Raheela Rehman (Research Centre Manager)

Raheela Rehman is the Research Centre Manager at the Cambridge Global Challenges Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CGC IRC), and Project Officer at the Energy Interdisciplinary Research Centre (Energy IRC) Project Officer, both at the University of Cambridge.

Prior to joining the CGC and Energy IRCs, she focussed in the energy sector and optics. She held various engineering positions including Research Associate at Schlumberger, New Applications Engineer at Heraeus and as an Engineer in an optics start-up (IPO’d). Raheela has worked at Cambridge-Africa, University of Cambridge, where she helped to expand the initiative, as well as provide analysis for the Carnegie Corporation sub-Saharan Africa /University research and relationship investments.

At the CGC IRC, Raheela manages the research strategy, funding initiatives with research and international collaborations bringing together various research stakeholders (including government, NGOs and civil society). The CGC IRC addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). It seeks to promote collaboration between the Global South and Global North in order to drive southern-led agendas. The Energy IRC facilitates multidisciplinary energy research across the University. It brings together research expertise to tackle the grand challenges for a global transition to a zero-carbon future.

Raheela is driven by global equity in energy and sustainable development, originating from her engineering experience – using data analytics and critical thinking to inform research commercialisation and fund raising. She is a strong advocate for equity in the Global South and for within STEMM sectors, and passionate about widening participation for under-represented groups. She sits on a number of equality panels which includes the Henry Royce Institute and Chaired the Cambridge Women in Science and Engineering.