This two-hour IEEE Power & Energy Society session will explore the future of sustainable energy through the perspectives of emerging professionals, diversity, and the current Latin American energy landscape.
The first hour will feature three short talks: Sajith Wijesuriya will address the role of Young Professionals in shaping the energy future; Rosy Constante will discuss the contribution and leadership of women in the power and energy sector; and Alex Villamarín will provide an overview of the current energy landscape in Latin America, highlighting key sustainability challenges and opportunities.
The second hour will consist of an interactive moderated forum, where the speakers will discuss prepared questions covering technical, economic, social, and policy perspectives. The session will conclude with questions from the audience, encouraging an open dialogue on how the next generation can help build a more sustainable energy future.
2:00–3:00 p. m. | Inspiring Talks
2:00–2:05 | Opening
2:05–2:20 | Rossy Constante:
“Women Powering the Future of Energy”
2:20–2:35 | Alex Villamarín:
“Latin America’s Energy Landscape: Challenges, Opportunities and the Road Ahead”
2:35–2:50 | Sajith Wijesuriya:
“Young Professionals Powering the Energy Transition”
2:50–3:00 | Transition to the Forum
3:00–4:00 p. m. | Interactive Forum
Sajith is a Senior Manager at the Pacific Gas and Electric on Research and Development in California. He was a Research Scientist at the National Laboratory of the Rockies of the United States of America. His research involves grid-level decarbonization, increasing resilience of human settlements against extreme climates, advanced building energy modeling and advanced thermal energy storage systems analysis. In addition to that he is a Visiting Scientist at the Colorado School of Mines where he contributes to research on the same topics above. He also worked for and assisted co-manage two Clean Energy Ministerial work streams. (i) Solutions Center (SC), which provides assistance to developing countries to design and implement clean energy policies, and resolve deployment-related challenges, (ii) NICE Future Initiative on Nuclear Energy policy assistance. He is a Global Expert on SDG7 to the UNDESA UN-Energy process and a IRENA Youth Council Member.
He is also a Climate Negotiator for Sri Lanka on Global Stocktake. IEEE MGA has appointed him as a representative to the Sustainable Climate Matrix Organization (TSCMO) to lead its external outreach subcommittee and IEEE PES has appointed him to lead the Young Professionals Advisory Council 2026-27.
Alex Villamarín received his B.Sc. degree in Electromechanical Engineering from Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Ecuador, in 2014, and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Universidad de Chile in 2020 and 2025, respectively. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE.
With over ten years of experience in the power and energy sector, he has contributed to academic and applied projects in power system planning and operation, resilience to natural disasters, and the energy transition. He also serves as a Project Leader at the Instituto Sistemas Complejos de Ingeniería (ISCI) and as a Researcher at the Energy Center ENLACE, where he has contributed to and led studies for the Chilean Ministry of Energy, industry associations, and electric utilities.
He has authored more than 30 technical publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He is an IEEE Senior Member, a member of the IEEE Ecuador Section Young Professionals Committee, Technical Program Lead of the IEEE PES Young Professionals Region 9 Committee, and Lead for Regions 1–7 and R9 of the IEEE PES SCC Event of the Month (EOM) Program.
Rossy Constante earned her B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Escuela Politécnica Nacional in 2022 and her M.Sc. in Renewable Energy from Universidad Hemisferios in 2026. Professionally, she worked as a Real-Time Services Analyst at Ecuador’s National Electricity Operator (CENACE) and has contributed to distribution network projects and electrical studies for Electric Utilities. She currently works in the Physical Development Department at Universidad Estatal Amazónica.
Her professional and academic interests focus on electrical distribution systems and energy efficiency. Beyond her professional activities, Rossy has been an active IEEE member since 2020, contributing to initiatives that promote professional development and greater participation in the power and energy sector. She currently serves as the IEEE PES Women in Power Representative for Ecuador and as Treasurer of the IEEE PES Ecuador Professional Chapter.
