MALAYSIA—Young professionals from across Asia gathered for the Future Energy Leaders (FEL) program and Energy Asia 2025 on June 12-18, 2025, in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. The week-long event centered on youth leadership, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration in addressing the region’s evolving energy challenges.
Representing PNOC were Project Development Officer V and Officer-in-Charge Richard Miguel D. Allauigan Jr. and Public Relations Officer IV Sharina Mariz L. Walde. Both participated in leadership workshops, collaborative energy challenges, and strategic discussions on charting a sustainable and inclusive energy future for the region.
From June 12-15, the PNOC delegates joined FEL activities at the PETRONAS Leadership Centre. A key highlight was a team challenge centered on guiding a fictional country through a just transition away from coal while balancing climate goals with economic and social demands. Eighty-nine delegates were grouped into nine teams to co-create solutions grounded in real-world energy dynamics.
Ms. Walde’s team emerged as the champion of the pitching activity during the culminating night. The evening also featured the launch of the Youth for Energy Transition and Sustainability Network (YES NET), a Southeast Asian initiative that aims to mobilize youth-driven climate and energy action across the region.
From June 16 to 18, the delegation attended Energy Asia 2025, where FEL participants gained exclusive access to high-level plenary sessions and networking events. One standout session, “From Ocean Floors to Outer Space,” featured former National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut Dr. Tara Ruttley. She emphasized the importance of adaptive leadership and systems thinking in the face of global energy challenges. FEL delegates also helped shape the vision and roadmap of the newly launched YES NET through a co-creation workshop.
Beyond the FEL program, participants explored the Energy Park, which featured 105 live sessions and exhibits on emerging energy technologies. They also attended the Executive Conference, which convened 140 speakers, witnessed the signing of 14 MOUs, and celebrated the launch of 11 new energy solutions, further reinforcing regional commitments to innovation, investment, and policy synergy.
Organized by Petronas, Energy Asia is a regional platform for shaping dialogue and partnerships on championing Asia’s role in the global energy transition. With the theme “Delivering Asia’s Energy Transition,” this year’s conference underscored the urgent need for unified and cross-sector efforts to drive equitable and lasting change in the region’s energy landscape. The next edition of the conference is set for June 2027.
