My innovation story began long before technology entered the picture , it began with a belief I carried since childhood. Growing up in Romania, equality felt like something natural. Women led, worked and shaped communities. It gave me a deep sense of possibility, the belief that we can build systems where everyone belongs.
Years later, working in the maritime industry, I came face to face with one of the biggest global challenges of our time: climate change. The shipping sector is responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and ports are critical nodes of pollution, especially impacting vulnerable communities. In many countries, particularly small island states, there are no affordable, practical pathways to decarbonise. These communities are often on the frontline of climate impacts and women and girls are disproportionately affected, struggling with limited access to basic resources like electricity, clean water and education.
This is why I co-founded Clean Marine Shipping (CMS). Together with partners, we are developing modular waste-to-hydrogen fuel cell systems designed specifically for ports and vessels. Our solution turns local waste streams into clean energy, reducing emissions while creating reliable, affordable and replicable pathways for maritime decarbonisation.
What makes this innovation different is its scalability and accessibility. A small island nation like Fiji can benefit just as much as a major European port. We are not only tackling emissions but creating opportunities for communities that are too often left behind in the energy transition. My goal is to help ensure these communities, and especially women and girls, gain access to electricity, clean water and education, empowering them to lead sustainable change in their own environments.
My role has been to lead this vision — building partnerships with ports, research institutions, governments and industry to bring this technology to life. But more than that, I’ve worked to ensure that women and underrepresented voices are part of this change, not just observers of it.
This innovation is not just about technology, it’s about hope, justice and shared responsibility. It’s about building the kind of future I believed in as a child, one where everyone has a voice and where innovation truly serves people and the planet.