Zachary Egan ’22

As he approached graduation, Egan yet again expanded his interests into the global geopolitics, trade and economics thanks to a course he took with Professor Peter Haegel, Global Political Economy. This, combined with an alumni mentorship at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), helped him secure an internship at the IEA, during the Fall semester of his senior year. The internship soon turned into a full-time position in the Communications Division where he continues to make a name for himself.

Egan joined the organization in 2021, and by 2022, he found himself working at the Agency during a pivotal, and fascinating, moment in history due to the European energy crisis, post-COVID response and other conflicts causing energy market tensions. Working at the IEA has taught him a great deal about the intricate world of energy policy. As he progresses in his career, his understanding of bigger picture has given rise to a sincere desire to make a difference in the field, with a particular focus on access to reliable and affordable energy. “Energy affects every aspect of your life,” he says. “Energy touches everything.”

As he continues to gain professional experience, Egan has also begun a part-time master’s program in Energy Policy at the University of Sussex. His goal is to transition into the role of a policy analyst in order to further research on sustainable and equitable energy solutions. He is also a member of the Secretariat of the European Youth Energy Network, an EU-based, youth led organization dedicated to integrating youth voices into the fair and sustainable energy transition in Europe.

Building on his expert understanding of energy policy today, Egan is now passing on his knowledge to others, in particular when it comes to issues such as the potential role of AI in energy, energy security and clean cooking. He has helped organize high-level events where global energy ministers and leaders convene and he has introduced several student-focused initiatives. At a recent event he organized, 70 students from across France came together to pitch their ideas and workshop them with the IEA expert audience.

Looking back on his own time as a student, Egan sees strong parallels between AUP and the IEA, both being highly international environments that foster cross-disciplinary discussions. “At AUP, there were people with so many different interests. The IEA is similar,” he says. “AUP was definitely the right place for me,”  he adds, pointing to his education as the foundation upon which he built a meaningful career.

Even after six years in Paris, he still enjoys walking through the streets, discovering new places and reflecting on his journey. Though, these days, he may also find himself thinking a bit more about the streetlights and how much energy they consume.