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

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

Melina Monjour (French, Italian) – Communication & Marketing Assistant

Melina Monjour is currently assisting the Communication & Marketing Officer in supporting the increasing number of business support activities at ARE, including Member services, events and matchmaking.

Melina (born in Paris, France in 1991) holds a Master’s Degree in History and International Affairs from la Sorbonne (Paris) and a Master in International Studies from SOAS (London) with a Master’s thesis focusing on the Water Energy Food Nexus governance at the local level.

Before joining ARE, Melina was working as an International Policy Officer intern at Think Smartgrids and took part in the definition of the French international strategy related to smart grids.

Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish

Contact

E-mail: m.monjour@ruralelec.org

Apoorva Satpathy (Indian) – Analyst & Project Assistant

Apoorva Satpathy is working on mini-grid market research and concepts for demand creation, as well as, supporting ARE activities.

Apoorva (born in Odisha, India in 1992) is a fresh postgraduate in renewable energy from the University of Oldenburg (Germany) with a specialisation in Photovoltaics from Northumbria University (UK) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She has achieved Galileo Master Certifications in Renewable Energy Solutions, Renewable Energy Finance and Management and Carbon Management.

Prior to joining ARE, Apoorva was working with IRENA for the Knowledge, Policy and Finance Centre as an intern and was involved with Climate Tracker.

Languages: English, Oriya, Hindi

Contact

Phone: +32 2 709 55 25

E-mail: a.satpathy@ruralelec.org