Dr Leuserina Garniati, BSc (Hons), MSc (Distinction), PhD

Expert Consultant and Business Development Lead

Nia has worked for more than 20 years with local and multinational NGOs, both the UK and Southeast Asian Government institutions, private sectors, and research communities in sustainable energy policy and technology advisory, capacity building, and multidisciplinary action research programmes. Her main area of interest is in empowering communities to build resilience towards environmental change and social marginalisation through equal access of clean energy, food, and water.

Her technical expertise in outbound and inbound knowledge exchange methods and skills in stakeholders’ engagement techniques have kick-started and successfully delivered a number of international low carbon development programmes through designing experiential learning modules for targeted individuals, creating upskilling initiatives for organisational development, and strategically advising decision-makers in establishing enabling environments required to build local capabilities and capacities.

Her evidenced knowledge and working experience lie within energy transition, carbon management and decarbonisations strategy, as well as in the environmental and social impact of energy systems. Internationally, she has provided expert’s advice, created initiatives, administered grants, and managed multi stakeholders’ partnerships for development programmes funded by the UNDP, UNOPS, BEIS, DIT, FCDO, and the British Council. Meanwhile, her work in the UK includes contribution to the Northeast Scotland Climate Change Partnership and the European Commission’s Covenant of Mayor Initiative; as well as the more recent strategic advisories to UK Research Council and Scottish Enterprise in low carbon and environmentally sustainable Blue Economy initiatives. 

Whilst currently an Expert Consultant and Business Development Lead at Aquatera Ltd., Nia also serves as an Honorary Assistant Professor at the International Centre for Island Technology at Heriot Watt University. Throughout her academic posts she has authored book chapters, academic papers, lectured in post-graduate programmes and supervised PhD students in Sustainable Energy, Environmental Impact Assessment, Climate Change, and Carbon Management.

Areas of expertise:
Decarbonisation strategy, carbon accounting and management
Energy Transition, sustainable energy policy and appropriate technology
Environmental and social impact assessment
Action research for international development