The ARE Secretariat

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) is a private sector driven non-profit organisation, composed by a Board of Directors, a President and an Executive Director, all elected by the General Assembly of Members. The day-to-day running of ARE is managed by the Secretariat, based in Brussels, Belgium.

ARE Secretariat

Rue d'Arlon 69-71
1040 Brussels
Belgium

Central line: +32 2 709 55 42

Marcus Wiemann (German) – Executive Director

Marcus Wiemann is responsible for the management and direction of ARE with the objective to best assist Members in their efforts to provide clean energy access. In this regard, he is in charge of the relationship management with Partners and developing organisations, banks and institutions. As a member of numerous steering committees and working groups, he contributes to the professionalisation of decentralised clean energy markets in order to make the sector more business friendly. Marcus manages also the ARE-OFID CfP to implement four mini-grids in Bangladesh, India, Mali and Mozambique. The objective here is to showcase that by adequate de-risking mechanism it is possible to unlock private sector investments.

Marcus (born in Dortmund, Germany in 1971) holds diplomas in Economics, International Relations/Developing Countries and Environmental Economics from the Universities of York and Trier. Marcus has a professional background from the finance and energy sector as well as in consultancy, advocacy and project management.

Before Marcus joined ARE in 2013, Marcus established and led representation offices in Brussels of Verbundnetz Gas AG, EWE AG and of the International Association of Gas and Oil Producers (OGP).

Languages: English, German

Contact

Phone: +32 2 709 55 44

E-mail : M.Wiemann@ruralelec.org

David Lecoque (Belgian) – Policy & Business Development Manager (Africa)

David Lecoque heads the Policy & Business Development Department at ARE and coordinates the Africa Sub-Working Group of ARE. He works closely on policy and business issues with energy companies, key donors and institutions, financiers and NGOs involved in energy access. In particular, he focuses on consultancy, advocacy, partnerships, project management, B2B/B2Fin matchmaking and events. He also oversees ARE's research activities and run the contact database, comprising 33,000+ sector stakeholders.

David (born in Antwerpen, Belgium in 1987) holds an LL.M in European Law from the College of Europe and a Master of Laws from the Free University of Brussels, and recently completed the IBI International Trade Executive Programme.

Prior to joining ARE, David practised and qualified as a lawyer at the Brussels Bar, dealing principally with energy and environmental matters in top-tier law firms Liedekerke and CMS. In 2015, he was elected as one of Belgium’s 100 most inspiring and sustainable young professionals. 

Languages: English, French, Dutch and German

Contact

Phone : +32 2 709 55 25

E-mail : d.lecoque@ruralelec.org

Jens Jæger (Danish) – Policy & Business Development Officer (Asia)

Jens Jæger leads the Asia Sub-Working Group of ARE and works closely together with ARE Members, as well as international and local partners to improve policy and business development conditions for private sector companies in off-grid markets. He focuses on advocacy, policy, research, partnerships, B2B/B2F matchmaking and events. As part of his work at ARE, Jens also led the project to develop the current ARE website, as well as initiatives to increase youth engagement in the off-grid sector such as the AEEP Young Leaders in Energy Access Awards and the ARE job platform.

Jens (born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1989) holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from University of Copenhagen with a Master’s Thesis focusing on wind energy in China.

Prior to joining ARE, Jens worked in communications at the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Brussels (UNRIC), as well as in the Danish Parliament as a Political Assistant.

Languages: English, French, Danish

Contact

Phone : +32 2 709 55 42

E-mail : j.jaeger@ruralelec.org

Erika Gomez (Spanish) – Policy & Business Development Assistant (Latin America)

Erika Gomez is responsible for the Latin-American Sub-Working Group at ARE, contributing to grow ARE efforts, presence and activities in LAC in close collaboration with Members and Partners. Part of her work is to showcase clean off-grid and decentralised solutions as a financially viable alternative for supplying electricity to regions without energy access. In this regard, for example she organises business delegations and events such as the Off-Grid Power workshop at Intersolar South America. She also works on a new publication to share ARE best practices in LAC.

Erika (born in St. Gallen, Switzerland in 1986) holds a Master’s Degree in Experimental Sciences and a Bachelor in Marine Sciences from the University of Vigo, with specialisation in Physical Oceanography and Marine Environments.

Prior to joining ARE, Erika worked in a Research Working Group on EIA and SEA focusing on environmental assessment and sustainable development strategies before moving to an international German-based company focusing on developing and implementing affordable renewable energy projects to enhance productivity and improve people’s living standards.

Languages: Spanish, German, English

Contact

E-mail: e.gomez@ruralelec.org

Ling Ng (English) – Communication & Marketing Officer 

Ling Ng is responsible for the Business Promotion and Marketing Services Working Group at ARE which was established to find best ways for the promotion of the business interests of ARE Members and to provide support to key cooperation Partners through communications and marketing as well as event management and matchmaking. She is the contact point for the website, publications and digital outreach. She specialises in showcasing RET technologies and sustainable business models that supply electricity to isolated regions in developing countries.

Ling (born in Hillingdon, United Kingdom in 1984) holds a Master’s Degree in Quaternary Science and a Bachelor in Environmental Science from Royal Holloway, University College London and Queen Mary, University of London.

Prior to joining ARE, Ling worked as a sustainable project assistant for start-ups and non-profit organisations such as ICLEI in the UK, Germany and France. 

Languages: English, French

Contact

Phone: +32 2 709 55 42

E-mail: l.ng@ruralelec.org