MARCOS PELENUR
Marcos Pelenur
Wellington, New Zealand
marcos at mpelenur.org
I'm currently the Head of Sustainability and Decarbonization at the Behavioural Insights Team, Americas. My main responsibility is to develop and implement BIT Americas' sustainability and decarbonization strategy. The Behavioural Insights Team generate and apply behavioural insights to inform policy, improve public services and deliver results for citizens and society.
Previously, I was the Group Manager, Strategy, Insights and Regulations at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The group was responsible for setting EECA's strategic direction, working with the Board, Minister and across Government to deliver strong, evidence-based programme design, and the implementation of energy efficiency standards and regulations.
Prior to joining EECA, I worked across a range of senior policy leadership positions at the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE), and headed the Behavioural Insights Team's work on energy and sustainability in the UK. I guest lectured on Behavioural Economics at the University of Victoria and taught "Introduction to Behavioural Economics for Policy" as part of the Government Economics Network (GEN).
When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring the great outdoors. Particularly: camping; skiing; and diving.
The Behavioural Insights Team
Head of Sustainability & Decarbonization
2022 - Present, Ottawa Canada
Lead and manage the sustainability and decarboniation portfolio for the Behavioural Insights Team, Americas.
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority
Group Manager, Strategy, Insights & Regulations
2019 - 2021, New Zealand
Responsible for setting EECA's strategic direction, delivering evidence-based programmes and implementing energy efficiency regulations.
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, NZ Government
Policy Manager, Science Policy Team
2018 - 2019, New Zealand
Manage the team responsible for the development of science policy and stewardship of the science system.
Policy Manager, Resource Markets Policy Team
2017 - 2018, New Zealand
Manage the team responsible for the development of upstream natural resource policy.
Principal Policy Advisor, Energy Markets Policy Team
2015 - 2017, New Zealand
Responsible for the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy policy.
The Behavioural Insights Team
Principal Advisor, Head of Energy & Sustainability
2013 - 2015, London UK
Led and managed the energy and sustainability portfolio for the Behavioural Insights Team.
Cabinet Office, HM Government
Policy Advisor & Research Fellow
2012 - 2013, London UK
Supported the team in the design and implementation of new energy policy trials, as well as the strengthening and evaluation of existing trials across a wide range of policy areas.
Landis +Gyr Ltd.
Project & Services Manager
2006 - 2009, New Zealand
Responsible for the Project and Services division, and for the successful completion of multi-year utility energy management projects.
Project & Services Engineer
2005 - 2006, New Zealand
Assisted in the design of smart meter and demand side energy management solutions.
Gennum Corp.
Engineering Intern
2003 - 2004, Canada
Worked within the analog high-speed circuit design group on a 16 month internship
Procter & Gamble Inc.
Engineering Intern
2002, Canada
Utility engineer for a large manufacturing plant
University of Cambridge
PhD Engineering
2010 - 2013, Cambridge UK
Department of Engineering, researched energy management retrofit systems, behaviour change, and occupant well-being in the urban built environment.
Thesis: 'Retrofitting the domestic built environment: investigating household perspectives towards energy efficiency technologies and behaviour'
University of Cambridge
MPhil Engineering
2009 - 2010, Cambridge UK
Taught/research Masters Degree in Engineering for Sustainable Development, with an emphasis on sustainable energy management and technology policy.
Thesis: 'A study of energy management and its effect on well-being: can we thrive by using less energy?'
Queen's University
BSc Electrical Engineering
2000 - 2005, Canada
Bachelor of Science and Engineering with Professional Internship (1 year), Honours 1st Class, Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
Final year project successfully demonstrated a functional wireless power transmission system (operating at 5.8 GHz, 3 VDC) by remotely supplying power to a portable radio.
Pelenur, M. 2018. Household energy use: a study investigating viewpoints towards energy efficiency technologies and behaviour, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-018-9624-x.
Pelenur, M., Cruickshank, H. 2014. Motivations to adopting energy efficiency measures in the home Proceedings of the ICE - Energy, http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/ener.14.00013.
Pelenur, M., Cruickshank, H. 2013. Investigating the link between well-being and energy use; an explorative case study between passive and active domestic energy management systems Building and Environment, 65, pp. 26-34.
Pelenur, M., Cruickshank, H. 2012. Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap: A study linking demographics with barriers to adopting energy efficiency measures in the home. Energy, 47(1), pp.348–357.
Pelenur, M., Cruickshank, H. 2012, 'The social barriers towards adopting energy efficiency measures and behaviours in the home: a Manchester and Cardiff case study', Proceedings of the Retrofit 2012 conference, Salford Quays, UK, 24-26 January 2012, University of Salford
Pelenur, M., Cruickshank, H. 2011, 'The subjective view of energy in the urban built environment: what are the social factors that affect our interaction with energy?', Proceedings of the 6th UNESCO Dubrovnik conference on sustainable development of energy, water, and environment systems (SDEWES), Dubrovnik, Croatia, 25-29 September 2011, University of Dubrovnik, SDEWES11-0078
Pelenur, M., Cruickshank, H. 2011, 'Applying the Technology Acceptance Model to domestic energy: will we accept passive or active energy management systems in our home?', Proceedings of the annual international conference on sustainable systems and the environment (ISSE), Sharjah, UAE, 23-24 March 2011, American University of Sharjah
Pelenur, M. 2008, 'Ripple plant damage due to earth faults: two case studies', Conference paper, APEX Northern Summit, New Zealand
Pelenur, M. 2007, 'Keeping the lights On – an active approach for energy sustainability', World Energy Council Congress Youth Paper, Rome
2010 - 13 - Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar
2010 - 13 - EPSRC Studentship
2011 - Dow Sustainability Innovation Challenge Award
2011 - 'Leader of Tomorrow' at 41st St Gallen Symposium
2002 - 04 - Dean's Scholar
2002 - 04 - Nortel Upper Year Engineering Award
2002 - Victor Gok Leung Lee Memorial Award
2001 - Adam Walgren Award
KAASO Primary School
Volunteer & Webmaster
2012 - Now, Uganda
I'm the current Webmaster for KAASO - an Ugandan primary school associated with KIDS Worldwide.
Engineers Without Borders (UK)
Regional Placement Coordinator
2010 - 2014, UK
I was responsible for managing the relationship with all of EWB's partners in the Americas and selecting the Placement Managers who eventually supported the EWB volunteers in the field.
Education Outreach
STEM Ambassador
2010 - 2014, UK
Volunteered as an outreach officer for the University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, and as a national STEM Ambassador (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Research Socities
GreenBRIDGE General-Secretary
2010 - 2013, UK
Secretary of the GreenBRIDGE Research Society, an interdisciplinary group of graduate researchers at the University of Cambridge interested in the sustainability of the built environment.
Cambridge Environmental Consulting Society
2009 - 2013, UK
Member of the Cambridge Environmental Consulting Society, which worked with University Colleges to compile a University wide Green League table.
My thoughts and observations on interesting projects, current events, and items of interest.
Connect for network-building, collaboration, and professional discussions.
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