Makena is a Director of Clean Energy Access Research at CLASP, leading research on the Low Energy Inclusive Appliances programme. She has over 7 years of diverse experience in the energy sector both in utility scale solutions and distributed renewables. Prior to joining CLASP, Makena managed energy access theme prizes and other research effort on pro-poor energy solutions in developing countries. She has authored impact and baseline research on improved institution cookstoves and refrigeration for the rural poor, contributed to research efforts in solar home system market stimulation in Bangladesh, and helped scope energy for humanitarian needs. Before that, she spent four years as an engineer in the United Kingdom’s Civil Nuclear Industry, in energy generation and utility scale distribution. Makena received her M.Eng in civil engineering from Manchester University.