Some people may be wondering what trust has to do with transitioning energy systems. How does the lack of trust affect our ability to transform our increasingly complex man-made systems?
Trust is the foundational element in society, the basis upon which such systems constantly progress through transformational change. To transition complex human systems requires trust at all levels. However, recent findings show that never before has there been such a lack of trust across societies, worldwide. Why are people less trusting of governments, businesses, media, our neighbors, our friends, even ourselves?
The growing trust deficit is impeding our ability to address the myriad simultaneous global challenges related to climate change, inequality, food, energy, economy, water insecurity, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical dysfunction, polarization in societies etc.
How can we rebuild trust and achieve the surplus needed to catalyze actions for systemic change?
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Lawrence Jones, award-winning global energy thought leader, practitioner and co-author of a new report How to Rebuild Trust: Question Storming to Create a Platform for Thinking Differently and Taking New Action.
Dr. Jones will provide insight into the importance of addressing the issue of distrust worldwide in order to transition energy systems and increase our chance to achieve a more collaborative, equitable world. He will also illustrate through audience interaction how question-storming may help to solve the so-called wicked problems we face today and in the future.
Program:
- Talk by Lawrence E. Jones, Ph.D, Vice President, International Programs, Edison Electric Institute
- Comment by Professor Karen O?Brien, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo
- Open discussion with the audience
Moderator: Vebj?rn Bakken, Director of UiO:Energy
About the lecturer
Dr. Lawrence E. Jones is an award-winning thought leader, practitioner, author, keynote speaker, and patentholder with more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry. He is passionate about polymathic questioning to catalyze change, and advocates using system approaches to solutions to transition energy, water and other complex systems and solve global challenges. He joined the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in September 2015 as Vice President for International Programs. Under his leadership, EEI has today more than 65 electric companies with operations in 90 countries, providing electricity to more than 3 billion people. He has spearheaded several new strategic initiatives at EEI including the Global Electricity Forum (GEF), Thomas Edison Nikola Tesla Impactful Leadership (TENTIL) Dialogue, and Africa Utility Power Sector Exchange (AUPSE). He is host of EEI's Global Circuit Podcast and Influential Minds: An EEI International Conversation Series. Prior to joining EEI, Dr. Jones was North America Vice President for Utility Innovation and Infrastructure Resilience at Alstom Grid Inc., where he advised electric companies worldwide on strategies for deploying technologies and innovative business solutions, was a consultant for ABB Power Systems in Vasteras, Sweden, and a visiting researcher at Electricite de France in Clamart, France.
Dr. Jones is affiliated with, and serves on the boards or advisory councils several organizations. He member of the Global Board of the World Resources Institute; Honorary Industry Fellow at Monash Energy Institute, Monash University (Australia); a Senior Associate (non-Resident) with the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic International Studies; Senior Fellow at Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy; and Co-Chair of the Global Pillar of the Dentons Smart Cities & Connected Communities Initiative and Think Tank. He is also co-founder of the Center for Sustainable Development in Africa.
Dr. Jones has received numerous awards for leadership and contributions in clean energy, universal access to energy, and integration of renewables including: 2021 Leaders in Energy Award in the GEN X category; 2017 Global Excellence Award in Renewable Energy from the Energy and Environment Foundation of India; Renewable Energy World Network 2012 Excellence in Renewable Award for Leadership in Technology; and the Utility Variable Generation Integration Group 2012 Achievement Award. In January 2020, Dr. Jones was named one of the most influential persons in Africa's Power and Energy Sector by Africa Power and Energy Elites 2020.
Born in Liberia, he received his MSc, Licentiate, and PhD in electrical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. He lives in McLean VA, USA with his wife and three children.