Our Team

Helen Watts is Student Energy’s Executive Director, a Forbes 30 Under 30 lister, on the Corporate Knight’s 30 Under 30, and is a recognized young clean energy and intergenerational equity advocate.

Since 2017, Helen has worked with Student Energy to empower tens of thousands of young people around the world to work on solutions for a clean and equitable energy transition. She co-leads the Solutions Movement, a UN-Energy Compact designed to support 10,000 youth clean energy projects by 2030. She led the development of the first Global Youth Energy Outlook with twelve young energy leaders to gather 41,000 youth perspectives on the energy transition by 2030. Helen co-founded Greenpreneurs, a training and grantmaking mechanism that has mobilized over USD100,000 in funding to youth-led climate enterprises, and she is regularly engaged by the international community on the role of youth in the energy transition.

Helen approaches the urgent, complex nature of the climate crisis with the belief that equipping young people with the tools and pathways to act is one of our most effective strategies. Advocating for youth inclusion at every level of decision-making processes, she has built a network of 47 partners across the climate-energy-youth ecosystem committed to empowering young people.

Angela is Senior Director of Impact and Operations at Student Energy, leading on project management, data management, and operations of the organization.

Angela has years of experience in the environmental non-profit sector, working across communications, engagement, and policy. Before joining Student Energy, she was the Program Coordinator and Communications Specialist for Renewable Cities, an international program that supports cities through the transition to 100% renewable energy and energy efficiency. Based out of Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, she was responsible for organizing public events, stakeholder dialogues, regular communications and student engagement. Other previous stops include SFU Public Square’s Re-Imagine Downtown Vancouver and the Recycling Council of British Columbia. She is also the co-director of Repair Matters, where she organizes regular repair cafes in the Vancouver area. Angela holds a BA in International Relations from UBC.

She can usually be found on the local trails, making a mess in the kitchen, or dabbling in a variety of outdoor activities.

Abdullah is the Director of Global Partnerships at Student Energy, leading on building partnerships for the organization across our global network.

Abdullah is passionate about sustainable development, climate action plans in cities, the energy transition, circular economies, low-carbon fuels, community-led action, and intercultural affairs. With a background in Chemical Engineering, Abdullah is also passionate about collaborative models which aim to bridge technical concepts to social needs.

Kristan Aho is an experienced accountant with a strong background in the field for over a decade. With a degree in Environmental Studies, Kristan brings a unique perspective to her work, combining her financial expertise with her passion for environmental sustainability and stewardship. As a CPA candidate, she recently took the CFE in May 2023, further solidifying her commitment to professional excellence in accounting.

Beyond professional pursuits, Kristan finds joy in various hobbies that fuel her creativity and well-being. Whether it’s nurturing a vibrant garden, exploring the great outdoors, or immersing herself in captivating storytelling, she strives to maintain a well-rounded lifestyle that enriches both her personal and professional growth.

Originally from Treaty 6 Territory near Edmonton, Brett has worked in sustainable development and youth engagement with audiences across Canada for 10+ years. Brett loves working with teams to understand the impact they want to have and figuring out the best processes for moving that change forward. Education, collaboration and facilitation are cornerstones to his professional path. When he’s not talking about the Sustainable Development Goals, you can either find Brett hiking in the mountains, tending his balcony garden or playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Jasper works on Student Energy’s data and information systems, making sure that we take care of the data we work with and we are able to maximize it to deliver high-impact programming.

Jasper discovered his drive to push the just energy transition forward while pursuing his mechanical engineering degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman when he joined Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Renewable Energy Boot Camp. This ignited passion and his inclination towards data led him to his involvement as a Founding Board Member at Reboot Philippines and his current role at Student Energy.

Outside work, you’d find Jasper either with his camera, his computer, his telescope, his friends, or any combination of the four. Hand him a karaoke microphone for a surprise!

Ifeanyi is passionate about clean energy and sustainability and actively advocates for a just and sustainable planet. He believes that youth empowerment is a strong enabler of climate action. Prior to Student Energy, Ifeanyi worked as a sustainability consultant, helping organisations to integrate sustainability into their business strategy and communicating their progress by reporting in line with global reporting standards.

Ifeanyi has made contributions to climate education through the Green Talk Series; a monthly conversation on the latest developments around climate change, energy and the environment. He has actively represented youth voices in high-level conferences, like the COP26, calling for increased youth participation in decision-making around energy and climate issues. Ifeanyi has a flair for capacity development and is a Student Energy Leaders Fellow, a UPG Sustainability Leader and a Climate Reality Leader.

Outside work hours, Ifeanyi loves to watch football, spend time with family and friends, read books and listen to good music and personal development podcasts.

Cherise is Student Energy’s Finance Coordinator, ensuring the accuracy of our accounting records and financial reporting, among other things.

She is a dedicated advocate for education, with a focus on promoting both functional and financial literacy. Cherise holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba and is currently a CPA candidate pursuing her professional designation.

Outside of work, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with her dog or curled up with some tea and a stack of sci-fi novels.

