MR. MICHAEL WILLIAMSON

Michael Williamson is Section Chief of the Energy Division in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Michael works on regional cooperation for sustainable energy across ESCAP’s 53 member countries on intergovernmental cooperation, technical assistance and knowledge building. Prior to this, Michael was the Acting Director of ESCAP’s Subregional Office for South and South West Asia overseeing 10 countries of South and South West Asia. From 2015 to 2017 he was Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the Executive Secretary of ESCAP in Bangkok. He began his UN career in in India in 2013 as the Head of ESCAP’s Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology. 

Michael’s experience over the last 25 years covers the private sector, government and international organisations with a focus on sustainable development, energy, technology and climate change. Prior joining the UN, he worked in Australia in state and federal government, on climate change, sustainability and energy policy. He worked for Australia’s national climate change agency managing commercialization programs funding advanced renewable energy technologies. In between his government roles he undertook technical and humanitarian assignments with the International Committee of the Red Cross, restoring essential services to affected communities during the civil war in Nepal from 2004 to 2007. During the 1990’s, Michael gained hands on experience developing energy access projects for remote communities in Nepal.

Michael holds a Master of Science in Renewable Energy Technology from Loughborough University, UK and an honours degree in Civil Engineering from Monash University, Australia. He has also completed a post graduate diploma in management from the Australian Institute of Management and is a graduate of the UN leadership course at the United Nations Staff College.