Leila Farah Ghasempour

Scholar background

Farah possesses extensive expertise in the renewable energy sector, with a specific focus on solar farm projects in Korea, Taiwan, India, and parts of Southeast Asia. Her involvement in these projects has provided her with firsthand experience in global trade and sustainable practices.

For the past eight years, Farah has dedicated herself to establishing renewable energy facilities across Asia. In her most recent position as the Senior Business Development Manager, International at ACEN Corporation, she was responsible for overseeing the construction of utility-scale solar farms in India, with a cumulative capacity of 150MW. In addition, she successfully secured other power supply agreements totaling 390MW.

Farah graduated from the University of the Philippines in 2004 with a double major in Business Administration and Accountancy. In the same year, she passed the Philippine board exam for Certified Public Accountants and began her career in tax advisory at KPMG and IBM. Later on, she embarked on a new professional journey and transitioned to the power industry.

Personal statement

Despite the efforts made over the decades through various agreements to protect the planet, the alarm bells are now ringing louder. While scientists have been pleading for action, many world leaders have been slow to respond. Witnessing the Philippines being devastated by record-breaking typhoons made me realize that islanders have the most to lose. Perhaps developing nations need to forge their own path instead of waiting for the First World to take action.

The Hinrich Foundation's goal of advancing sustainable global trade strongly resonates with my own aspiration of transforming powerful and essential industries into a force that benefits the environment. The Hinrich Foundation Global Trade Scholarship not only offers an education but also a community of experts and fellow students who can provide valuable insights. I hope to contribute my own skills and wisdom to this community. The scholarship also provides access to influential business leaders, policymakers, and journalists who play a crucial role in creating impactful legislation and ensuring accountability.

After completing my master’s degree in International Affairs from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and leveraging the Hinrich Foundation's network, my primary objective is to advocate for a unified Southeast Asian policy that effectively addresses climate change.

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