Media

I regularly engage public audiences on technology advances and impact by writing media articles, appearing in interviews, speaking, giving talks and presentations, moderating panels, or facilitating workshops in different countries. Here are some of my latest public engagements.

VIDEOS

Rebekah’s recent TED Talk, delivered for live audience in London, published March 2023
A Path Across the Rift, WRI Webinar, October 2023
COP27: What’s at Stake for Africa, October 2022
Film: Powering Africa with African Hands, July 2022
WRI Green Jobs Advantage Panel, October 2021
SAIIA Just Energy Transitions Panel, June 2021
Interconnected Voices Climate Conference, Nov 2020
AMDA Minigrids Report Launch, August 2020
Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy, Podcast Part II, Mar 2020
Utilities 2.0, EEG Webinar, June 2020
BBC Africa Interview, Sept 2019
Clean Energy Solutions Center Webinar, July 2019
WRI Documentary on Safeguarding Forests, June 2023
COP27 Priorities for Just Transitions, October 2022
ECDPM Great Insights Interview, Sept 2021
Energy Innovation for Islands Panel, March 2022
Energy Innovation Network Panel, June 2021
IRENA Renewable Energy Jobs Launch, October 2020
Energy Policy Webinar, Energy Catalyst, June 2020
Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy, Podcast Part I, Feb 2020
Africa LEDS Partnership Webinar, Oct 2019
Future Energy East Africa, Aug 2019
Africa Utility Week, May 2019

PUBLIC SPEAKING

MEDIA ARTICLES

Shirley, R., Deme, Y., and Onyango, S. “Key COP28 Takeaways for Africa“, WRI Insights, December 20, 2023

Mathai, W. and Shirley, R. “What to watch at the first Africa Climate Summit“, WRI Insights, August 30, 2023

Lukuyu, J., Shirley, R., Taneja, J. “The drivers of Africa’s electric vehicle future might be different than you think“, Energy for Growth Hub, October 24, 2022

Bhattacharya, J. and Shirley, R. Electric transport offers Kenya a way out of its fuel crises“, Business Daily, April 19, 2022

Shirley, R.Three recommendations for meaningful Africa-Europe Partnership on Energy Transitions“, Energy for Growth Hub, March 29, 2022

Shirley, R.Comparing the effectiveness of RE policies in the Caribbean“, CESaRE Impacts, December 21, 2021

Shirley, R. Strategies to increase finance for resilience in islands“, Energy for Growth Hub, November 1, 2021

Shirley, R.Defining ‘Just Transitions’ in the Africa Context“, Energy for Growth Hub, October 12, 2021

Shirley, R.Kenya Power: (Re)orienting the utility in face of solar growth“, the Africa Report, October 6, 2021

Shirley, R.How Kenya Power can regain enviable financial muscle“, Business Daily, September 10, 2021

Ireri, B. and Shirley, R. Powering Growth: African countries are embracing renewables to accelerate energy access but funding remains a challenge“, IMF Finance & Development Magazine, September 1 2021

Attia, B. and Shirley, R.Commercial and Industrial Solar PV: Threat or Opportunity for KPLC?, Energy for Growth Hub, September, 1, 2021

Shirley, R. Policy action for climate resilient energy systems in small islands“, Energy for Growth Hub, August 18, 2021

Da Silva, I. and Shirley, R.How decentralised renewable energy systems can create jobs for Africa youth“, Business Daily, May 25, 2020

Rogers, T., Gay, D. and Shirley, R.Zero-carbon electric transport is already in reach for small islands”, The Conversation, May 22, 2019

Shirley, R.Bridging the skills gap is key for energy access, new jobs“, World Bank Blogs. November 12, 2018

Shirley, R. and Otlhogile, M. “Faster Energy Access Requires Better Data: This ‘Smart Platform’ Aims to Provide It”, Next Billion. November 7, 2018

Shirley, R., Hill, K and Mutiso, R. “Is sub-Saharan Africa ready for the electric vehicle revolution?” World Economic Forum. June 6, 2018

Shirley, R. and Attia, B. “Distributed Models for Grid Extension Could Save African Utilities Billions of Dollars”, Greentech Media. June 13, 2018

Shirley, R. “Millions of urban Africans still don’t have electricity: here’s what can be done”, The Conversation. April 19, 2018

Shirley, R. and Attia, B. “Living Under the Grid: 110 Million of Africa’s Unconnected Customers Represent a Massive Opportunity”, Greentech Media. December 8, 2017

Shirley, R. and Attia, B. “How Deregulation Could Improve Reliability for Cash-Strapped African Utilities”, Greentech Media. September 19, 2017

RECENT SPOTLIGHTS

Want to Solve the Climate Crisis? Invest in Africa: A Q&A with Rebekah Shirley“, California Magazine, Sept 19, 2023

How Africa Can Help the World“, New York Times, June 16, 2023

Industry Leaders Shine Light On African Energy Innovation At SXSW 2023“, CleanTechnica, March 14, 2023

How to Fix Climate Finance in Africa“, Bloomberg Zero Podcast, November 22, 2022

Six Women in Energy: Interview with Dr. Rebekah Shirley“, ESI Africa, July 2022

Live from COP26: Energy for People and Planet“, Outrage & Optimism Podcast, November 5, 2021

Interview with Dr. Rebekah Shirley: Islands and hyper visible and hyper invisiblized“, High Energy Planet, Energy for Growth Hub Podcast, July 6, 2021

Africa’s Energy Transition: Roundtable with Clean energy Young Leaders“, Global Wind Energy Council, November 18, 2020

Interview: Here’s how Kenya plans to boost uptake of electric vehicles“, CNBC Africa, October 29, 2020

Dr. Rebekah Shirley: Policy & Data for Agriculture and Energy“, The Power for All Podcast, October 14, 2020

Rebekah Shirley: Why is Energy Access Important?“, The Energy Talk Podcast, May 18, 2020

“Dr. Rebekah Shirley in Voices: Decentralizing Energy for a High Demand, Low Carbon World”, One Earth, December 20, 2019

ESI Interview with Dr. Rebekah Shirley: It’s all about the data”, Future Energy East Africa Expert Interviews, August 8, 2019

Exploring the Future of Electricity in Africa: Spotlight on Dr Rebekah Shirley, Visiting Research Fellow“, Strathmore University, June 11, 2019

Dr. Rebekah Shirley on Renewable Energy experience in Small Island Developing States“, Power 102 FM Business Corner, April 1, 2019

African Power & Energy Elites Personality: Interview with Dr. Rebekah Shirley”, The ESI African Power & Energy Elites Magazine, January 21, 2019

FEATURES