Prof. Aoife M. Foley

Professor Aoife M. Foley is Chair in Net Zero Infrastructure at The University of Manchester’s School of Engineering, bringing over 15 years of academic expertise in energy and sustainability and nearly 15 years of global engineering experience across energy, pharma, telecoms, and local government. Previously a Professor in Sustainable Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, she has developed interdisciplinary research addressing energy and climate challenges, published in prestigious journals like Nature Energy, Applied Energy, and Renewable Energy.

Her academic credentials span multiple engineering fields, holding a PhD in Energy Engineering from University College Cork, complemented by degrees in Transportation (Trinity College Dublin) and Environmental Engineering (UCC). Professor Foley’s research consistently places her among the Top 2% of global scientists according to Stanford and Elsevier rankings. Her influence extends through keynote presentations worldwide and awards, including the 2019 Bill Curtain and Jose Maria Sarriegi Awards.

Professor Foley also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, a leading journal in sustainable energy, and held an affiliate position with MIT. She actively contributes to the global engineering community through various advisory roles, cementing her reputation as a leading voice in sustainable engineering and net-zero infrastructure.