From Knowledge to Impact: Building Capacity for Sustainable Energy Capacity trough GRÓ

Open Event: From Knowledge to Development Impact – Building Capacity for Sustainable Energy Development through GRÓ

Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 12:00–13:15
Venue: Ceremonial Hall, University of Iceland

Hosted by the GRÓ Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change, the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland.

Join us for the first event in a new series highlighting Iceland’s contribution to global capacity building through the four GRÓ Training Programmes, a cornerstone of Iceland’s international development cooperation.

This inaugural session focuses on the Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP)—established in 1978 to strengthen geothermal exploration and development in countries with geothermal potential.

Key questions:

• How does geothermal training translate into sustainable energy development in partner countries?

• How do alumni apply their expertise to lead change and innovation at home?

Come and hear directly from GRÓ fellows as they share their experiences and insights on how capacity strengthening can drive global development progress.

Programme

12:00 – Welcoming words
Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Rector, University of Iceland

12:05 – Opening address
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

12:15 – Keynote address
Peter Maina, PhD fellow, Kenya

12:30 – Fellow Snapshots: Experiences and Impact of the Geothermal Training Programme

12:40 – Panel Discussion
Nursanty Elisabeth Banjarnahor (PhD fellow, Indonesia)
Álvaro Josué Campos Ramos (MSc fellow, El Salvador)
Daryl Eastman James (Six-Month fellow, Dominica)
Moderator: Bjarni Richter, Director, GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme

13:10 – Closing remarks
Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director General, GRÓ Centre

Light coffee refreshments will be served.

The event is open to all, but registration is kindly requested via the following link:
👉 Register here