Earlier this year, the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Professor Roula Inglesi-Lotz was appointed Vice-President: Regional Affairs of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) Council. The Department of Economics professor – who is also president of the South African Association for Energy Economics (SAAEE), a recognised affiliate of the IAEE – will hold the position for a year.

Being chosen to serve on the council of an organisation that consists of hundreds of members and more than 30 country affiliates is a great honour, she says. “I am thankful for the organisation’s appreciation of my hard work over the past few years, and that I am involved at an international level, but also leading the South African affiliate. And, of course, to top it off, to be elected to that crucial position of Regional Affairs.”

Prof Inglesi-Lotz holds a BCom and BCom (Hons) in Economics from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece (2006); an MCom (cum laude) in Economics from UP (2008); and a PhD in Economics, also from UP (2011). 

The IAEE’s main objective is to provide for the mutual association of individuals who are interested in energy economics in order to create a forum for multi-national, multi-disciplinary discussion, and to provide a means of professional communication and constructive dialogue.

Its local affiliate, the SAAEE, aims to establish a national forum for energy specialists from various spheres in the energy sector (academia, industry, government, private and public sector), and plays an advisory role in policy propositions and implementations. Its expertise lies in energy economics and policy.

Prof Inglesi-Lotz’s primary focus at the IAEE is to provide leadership to and oversight of the organisation’s regional and country affiliates, and establish connections with underrepresented areas globally. “This role and portfolio is crucial in current times,” she says. “International collaboration between research and science communities is imperative to finding solutions in the energy sector, particularly when countries go through a transition period on the road to sustainability and cleaner environments.”

She also plans to establish a programme of interactive engagements within the leadership of regional and country affiliates. “Such interactions will aim to have a win-win outcome, from the affiliates and membership to IAEE management, and vice versa.”

The professor says the IAEE is an organisation that promotes gender equality in all aspects of leadership and management, adding that women from the developing world generally do not have international opportunities – which is why she is so proud to be representing that demographic and be in a position that allows her to promote regional integration and cooperation in research.

As far as alumni being hooked into the progress and further development of their alma mater, Prof Inglesi-Lotz says that while financial contributions are welcome, they often don’t lead to an ongoing relationship between alumni and their alma mater.

“Traditionally, monetary donations are popular and perhaps an easy way to show support,” she says. “Finance is the greatest need of higher education institutions in South Africa, so ‘knocking on the door’ of alumni who are prepared to deposit an amount is more than welcome, but that is where the relationship tends to start and end.”

Still, she believes that the reputation of the institution and a positive experience from their time at university generally encourages graduates to give back. This was the case for her.

Studying at UP was pivotal to Prof Inglesi-Lotz’s personal and professional development. Being an international postgraduate student and, later, a doctoral candidate was challenging because of language and cultural differences. “The environment at UP, however – and particularly the Department of Economics – is that of an institution that allows diversity. It allowed me to flourish on my own terms,” she explains.

“In this regard, the staff of the department and the specific supervisors that I worked with helped me because they had all had similar experiences during their academic journeys. Having said that, not everything and everyone opened doors widely for all students to go through. At the time I did not understand that all the challenges in fact strengthened us, and gave us a true representation of the real world of work.”