WINNER | Haamid Adam
HAAMID AIMS TO POWER UP CAREER WITH MBA
A Chartered Engineer who has played a leading role in the deployment of some of the first offshore windfarms in East Asia is ready to take his career to the next level.
Haamid Adam, 30, studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham before taking up roles with Siemens Gamesa.
Now, after being awarded a Sainsbury Management Fellows scholarship to study for an MBA at MIT, he is ready to build on his technical know-how with more rounded business skills as he continues his mission to decarbonise and power the planet.
Haamid played a leading role in the roll-out of the first commercial scale offshore windfarms in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. He is particularly passionate about advancing the next generation of energy solutions.
He said: “I’ve worked in some very challenging marine environments with great people, pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable. We’ve reset the standards for the more mature offshore wind markets around the world.
“As a child, I loved taking toys apart and putting them back together. This early fascination with how things worked hinted at my future path in engineering.
“I am tech orientated. I love to understand how things work, and why they work in a certain way – systems, products, processes.
“Offshore wind has been important for bringing renewable energy forward. But it might not be the ‘holy grail’ for the next phase of development. Looking ahead, we must bring more nuclear energy into our energy mix if we are to meet our low-carbon targets globally.
"In the longer term, nuclear will enable the deployment of next-generation technologies and services, supporting the expansion of advanced manufacturing, including AI-driven innovations.
“With current technology, we are approaching the practical limits of efficiency for conventional wind turbines. There are still opportunities to innovate by commercialising floating technologies and deploying turbines in new areas, such as the deep sea. But nuclear energy holds a unique potential to elevate civilization to a higher standard of living by providing a stable, clean and high-capacity energy source that can support these advancements.
“We have developed entrenched views around certain types of energy and have been short-sighted in our energy policies, which has led us to the current challenges. The scale of renewable energy development today simply cannot meet the needs of tomorrow.”
Haamid will study for his MBA at MIT in the United States, aiming to enhance his leadership skills to manage multi-disciplinary teams tackling the world’s biggest problems – energy and the climate.
Reflecting on the experiences that have shaped him, Haamid shared: “Trekking across Southeast Asian rainforests and exploring reef systems deepened my understanding of the disparate effects of climate change and the role of energy in addressing them.
He added: “The quickest way to reduce human suffering is to help people access electricity as quickly and cheaply as possible.
“The issues in these regions differ from those in more energy-secure and economically advanced areas, but my passion lies in solving problems across challenging contexts. In both my career and hobbies, I recognise the long-term benefits of tackling the difficult and that philosophy drives my approach to addressing the issues of energy and climate change.
“I want to deepen my core business skills, including understanding global business practices, financial management, and strategic decision-making which will be crucial for navigating the complexities of the renewable energy market and securing funding for next-gen projects.”
Find out more about the Sainsbury Management Fellows’ Scholarship.