Global Energy Monitor (GEM) has announced the appointment of Justin Locke as its new Executive Director, succeeding founder Ted Nace, who is retiring after leading the organization for seventeen years. Justin Locke is an internationally recognized expert in energy and climate policy, with his work cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and featured in notable media outlets such as Reuters, The Hill, Forbes, and CBS’ 60 Minutes.
With over two decades of experience in global climate leadership and nonprofit management, Locke brings deep expertise in organizational expansion, strategic international development, and fundraising. He most recently served as Managing Director of the Global South Program at RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute). During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling RMI’s initiatives in the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and other regions.
He also led the development of programs focused on workforce development and climate finance access. Under his leadership, the Global South Program grew significantly in size and scope, supported by new revenue streams created through multilateral and bilateral partnership strategies. Locke is also known for championing impactful initiatives to accelerate clean energy adoption in low- and middle-income countries.
Following his appointment, Justin said, “In a complex and rapidly evolving world, GEM’s role as the gold standard for open-source, high-quality global energy infrastructure data is more vital than ever. By providing trusted, freely accessible information, GEM empowers informed decisions and meaningful discourse to shape the future of our energy systems. I am honored to lead GEM’s talented team at this pivotal moment and to work with our global network of funders, partners, and communities to advance our mission.”
GEM’s Board of Directors President Ashish Fernandes, stated, “We look forward to the leadership Justin will bring to GEM. His demonstrated success in expanding RMI’s global impact, diversifying funding, and forging strategic partnerships makes him the ideal leader for GEM’s next chapter. We’re also deeply grateful to Ted for nearly two decades of dedicated service. The organization is in a stable and secure place from which to begin the next chapter of its journey.”
Nace mentioned, “Working alongside GEM’s talented team and dedicated supporters has been the highlight of my career. I couldn’t be prouder of our staff, and I’m happy to welcome Justin Locke into this key role. With his background building and nurturing international teams and partnerships, Justin has the values and skills to take GEM to new heights. I’m thrilled by the depth of experience that he brings to the job.”
Under Ted Nace’s leadership, GEM became a prominent source of open-access data on global energy infrastructure. The organization’s wiki platform now contains documentation on more than 130,000 assets across the energy sector. GEM’s datasets span over two dozen areas of the energy value chain, including power generation, heavy industries, fossil fuel extraction, transportation, and energy ownership. Today, GEM’s information is widely used by governments, academic institutions, businesses, media, and NGOs around the world.
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