Upcell’s Advisory Board
supports our mission to strengthen battery manufacturing capabilities across global regions and drive innovation across the value chain by informing strategy, strengthening the network, and supporting key initiatives.
Jamal Saghir
Chair of the Board
Prof. Jamal Saghir is an economist and expert in energy, water, transport, infrastructure, climate change and economic development, with over 25 years at the World Bank, Washington D.C. He is currently a Professor of Practice at McGill University’s Institute for the Study of International Development, Canada. He is also Senior Fellow at the Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines; Senior Advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Center on Adaptation, The Netherlands and Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Climate/SDGs Debt Swap Mechanism at UN-ESCWA. He serves on multiple advisory boards and is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.
At the World Bank (1990–2016), he held senior roles, including Director of Sustainable Development for Africa overseeing a $25 billion portfolio across agriculture, energy, and climate change. He also chaired the World Bank’s Boards for Energy, Transport, and Water. Previously, he advised the Tunisian Prime Ministry and Quebec’s Ministry of Finance. He was appointed by the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon as a core member of the UN Energy and Climate Change Advisory Group and the Global Energy Assessment.
He holds degrees in economics from Laval University and has attended executive programs at Harvard, Cambridge, and IMD. He has contributed to over 75 publications, essays, and books.
“Upcell Alliance is an important player for supporting and speeding up the growth of the battery manufacturing industry which is now at its critical juncture. The Advisory Board will provide strategic advice and critical thinking; advance ideas or innovations that haven’t yet had the opportunity to surface; and support Upcell’s goals and growth.“
Gwenaelle Avice Huet
Executive Vice President
Gwenaelle Avice Huet is the Executive Vice President of Europe Operations at Schneider Electric. In this capacity, she oversees the company’s business portfolio across Europe, contributing to the EU’s green and digital transformation agenda. Prior to this, Gwenaelle served as Schneider Electric’s Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, joining the company in 2021 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy. Before her tenure at Schneider Electric, she held various leadership roles at ENGIE, including CEO of ENGIE North America and head of the Global Renewable Business Line.
Her career began in scientific research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the French Atomic Energy Commission, followed by a consultancy role at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. She also served in the French Prime Minister’s office, focusing on energy. Gwenaelle holds degrees in Physics and Chemistry from the Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, a postgraduate diploma in Molecular Chemistry from Ecole Polytechnique, and an engineering degree from the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées. She has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and serves on the Board of Air France-KLM since May 2021.
“Europe’s success in the battery sector depends on our ability to collaborate across borders and industries. Batteries play a vital role in enabling distributed generation and scaling the energy transition. As we build a more resilient and sustainable energy system, flexibility becomes essential – and storage is a key enabler. That’s exactly what Upcell is here to help deliver.”
Gareth Hagan
CEO of OCO Global
Gareth Hagan is the CEO of OCO Global, a leading provider of trade and investment services headquartered in the United Kingdom, with offices across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. In this role, he manages the firm’s global consulting business and oversees significant client relationships. Throughout his tenure at OCO Global, Gareth has held various leadership positions since June 2016. He also serves as a Director for the British Centres for Business Overseas Limited since March 2017 and founded GPH Tech Limited in December 2023.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Gareth contributes thought leadership on international trade and investment topics. He has authored articles discussing the importance of US-UK collaboration on climate goals, emphasizing the potential benefits of aligning green initiatives between the two nations.
“If one industry characterizes the world’s economy in 2025, it has to be the battery sector. It stands for innovation and technological advancement; it is a key enabler of sustainability; and it is truly global. I look forward to bringing OCO Global’s expertise and connectivity across the world’s most forward-thinking and dynamic economies to contribute to Upcell’s future success.”
Emmanuel Trélat
Director of the Jacques-Louis Lions Laboratory
Prof. Emmanuel Trélat is a French mathematician specializing in control theory. He is the Director of the Jacques-Louis Lions Laboratory at Sorbonne University. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure de Cachan and defended his PhD thesis in optimal control in 2000. He started as an assistant professor at Paris-Sud University and later became a professor at University of Orléans in 2006. Since 2011, he has been a professor at Sorbonne University.
His research covers control theory, sub-Riemannian geometry, image analysis, shape optimization, with applications to aerospace. He has worked a lot with ArianeGroup and is the inventor of the software used today by the company to optimally guide Ariane launchers into orbit. He has received multiple prizes and awards, including the Felix Klein Prize (2012). In 2024, he was elected a member of Academia Europaea.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Gareth contributes thought leadership on international trade and investment topics. He has authored articles discussing the importance of US-UK collaboration on climate goals, emphasizing the potential benefits of aligning green initiatives between the two nations.
“As a mathematician, I am pleased to join Upcell’s Advisory Board. Mathematics contributes essential tools for modeling, optimization, and systems analysis – key components in tackling the complex scientific and technological challenges of the sector. I look forward to supporting Upcell’s mission by contributing to its strategy and helping shape a more resilient and sustainable energy future.”
