Anna Schneider
President
Anna Schneider is a second-year Master of Public Administration (MPA) student in Climate, Energy, and Environment. Originally from France, she started her career in the private sector, working two years in finance and three years in consulting at McKinsey & Company, advising on growth strategy and private equity in the tech and energy sectors. She joined SIPA to explore how to finance and deploy capital to accelerate the energy transition, gaining hands-on experience through the CEE Practicum and as President of Columbia Energy Association. Over the summer, she interned with IFC (World Bank Group), evaluating renewable energy investments across Africa and supporting Mission 300. In her free time, she loves mountain hiking, biking, climbing and discovering hidden gem restaurants in New York!
Beniamin Strzelecki
Vice-President
Beniamin Strzelecki is a second-year Master of Public Administration (MPA) student at Columbia SIPA with experience in management consulting and energy policy. He has worked with the United Nations, IRENA and the Global Renewables Alliance, among others. Beniamin is pursuing his master's at Columbia SIPA with focus on energy transition finance. By building on his experience at AFRY Management Consulting in advising investors, developers and asset managers, he hopes to pursue a career that helps to bridge the investment gap in clean energy technologies in developing markets. Beniamin has been active in the youth climate movement since 2018 and he is serving as Youth Climate Advisor to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He is also an avid long-distance runner and scuba diver.
Jack Arnold
Treasurer
Jack Arnold is a Global Energy Fellow at SIPA, where he specializes in Climate, Energy, and Environment while concentrating in Data Analytics and Quantitative Analysis in the MPA program. Jack earned a B.A. in Economics from Pomona College before spending three years as a researcher at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, where he focused on energy transition and climate-related research, including critical minerals, circular economy practices, and net-zero pledges. At SIPA, he aims to strengthen his quantitative skills and knowledge of policy, finance, and economics to help catalyze a more equitable and sustainable future. In his free time, Jack enjoys exploring the outdoors through bikepacking, playing soccer and squash, and reading historical fiction.
Tulika Gupta
Director of Symposium
Muriel Jacques
Director of Women in Energy
Muriel Jacques is a second-year Master of Public Administration (MPA) student at SIPA, with a concentration in Climate, Energy, and Environment. Originally from Martinique, she is interested in fostering public and private collaboration for energy transition, especially in Caribbean Island Nations. Prior to SIPA, she leveraged her engineering and business background as a McKinsey & Company strategy consultant where she worked on strategy, transformation, and decarbonization projects in the energy and heavy industries sectors. At SIPA, she aims to further learn how public and private sectors can collaborate to address climate change. Muriel holds a Master's in Industrial Engineering from INSA Lyon, France and KAIST, South Korea. She also has a Master in Management from INSEAD, France & Singapore. Muriel's international experiences have fueled her love for discovering new cultures, cuisines, and music. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, surfing, cooking, dancing, and exploring random fun facts.
Siyun Lee
Director of Socials
Siyun Lee, originally from the Republic of Korea, is a second-year student at SIPA, pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA) with a concentration on Climate, Energy, and Environment. Prior to joining SIPA, Siyun served as Deputy Director at Korea's Ministry of Environment, where she played a key role in advancing green transition policies, including revising the K-taxonomy and supporting green bond projects. She also led international cooperation efforts, facilitating communication with organizations such as UNEP and OECD, and shaping FTA chapters on environment and sustainable development. While at SIPA, Siyun aims to deepen her knowledge of sustainable finance, innovative decarbonization strategies, and how geopolitics can impact energy transition pathways. In her free time, Siyun enjoys trying out new cooking recipes and exploring and trekking in national parks.
Xueru (Coco) Zhao
Director of Events
Xueru Zhao is a second-year Master of Public Administration (MPA) student at Columbia SIPA, concentrating in Climate, Energy, and Environment. Originally from China, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. Prior to SIPA, Xueru worked in consulting and the tech industry, gaining experience in internet product design, operations, and leading a social impact project focused on addressing aging-related challenges in China. At SIPA, her interests lie at the intersection of energy policy and sustainable finance, with a passion for leveraging public-private partnerships and market-based solutions to drive energy transition and promote equitable development in emerging markets. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Xueru enjoys traveling, scuba diving, Afro dance, photography, bouldering, and exploring new hiking trails.
Dan Helmeci
Co-Director of Treks
Dan Helmeci is a first-year Master of International Affairs (MIA) candidate at Columbia SIPA concentrating in Climate, Energy, and the Environment. Prior to attending SIPA, he was a Junior Fellow in the Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he contributed to the U.S. Foreign Policy for Clean Energy Taskforce in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab. He previously worked at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, where he received his undergraduate degree in Political Science and History. At SIPA, he hopes to refine his focus on climate finance strategies in developing markets to expand access to emerging clean energy and industrial technologies. Dan is a steadfast supporter of Pittsburgh’s failing sports franchises and proud AMC A-lister.
Supriya Gokarn
Co-Director of Treks
Supriya Gokarn is a first-year Master of International Affairs (MIA) student at SIPA, with a focus on Climate, Energy and Environment. She comes to SIPA after a 17-year career in tech, where she specialized in developing the first-generation of innovative hardware-software products at companies like Google and Cruise (General Motors). In her most recent role, she led Product Management for Cruise's autonomous vehicle program, in partnership with General Motors and Honda. Pivoting from consumer tech to energy, Supriya is now getting her second Master's degree. She hopes to use her education and experience to explore how innovative technology and climate finance can help tackle persistent issues in the global energy transition. A proud Californian, she spends her free time hiking, trail running, cooking or planning her next outdoor adventure.
Charlotte Ho
Director of Alumni
Charlotte Ho is originally from Singapore and is currently pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA), concentrating in Energy and Environment, with specializations in DAQA and TMAC. She is passionate about the intersection of sustainability and technology, particularly how renewable energy and emerging technologies can drive climate solutions. Prior to SIPA, Charlotte earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from the National University of Singapore, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Nanyang Technological University. She worked as a curriculum developer and educator with the Singapore Ministry of Education, where she focused on integrating technology and data-driven solutions to enhance educational outcomes. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys film photography and taking walks.
Baptiste Saez
Director of Communications
Baptiste Saez is a second-year Master of Public Administration (MPA) student at SIPA, concentrating in Climate, Energy, and Environment. Originally from France, but having grown up in China and California, he is interested in the intersection of energy security and a more circular economy. Baptiste holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics from Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University. Prior to SIPA, he contributed to research on the social cost of greenhouse gases at the U.S. EPA and Columbia. This semester he is working at the OECD on advancing the circularity of plastics and critical raw materials. In his free time, Baptiste enjoys cooking, exploring New York through its architecture, and strolling along the Hudson.
