Dr Marek appointed Assistant Director of EPRG

Dr Ewa Marek has been appointed one of three new Assistant Directors of the Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG), as the group announces a major refresh of its leadership team.

The changes follow the retirement of founding Director David Newbery, who will continue to support the group as Emeritus Director. Existing Assistant Directors Michael Pollitt and David Reiner will become Co-Directors.

Recognised as a global leader in energy policy research, the EPRG consistently ranks among the top energy think tanks worldwide, including seventh place in the 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The group’s work, disseminated through publications and the Energy Policy Forum (EPF), informs public and private sector decision-making on the transition to a sustainable and secure energy future.

Dr Marek leads the Energy Carriers and Reactions group based in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) at Cambridge, working on sustainable and renewable ways to generate heat, power and chemicals. Her research combines experimental and modelling approaches, drawing on material science, chemistry, fluid mechanics, catalysis and thermodynamics, with a strong focus on net zero pathways. She previously held industrial R&D and advanced measurement roles in the UK, Netherlands and Poland.

She said: “It’s an exciting opportunity to join the leadership team and contribute to a group whose work has such real-world impact on the transition to net zero. I believe a group like this is key to enabling collaboration across disciplines to tackle some of the most pressing energy challenges.”

Michael Pollitt said: “David Newbery has been a role model for insightful research and inspiring leadership over many decades. We are all so grateful for David’s efforts in establishing and growing EPRG into the globally significant research group it is today. We look forward to continuing to work with David in his new role.”

Alongside Ewa Marek, two additional Assistant Directors have been appointed.

Ramit Debnath works at the intersection of AI, climate and social systems. He leads the Cambridge Collective Intelligence and Design Group and the climaTRACES Lab, and is Executive Director of the Centre for Human-Inspired AI (CHIA). His research focuses on responsible, human-centred AI systems for climate action and sustainability at scale.

Kamiar Mohaddes is an expert in the macroeconomics of climate change and sustainability. He is Director of the climaTRACES Lab and the Global Executive MBA programme. His research spans energy economics, innovation and entrepreneurship, and the economics of the Middle East, and has been widely cited by policymakers. In 2025 he received the Financial Times Award for Academic Research with Impact.

The Energy Policy Research Group, based at Cambridge Judge Business School, works with colleagues across the university and with external partners to inform decision-making in the transition to a sustainable and secure energy future.