OnDemand Virtual Panel Discussion: Cities and the energy transition – from consumers to system leaders

Margot Roose

Former Deputy Mayor | Founder

City of Tallinn | Urban Exchange Alliance

Formerly, Margot Roose served as the Deputy Mayor for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Circularity in Tallinn, Estonia, leading the charge in making cities smarter and more sustainable. She’s the mastermind behind Test in Tallinn, a groundbreaking city-wide innovation testing playground that’s expanded to partner cities like Helsinki, Heidelberg, and Sherbrooke since 2025. The initiative has already enabled 28 projects from 18 countries, tackling challenges in mobility, energy, education, circularity, and health.

For Margot, creating sustainable cities is a necessity, not a choice. Sustainability touches every aspect of urban life, from environmental impact to social equity. By fostering innovation and scalable solutions, she’s ensuring Tallinn—and cities worldwide—are prepared for the future.

Yiu-Shing Pang

Open Data Manager

UK Power Networks

Yiu-Shing Pang manages the Open Data programme at UK Power Networks – the electricity distribution system operator for London and the south-east of England. He chairs the Energy Networks Association’s Open Data working group, driving best practice and standardisation across the energy sector. Previously, Yiu-Shing worked in UK Power Networks’ strategy and regulatory affairs, and prior to that, he trained as a patent attorney in London. Yiu-Shing holds a MSci in Physics from University College London, and a PGCert in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary University of London.

Matt Neal

Global Energy & Resources and Public Sector Lead

Endava

With 25 years of experience in the services sector, Matt is a proven leader in IT and consulting, particularly in the product, platform and digital space. His career began in law and commerce (LLB, ACA), before he moved into management consulting (EY) and then into major IT transformation at a sector, capability and global level with EY, IBM, Ciklum and Endava. 

Matt now leads Endava’s energy and resources business, supporting clients across industries such as mining, oil and gas, engineering, power and utilities. He is passionate about empowering clients to embrace new trends by modernising legacy technology, and harnessing the potential of emerging technology such as AI. 

Svetlana Tesic

Co-Founder

Alliance of European Mayors

Svetlana Tesic is Co-Founder of Mayors of Europe, where she works with mayors and senior city leaders across Europe to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of urban innovation.

With more than 20 years of experience building partnerships between governments, businesses, and public-sector leaders, she began her career in B2G business development within the telecommunications industry, working closely with governments, public authorities, and international organisations.

Today, her work focuses on connecting city leadership with innovation ecosystems, particularly in the application of emerging technologies. Through the AI & the City initiative, she explores how cities are deploying AI across mobility, energy, and public services, with an emphasis on trusted, practical, and citizen-focused implementation.

Luke Antoniou
Senior Editor

SmartCitiesWorld

Luke has been reporting on the implementation of smart technologies that benefit citizens and the public sector since 2017.

He has a particularly keen interest in smart and sustainable mobility and its role in influencing the decisions of urban planners, citizens and governments alike.

As rapid urbanisation continues, he keeps his finger on the pulse of the myriad urban challenges facing local and central governments, making new connections in the public and private sectors and finding new angles from which to cover the latest smart city developments around the world.