Hadia is a Manager at RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute), leading projects and initiatives to derisk the deployment of first-of-a-kind and commercial-scale decarbonization projects, with a focus on the highest-emitting sectors (aluminum, ammonia, cement & concrete, steel, shipping, waste-methane) and the deployment of clean hydrogen and carbon removal technologies. She leads sector-specific capacity-building workshops and consultations for key decisionmakers – developers, federal, state and local policymakers, regulators, investors, and host communities – to advance local and regional priorities for workforce development, resilience, and sustainable economic growth. Through innovative thought leadership and high-impact collaborations with the public and private sectors, think tanks, national labs, NGOs, and academic institutions, Hadia is driving efforts to replicate and scale universal best practices to accelerate the energy transition in the U.S. and globally.
Background
Hadia has cross-sectoral experience as a scholar-practitioner in the intersectional fields of energy, policy, adaptation and mitigation, and sustainability. Previously, Hadia served as the program manager of the Carbon Management Research Initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy, at Columbia University’s Climate School. She managed the Initiative’s efforts to catalyze whole systems change through data-driven research, partnerships, and engagements with local, state, and federal policymakers in the U.S. and with energy ministries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. Hadia has served as a Fellow in the Women inPower, UN SDSN Local Pathways, Net Impact, and National Wildlife Federation’s and American University’s Carbon Removal fellowship programs.
She has been invited to serve as an expert panelist and moderator at national and international conferences, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), U.S. Department of State, New York Climate Week, Intersolar North America, World Hydrogen North America, World Electrolysis North America, Global Youth Climate Summit, the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA), UN Environmental Program’s (UNEP) Youth Assembly, and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and World Bank Group’s summits among others.
Hadia has been internationally recognized for research and contributions to expand energy access and security, adaptation and mitigation, sustainability, and resilience in disaster-prone regions. She is the first global winner of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Kingdom of Bahrain’s “King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” and recognized as one of 50 global “Rising Stars in ESG,” by The Financial Times. Hadia was selected as one of 60 inaugural “Global Champions for Women’s Economic Empowerment” by UN Women’s EmpowerWomen initiative and invited to the inaugural United State of Women (USOW) Summit by the White House Council on Women and Girls as a “Nominated Changemaker.” Most recently, she was recognized as a “Rising Star,” by Hydrogen Economist’s 2024 “Women in Hydrogen 50” list and named to Reuters Events’ “Trailblazing Women 2025” list.
Education
MSc, Sustainability Management and Conflict Resolution, Columbia University
BA, Government and Politics, St. John’s University
