As global temperatures rise, the demand for cooling is surging at an unprecedented rate. The UK is no exception—hotter summers and record-breaking heatwaves are becoming more frequent. However, conventional cooling systems rely heavily on grid electricity, driving up energy consumption and straining an already overburdened power infrastructure.
The REnewable Energy access for Future UK Net-Zero Cooling (Reef-UKC) Research Network invites you to an engaging webinar series exploring sustainable and renewable-powered cooling solutions. Each session brings together different leading academics and industry professionals to delve into cutting-edge research and innovation in this vital area.
Featured presenters for this session:
Prof. Bing Xu
Professor in Finance, Heriot Whatt University
Prof. Bing’s research focuses on banking and investment analytics by modelling the impact of uncertainty on banks’/firms’ performance, their lending/investment and risk-taking behaviours. She is also passionate on scrutinizing the causes of sustainable finance gap, and the consequences of climate-related risks on firms’ performances and access to finance. Another strand of Bing’s research is around the design of multidimensional frameworks (e.g., DEA, multi-criteria decision-making analysis-based approaches) to evaluate energy strategies and prediction models. She also has works around modelling/forecasting oil prices and studying the dynamic impact of oil price shocks on the economy.
Prof Xu has worked on a portfolio of UKRI funded multidisciplinary projects on low carbon fuels, sustainable cold-chains, and circular chemical economy which are recognised as central to achieving net zero. Currently, Bing is working on several UKRI funded projects around business models, sustainable finance, performance analytics, social dynamics, and policy:
Mr. Yusuf Bilesanmi
Founder & Managing Director, Eja Ice Ltd.
Experienced Innovative Product & Business Developer with over a decade of driving sustainable business growth across consumer electronics (Panasonic), energy markets (Mitsubishi Corporation), investment advisory (Flux Limited), cold chain infrastructure (Eja-Ice), sustainability advisory for companies and Respiratory care solutions (Shifa Tech). Exceptional understanding of sector value chains, business operations and analytics tools for effective analysis of data.
Yusuf’s products and innovative business solutions have been recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize where he won “One to Watch Award” , the Leicestershire Innovation Awards and the World Economic Forum’s UpLink Blue Ocean Innovator Awards etc. Yusuf develops, implements, and leads new business & project initiatives to advance investments in clean energy. Led teams, managed workforce training and skills development of team members. Responsibilities include; financial management, resource management, customer interaction, technical support and project execution with technicians.
Who Should Attend?
This series is designed for:
- Academics and researchers
- Early career professionals
- Industry experts in energy, heating, cooling and sustainability
- Government officials and policymakers
- Anyone with an interest in sustainability and climate resilience
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights and build meaningful connections in the drive toward a net-zero cooling future.