Andrea is a Sustainable Development Engineer graduated from the university Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico who is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Corporate Social Responsibility. She has been involved in Student Energy since 2018 as student in the Chapter of her university. She has been working towards a sustainable energy transition focusing on sustainable development, youth empowerment in the energy sector, environmental responsibility, women in engineering, and others which lead to her receiving the Mujer Tec Award 2021 in the environmental category.

Andrea holds experience in entrepreneurship, project management, performance indicators, logistics, data analysis, water management, sustainable communities development, and has a deep passion for social responsibility, project development, and corporate sustainability.

Outside of work, Andrea enjoys cooking, gaming, playing piano, and spending time with her family.

Michelle is Student Energy’s Assistant to the Executive Director.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Theory and Production from Western University. Though her career began in the radio broadcasting industry, her passion for the planet and interest in living more sustainably encouraged her to pursue a certificate in Advanced Environmental Management from the University of Toronto.

Prior to joining the Student Energy team, Michelle has volunteered for a number of environmental non-profit organizations, assisting with communications, campaign development, and other administrative needs.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys diving into a good book, learning new languages, and analyzing astrological birth charts!

Wahpikwanees Mary Kappo is the SevenGen Manager and a Nehiyaw-Anishininew woman
from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 Territory. Now residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba on
Treaty 1 Territory, she is a dedicated mother, dancer, and artist whose work is grounded in
community and culture.

Wahpikwanees holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and has extensive experience
supporting high-risk youth. She is deeply passionate about ensuring urban Indigenous youth
perspectives are meaningfully included in climate action initiatives. She believes that weaving
the urban Indigenous experience into this work leads to approaches that are both innovative and
tactically effective, strengthening climate solutions for future generations.

Vaughn is Student Energy’s Senior Chapters Associate. Vaughn leads the coaching and mentoring of our Global Chapter community, resource development for participants and coordinates growth strategies for the program. He became part of the movement in 2017 at the International Student Energy Summit in Mérida, Mexico. Inspired by the event, Vaughn established his own Chapter at the University of the West Indies, and has remained deeply involved in the Student Energy community since.

Ailette Córdova doesn’t just design, she decodes and turns complex data and ideas into visual stories that make people stop, understand, and care.
As Senior Information Design Associate Ailette shapes how the world sees global energy challenges, through dynamic web experiences, data visualisations, editorial design, infographics, branding and marketing campaigns rooted in research, analytics, and genuine strategic thinking. Every creative decision is evidence-based. Accessibility sits at the heart of her practice as she believes great design should work for everyone, and inclusion and aesthetics are never in conflict. She brings the same exacting eye to a complex infographic as to a polished brand identity, always asking: is this as clear as it is beautiful?
Her creativity doesn’t stop at the brief. Ailette is an illustrator, photographer, and visual thinker who moves fluidly between the analytical and the expressive, as comfortable interrogating a dataset as she is filling a sketchbook. That restless curiosity is what makes her work feel both considered and alive.
Her expertise spans information and editorial design, branding, marketing campaigns, data visualisation, infographics, UX/UI, photography, illustration, and web analytics. She holds a Master’s in Communication Design specialising in Information Design, and a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design.
Ailette has collaborated with Climathon CDMX, Climate Group, and AGRAP, bringing creative clarity to the broader cause of sustainability and climate action.
Discover more about Ailette’s work through the links below.

Yazan Zamel is a dedicated advocate for clean energy and equitable energy access, with a profound passion for technology, sustainability, and community service. He was recently named as Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 in 2023. Prior to joining Student Energy, Yazan worked as an environmental researcher at the Transportation and Air Quality Research Group, Energy Efficiency Consultant, and Sustainability Research Assistant.

Through his role at the Sustainable Engineers Association, Yazan reached to more than 2500+ post-secondary students in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by executing and hosting international and regional sustainability conferences, career fairs, and educational programs to mobilize and inspire youth for climate action. Yazan is also an alumni of the Student Leaders Programme (SLP) hosted by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). His responsibility with Student Energy is primarily to support the Guided Projects. Outside of work, Yazan enjoys spending time with his cat!

Rajeshwari is the Chapters Coordinator, where she supports global university chapters with their endeavours in the sustainable energy space.

She currently resides on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples (also known as the Region of Waterloo). Rajeshwari holds a Master’s degree in Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto. She has a passion for climate justice, conservation and sustainability, and hopes to empower the youth of today to become climate conscious leaders.

Outside of work, Rajeshwari enjoys reading, gaming, trying out delicious food, and spending time with her ndugu (her miniature schnauzer Charlie).

Ezra is the Communications Coordinator at Student Energy. She creates digital content and manages social media to engage youth worldwide in the clean energy transition.

Before joining Student Energy, Ezra worked in the Philippines and Singapore producing documentaries and digital media campaigns. She supported community initiatives, created promotional content for live events, and collaborated on film and television projects. Her work centers on telling personal stories and making complex topics more accessible to diverse audiences.

Ezra is based in Vancouver, where she embraces a slow, sustainable lifestyle. She enjoys thrifting, composting, brewing her own kombucha, and tending to her garden. She finds joy exploring farmers’ markets, hunting for secondhand treasures, spotting birds, and taking quiet moments to reconnect with the planet she’s committed to protecting.

Ezra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film from the University of the Philippines.