Date recorded: Thursday 25 June 2026
Length: 60 minutes + Q&A
This virtual panel discussion was held during SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026, the premier global forum for city leaders, innovators, and partners driving the future of urban climate action, resilience, and digital transformation.
As energy systems decentralise and electrify, cities are becoming active players in the transition.
This webinar explores how local authorities can shape local energy systems to support net zero, resilience and affordability, through renewables, flexibility, storage and smarter networks. It will look at the role of councils in enabling district heat, local generation, public-sector demand aggregation and partnerships with utilities and the private sector.
The discussion will also examine how data, forecasting and digital management tools can help cities balance supply and demand, reduce costs and support more resilient, low-carbon energy systems at a local and regional scale.
Key talking points:
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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Luke Antoniou 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. |

Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
(Please note this is an experimental service)
How can cities integrate building and transport electrification into local energy plans?How would local renewables, storage and flexibility be monetised for communities?How can councils use public assets and procurement to de-risk energy investment?How would data platforms and forecasting optimise local supply and demand balance?How can district heating and public demand aggregation enhance urban resilience?