Chair – [email protected]

PAUL PIRRIE

Paul has a BEng in mechanical engineering and an MSc in renewable energy engineering from the University of Aberdeen. He worked as a mechanical design engineer within the oil and gas industry before stepping back into academia and transitioning to renewable energy. He is currently in his final year of PhD research at the University of Strathclyde, as part of the Wind and Marine Energy Systems CDT. His PhD research focuses on the electrical systems for multi-rotor wind turbines and includes determining the most suitable electrical system, modelling the electrical system, and developing control techniques to enable enhanced grid integration. Paul attended the INORE European symposium in 2019 in Italy and was part of the organizing committee for the 2020 virtual symposium. Outside of work, Paul enjoys live music, sports, climbing and cooking.

Co-chair – [email protected]

JIA MI

Jia Mi is working toward his Ph.D. degree in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. He is working as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems and his research focus on novel wave energy converters with advanced power take-off as well as powering the blue economy. He obtained his BEng degree from Wuhan University of Technology on Automotive Engineering in 2018. He enjoys cycling, hiking and traveling. He is proud of traveling to Tibet via cycling over 2000 miles and plan to explore the world by his bike in the future.

Secretary – [email protected]

PETER TAYLOR

Peter graduated from Loughborough University with an MEng integrated master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 2016. Since 2017 he has been studying for a PhD with the Wind & Marine Energy Systems Centre for Doctoral Training at the University of Strathclyde. His research focus is on the optimisation of GW-scale offshore wind farms with particular interest in the electrical infrastructure and integration of co-located energy storage. In his free time he enjoys, running, bicycle-touring trips and a couple of pints with friends in the pub.

Finance manager – [email protected]

ADAM HARRIS

Adam is PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, looking at the use of magnetic gearing for marine energy. After completing an integrated master’s in mechanical engineering at Strathclyde University, where Adam’s final year project focused on renewable energy, he joined the Wind and Marine Energy Centre for Doctoral Training. Funded by the Centre Adam began his PhD in 2018 at the University of Edinburgh. Outside of work you can find him happily running, cycling or climbing in the mountains somewhere.

Sponsorship Coordinator – [email protected]

Giuseppe Giorgi

Giuseppe Giorgi currently works at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, at Politecnico di Torino. Giuseppe does research in Mechanical Engineering and Ocean Engineering, focusing on nonlinear modelling and optimization of wave energy converters.

Web manager – [email protected]

Gerard avellaneda domene

Gerard completed his BSc degree in Physics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) and his MSc in Marine Renewable Energy at Heriot-Watt University (UK). After finishing his master program, Gerard worked as a research assistant at the Policy and Innovation Group, at the University of Edinburgh (UK) in 2019.
Gerard started his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria in May 2020. His research involves assessing the feasibility of various offshore renewable energy systems to power a carbon capture and storage device, and is part of the Solid Carbon Project.
In his free time, Gerard loves being surrounded by nature, going for a hike, swimming, surfing or climbing. 

Outreach Coordinator – outreach[email protected]

Qiang Gao

Qiang (Dan) Gao is a PhD candidate in the school of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide, Australia. He received his B.Eng degree from Chongqing University, China, in 2016 and M.Sc degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia, in 2019, both in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His research interests include ocean renewable resource assessment, energy storage system sizing and generator selection for wave energy converters and the design of electrical systems in the hybrid offshore wind and wave energy systems. Out of the research, he enjoys outdoor activities such as sports, hiking and fishing.

Communications Coordinator – [email protected]

Luke Evans

Luke completed his BEng in electrical power at Caledonian university (Glasgow, Scotland) and his MEng in Marine Renewable Energy at Edinburgh, Exeter and Strathclyde University. Luke started his EngD in 2020, and is currently writing up his thesis on uncertainties associated with a power performance assessment for tidal energy converters.

In his free time, Luke loves being outdoors, hiking, surfing and playing squash.

Research Coordinator – research[email protected]

EDITH ROJO

Edith Rojo is a Mexican PhD student in Cardiff University, Wales. She did her major in Industrial Engineering and a BA in Management in Mexico and the US and studied a MSc Sustainable Energy and Environment in Cardiff University. She is currently writing up her thesis in Condition Monitoring in Tidal Stream Turbines. She is part of the CMERG (Cardiff Marine Energy Research Group) and the CEMIE Oceano research groups. Edith has experience developing socio-economic assessment for renewable energy projects and has participated in resource characterisation oceanographic field research in the south of Mexico.She is very interested in developing a tidal turbine project for low stream velocities around the world, specially in Latin America.

