Overview
Helen Watts is a passionate advocate for clean energy and intergenerational equity, dedicated to empowering young people to drive the energy transition. As Executive Director of Student Energy, she has helped mobilize tens of thousands of youth worldwide to take action on sustainable energy solutions. Her work has earned her recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a Corporate Knights 30 Under 30 leader.
Since joining Student Energy in 2017, Helen has played a key role in shaping global youth engagement in the clean energy sector. She co-leads the Solutions Movement, a UN-Energy Compact aimed at supporting 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects by 2030. She also led the development of the first Global Youth Energy Outlook, working with twelve young energy leaders to gather insights from 41,000 youth voices on the future of energy.
Committed to creating tangible opportunities for young entrepreneurs, Helen co-founded Greenpreneurs, a training and grantmaking platform that has already mobilized over $100,000 in funding for youth-led climate ventures. She is a sought-after speaker and advisor on youth participation in the energy transition, regularly engaging with international organizations on the importance of youth inclusion in decision-making.
Helen believes that equipping young people with the tools, knowledge, and pathways to take action is one of the most powerful strategies to tackle the climate crisis. She has built a global network of over 50 partners across the climate-energy-youth ecosystem, ensuring that young voices are heard and empowered to shape a more sustainable future.