerate the energy transition it is imperative to bring together the educational sector, science, the government and businesses in a platform to discuss and collaborate. The vision of Energy Now is aligned with my ambitions for the future and organizing the congress in a multidisciplinary and multicultural group provides me the opportunity to further develop skills including communication, teamwork and networking in addition to broadening my perspective on the energy industry. My role as Acquisitions coordinator together with Joep will lay the foundation to build an extensive network of contacts and meet a variety of different people. It will also provide me with experience and know-how on approaching businesses and the different approaches to it. I am very excited and looking forward to a great event. See you in May!

Joep Jan Meerdink - Acquisition

Hey! My name is Joep Jan, I’m a fourth year Industrial Design student and I’m partly responsible for Acquisition. I believe the energy transition is one of the most important transitions to work on to mitigate the effects of climate change, and the quicker we transition, the better. Creating an event for discussion, engagement and networking, all with the aim to accelerate the transition in and around Eindhoven, seems like an important step in that process. Working on Acquisition, I get to talk to loads of different partners with different backgrounds and different ways to work on the energy transition. I love hearing all sorts of perspectives and discussing how individuals or companies would want to contribute to the congress. Looking forward to seeing you in May!

Bruno van Leeuwen - Planning & Logistics

Hi! My name is Bruno, I am an automotive technology student at the TU/e and I’m in charge of the planning and the logistics of the fifth edition of Energy Now. I recently discovered the importance of sustainable energy, and there are such huge challenges ahead that we need to face to accelerate the energy transition. I joined this committee in this particular role because I believe quality events can create new connections and thus accelerate cooperation between people. My aim is to provide you with the best organization possible during this event, such that you feel comfortable and can fully concentrate on the activities that my teammates have prepared.