Events Coordinator (EU) – events[email protected]

Chiagoro Ahaotu

Chiagoro Ahaotu holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (First-class Honours) from Covenant University, Nigeria. He was awarded the Erasmus Mundus scholarship in 2020 for a joint master’s degree in Renewable Energy in the Marine Environment, which has seen him studying across the University of Strathclyde (UK), the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Norway). He is currently writing his thesis on Energy storage solutions integrated into HVDC-connected offshore wind power plants for providing grid services in collaboration with NTNU and SINTEF Energy Research, Norway. He is very passionate about leading the sustainable energy transition. He is also a co-founder of Master’s Prep, a not-for-profit educational mentorship group that guides prospective African postgraduate students through graduate school applications and scholarship opportunities.

Events Coordinator (Australasia) – [email protected]

RAPHAËL ALWAN

In 2013 Raphaël completed his BSc. in mechanical engineering at the University of Balamand (Lebanon), then worked for a year in the solar energy (PV systems) sector at Phoenix Energy – Indevco Group (Lebanon). In 2019 He completed his MSc. in Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering at Ecole Centrale de Nantes (France), focusing on Marine Renewable Energies.
Raphaël started his PhD in Mathematics and Computer Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia) in March 2020. His research focuses on studying the nonlinear waves generated by a resonant wave energy converter.
He always finds time to practice and play the oriental percussion instrument (Darbuka), originally played in ancient Egypt, Babylon and Sumerian cultures approximately 3100 years ago.

Events Coordinator (Pan America) – [email protected]

MARIANELLA BOLÍVAR CARBONELL

Marianella Bolívar Carbonell is  a Colombian with a BS & MSc in Civil Engineering, currently she is a student welfare coordinator for the Environmental Engineering program and a full-time professor at Universidad de la Costa at Barranquilla, Colombia.  She possesses a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad del Norte, with a Coastal Engineering specialization. Her research experience and interests include Engineering and Design of marine and coastal structures, Offshore renewable energies, and the hydrodynamic modeling of coastal and estuarine processes.

Events Coordinator (North America) – [email protected]

Shangyan ZOU

Dr. Zou is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU). He was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University before joining Pacific Marine Energy Center at OSU. He received his Ph.D. in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological University in 2018. He has research expertise on the dynamics and control with applications to ocean wave energy conversion and experience with multi-agent systems (autonomy), machine learning, optimization, and state estimation. Outside of work, he is passionate about outdoor activities and he likes coffee very much!

Local outreach coordinator (North America) – [email protected]

Xian WU

Local Outreach Coordinator (Central & South America) – [email protected]

Rodrigo rojas

Rodrigo is a PhD in natural science from University of Chile, with an MBA and with background on marine biology for National University of Costa Rica. His work has been focused on rising conditions for the planning, developing and future use of marine energy in Costa Rica and Latin America. His research and writings are rooted within technical concepts of experts from Europe and crosses the fields of project manager and marine energy topics. His recent focus includes an offshore wind road map of Costa Rica, the analysis of marine energy supply chain for the current conditions of coastal and marine areas of Costa Rica and the wave and tides research in the Pacific coast. Previously, Rodrigo worked as a professor and thesis director for several public and private universities, as well as project manager and analyst for 25 years, covering foresight perspective and environmental studies for renewable energy projects in Costa Rica and Central America. He has taken part of several academic, NGO´s and public organizations, including Costa Rican Institute for Electricity, National University, REMAR, RIBEMAR, GWEC, and IRENA. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at international conferences on renewable energy, offshore energy and blue economy agenda.

Local Outreach Coordinator (Asia) – [email protected]

FAntai meng

Fantai Meng received the B.Eng. degree (First-class Honour) in mechatronics engineering and Ph.D. degree in wave energy conversion from University of Adelaide, Australia, in 2013 and 2019, respectively. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the China-Australia Joint Research Centre of Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Harnessing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research interests cover numerical modelling and intelligent control of combined offshore wind-wave system.

[email protected]

Samantha quinn

Samantha is the Operations Manager at the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University. Although she now focuses on making sure everything is running smoothly, she continues to dabble in research focused on  policy, innovation and economics for offshore renewable energy. She is terrified of swimming in the sea and has been stung twice by jellyfish.

[email protected]

michele martini

Michele is a Researcher in the Offshore Engineering Group at IH Cantabria, in Spain. He is focusing his work on the effects that met-ocean conditions have on floating wind and wave energy farms in terms of energy production, long-term response and O&M activities. He loves watching storms from lighthouses – as long as they are not too close to the sea.

[email protected]

carlos perez collazo

Carlos is a Research Fellow in  Wave and Offshore Wind Energy at the University of Plymouth. He works closely with  the Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) – the research cluster in Marine Renewable Energy for the South of England. His research is focused on the development of new solutions for wave and offshore wind energy sectors and on how to combine them. 

[email protected]

Boris teillant

Boris is a research engineer at WavEC Offshore Renewables, in Portugal. His main research activities involve techno-economic analysis of innovative concepts for wave energy converters and lifecycle logistics of ocean energy arrays. While not awake, Boris is also secretly working on a visionary sailing boat design featuring both a pool table and a bar.