Illuminating Impact Symposium
May 15, 2026 | Santa Barbara, CA
International Day of Light 2026 in Santa Barbara convenes leaders in clean energy, global health, and innovation to advance light and power worldwide.
Why Light & Power Matter
Light and reliable power are foundational to health, education, disaster response, economic mobility, and climate resilience. This Summit brings together influential leaders across sectors to explore what’s next in accelerating equitable access to energy worldwide.
Global
Health
Clean
Energy
Cross-Sector
Leadership
Partnering Organizations
Leaders across nonprofit, finance, technology, government, and business sectors.
Program Overview
Illuminating Impact will begin with a light breakfast & coffee hour, and close with a networking lunch.
9:00 AM
Welcome & Opening Keynote: The Next Lighting Revolution
Welcome
Megan Birney Rudert
Moderated Keynote
Steven P. DenBaars
Speaker Bio
Steven P. DenBaars is a pioneer in the field of compound semiconductors, whose work has fundamentally reshaped modern photonics and electronics. As a Distinguished Professor of Materials and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara, his research has been the catalyst for some of the most significant energy-saving technologies of the 21st century.
Speaker Bio
John Bowers is the former Director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency and a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials at UCSB. Inspired to increase light access around the world, he founded Unite to Light in 2010.
9:30 AM
Partner Highlight: UNFPA
9:40 AM
Power for Health & Gender Equity
Panelists
Sharon Allen
Co-founder and CEO of World Telehealth Initiative
Anna Coby
Manager at Schneider Electric
Henry Red Cloud
President of the Board of Red Cloud Renewables
Sara Rossi
Managing Director of the Health Resiliency Fund of Direct Relief
Moderator
Dr. Lily Bui
Director of Southern California Grantmakers
10:20 AM
Partner Highlight: Solar Sister
Olasimbo Sojinrin
CEO of Solar Sister
10:35 AM
Partner Highlight: WINKO Solar
Akonkwa Mubagwa
Founder and CEO of WINKO Solar
11:05 AM
Local Innovation to Global Impact
Panelists
Titus Brenninkmeijer
Founder of Solgenix
Dan Casey
CEO and Founder of Dragon Q Energy
Brent Dehlsen
Co-Founder & COO of Ecomerit, Aquantis, Clipper Wind
Catherine Von Berg
CEO and Co-Founder of SimpliPhi Power
Moderator
Tim Hade
Co-Founder at Scale Microgrids
11:45 AM
Partner Highlight: Safe Parking
Cassie Roach
Program Director at Safe Parking
12:00 AM
Partner Highlight: World Central Kitchen
Marco Fabian Sánchez
Director of Internal Communications at World Central Kitchen
12:15 PM
California's Clean Energy Playbook
Panelists
Bernadette Del Chiaro
California Senior Vice President of Environmental Working Group
David Hochschild
Chair of California Energy Commission
Alelia Parenteau
Sustainability & Resilience Director for the City of Santa Barbara
Christina Snider-Ashtari
Tribal Affairs Secretary for the Office of Gavin Newsom
Moderator
Sigrid Wright
CEO of the Community Environmental Council
12:55 PM
Closing Reflections
Thank You To Our Sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSOR
RECEPTION SPONSOR
PANEL SPONSORS
OFFICIAL SOLAR PARTNER
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
Raise a Glass to the Sun:
Symposium Reception
May 14th, 2026
An invitation-only sunset reception bringing together keynote speakers, sponsors, and community leaders for meaningful connection ahead of the symposium. Contact megan@unitetolight.org for tickets by clicking the button below.
About
Unite To Light
Unite to Light provides solar light and power to people living without reliable electricity,
supporting frontline health workers, students, and families in underserved communities worldwide.