Biography:

Andrés developed his PhD (Suma Cum Laude, International Doctorate Award for the collaboration at MIT and 5th Bankinter Consumer Finance Business Ethics Research Award and the Chair of Economic and Business Ethics at Comillas Pontifical University ) at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería ICAI (2024). He holds a BSc in Electro-Mechanic Engineering with an MSc in Power Electronics (1995) also from ICAI-Comillas, Master in International Cooperation (1997) from IUDC - Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Executive MBA (2000) from ICADE Business School - Comillas, Specialist in Driving Government Performance (2012) from Harvard Kennedy School of Government & IESE Business School and Master in Electrical Systems from ICAI-Comillas (2013).

One of the co-founders of Waya Energy, Andrés is co-CEO of the spin-off company created by members of the Universal Energy Access Laboratory to exploit, among other things, the results of his doctoral thesis. Under Andrés' supervision, now as Principal Investigator, 20 national and regional electrification plans have been developed in Africa, Asia and Latin America, with more than 220 million beneficiaries and $32 billion in planned investments, working in competitive tenders for major multilateral agencies (World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, among others), governments and companies in 25 countries, including India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mozambique, Rwanda, Nigeria, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Paraguay and El Salvador. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Andrés is Affiliate Researcher since November 2012, being a member of the Universal Energy Access Laboratory created by the MIT Energy Initiative, together with researchers from the Institute for Research in Technology at Comillas Pontifical University, to find solutions to the challenges of energy access and energy transition in developing countries. With MIT, Andrés has participated in the development of optimisation models for decision support and strategies for grid, mini-grid and off-grid electrification in developing countries. He is co-author of the Reference Electrification Model, which represents the state of the art in geospatial least-cost electrification plan design.

He is currently a visiting research professor at the Institute for Research in Technology at Comillas Pontifical University, where he received his research training between 2012 and 2018. Also at Comillas, he has previously been Director of the International Relations Office and Head of Coordination of the Erasmus Mundus programmes: International Master in Economics and Management of Network Industries (EMIN) and Joint Doctorate in Sustainable Energy Technologies and Strategies (SETS), and Manager of International R&D Projects at the Research Transfer Centre.

His pro bono activities include being a member of the Board of the Spanish Table for Universal Access to Energy (MAUE, 2014-2024), President of the Forum for Solidarity (SoliAula 2008-2012), President of the Spanish Federation of Fair Trade (CECJ, 2006-2009), member of the Board of Directors of Fair-Trade International in Iberia (FTI, 2006-2009), co-founder and CEO of Solidarte S. A. (2000-2006), member of the Advisory Board of the Energy Without Borders Foundation (EsF, 2000-2006), member of the International Relations Commission of the National Conference of University Rectors of Spain (CEURI-CRUE, 2000-2004), and co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of the Engineering Without Borders Association (ISF, 1994-1996).

Andrés has received the 2024 Engineering with Purpose Award for the impact of his research and professional career on improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable population (Fundación Colegio de Ingenieros del ICAI), as well as the 5th Bankinter Consumer Finance Business Ethics and the Chair of Economic and Business Ethics at Comillas Pontifical University research award for the contributions of his doctoral thesis to the analysis of the role of the public and private sectors in promoting the common good in the field of access to sustainable energy for all (SDG 7).