In Conversation with 2021 ANU Young Alumnus of the Year, Afnan Hannan

Afnan Hannan (BEc, BEng '14) says his time at ANU taught him “there is no single ultimate truth or right answer, but there is always room for going forward, and every step forward is a step worth taking."
In this webinar, the 2021 ANU Young Alumnus of the Year winner shares his insights and experiences in applying deep tech to social impact, the future of commercial sustainability and engineering, and unconventional career paths.
Afnan is the co-founder and CEO of Okra Solar, a startup that provides energy to people in remote communities who are living off the main grid system. Now, more than 2,000 people across Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines have access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy sourced from Okra.
"I learned the work ethic and passion for solving problems at ANU, and now at Okra, I work with many of those lifelong friends who are ANU graduates too," says Hannan.
Professor Lachlan Blackhall (PhD ‘11), Entrepreneurial Fellow and Head, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at ANU will moderate this webinar.
This event is part of ANU Alumni Impact Makers, a series of webinars featuring high-impact alumni in discussions on improving the state of our communities and the world.
Biography
Photo: Left to Right: Afnan Hannan, Professor Lachlan Blackhall.
Speaker: Afnan Hannan (BEc, BEng '14)
Afnan is the co-founder and CEO of Okra Solar, a startup that provides energy to people in remote communities who are living off the main grid system. Now, more than 2,000 people across Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines have access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy sourced from Okra.
Moderator: Professor Lachlan Blackhall (PhD ‘11)
Professor Lachlan Blackhall is Entrepreneurial Fellow and Head of the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at The Australian National University. He was previously the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Reposit Power and has been involved in the research, entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment domains for over two decades. As a PhD student at ANU, he was the co-founder of the InnovationACT innovation and entrepreneurship program.