Dipti Vaghela
Dipti is the Co-Founder and Network Manager of the Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET), a South-South, multi-stakeholder knowledge exchange platform hosted by Skat Foundation. HPNET enables local practitioners to strengthen policy, finance, technology, and socio-environmental aspects of small-scale hydropower.
She has dedicated her career of over 20 years to advancing decentralised renewable energy solutions for rural electrification in the Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. She is committed to uplifting marginalised communities, promoting ecological restoration, and enhancing rural livelihoods and women-owned enterprises through the implementation of inclusive and climate-resilient methods.
Her work includes developing community-led renewable energy solutions, focusing on hydro, biomass, and solar applications for rural electrification, by facilitating partnership between rural communities, civil society, local entrepreneurs, NGOs, government, financiers, and academia.
Dipti holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Environmental Studies. Before committing to technology for rural contexts, Dipti worked as a product designer in the Silicon Valley.
Key work areas: small-scale hydropower, renewable energies, partnership development, social entrepreneurship, network management.
Countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Languages: English, Gujarati, Hindi, Oriya.
Nationality: United States of America.