Bernard Birikorang

Bernard Birikorang serves as a Bekenstein Climate Leaders Program Intern at Clean Energy States Alliance, where he supports the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Acceleration Initiative. In this role, he contributes to research, policy analysis, and the development of accessible resources that help states and local governments design, finance, and scale distributed energy programs to improve grid reliability, affordability, and decarbonization outcomes.

Bernard is currently pursuing a joint Master of Public Policy at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and a Master of Environmental Management at the Yale School of the Environment. His academic interests center on climate policy, energy systems, and sustainable development, with a focus on equitable and scalable clean energy transitions.

Prior to Yale, Bernard held multiple roles across energy, entrepreneurship, and environmental management. He worked as an HSEQ Engineer and Project Manager at Thonal Engineering Services, where he oversaw health, safety, environmental, and project operations. He is also the Founder and CEO of EcoClimate Vision, a global climate-focused organization advancing climate education, policy engagement, and information accessibility across underserved communities. In addition, he is the Co-founder and COO of Econexus Ventures, where he is working on a bioethanol fuel project and a pineapple biorefinery aimed at sustainable resource utilization. He also served as a National Climate Fellow in Washington, DC, where he engaged in climate policy and leadership development initiatives.

Outside of work, Bernard enjoys figure skating, playing golf and pool, and spending quality time creating meaningful memories with friends and family.