About Ara

Ara Garcia-Dandan serves as Philippine Country Manager for the Global Wind Energy Council. A lawyer, policy advocate, and sustainability professional, she brings more than 12 years of experience working at the intersection of government, regulation, and the private sector, with expertise spanning energy infrastructure, environmental governance, public policy, and emerging technology regulation.

 

 

Throughout her career, Ara has worked extensively with Philippine government agencies, regulators, and industry stakeholders to navigate complex legal and regulatory issues and advance practical policy solutions. During her time at the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), she managed the regulatory, contractual, and government affairs interface for major energy and infrastructure projects, engaging regularly with the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, local government units, and other key institutions. She represented the utility in regulatory proceedings, public consultations, technical working groups, and interagency coordination initiatives, building a deep understanding of the policy and regulatory processes that shape energy sector development in the Philippines.

 

 

Prior to joining the private sector, Ara spent six years at the Office of the Solicitor General, representing the Philippine government before domestic courts and international arbitral tribunals. This experience provided her with unique insight into government decision-making processes and strengthened her expertise in policy analysis, legal advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.

 

 

Ara holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environmental Law with Honours from the University of Auckland, where her research focused on Philippine climate governance, including the country's Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and climate adaptation frameworks. She has also taught Environmental Law at the Far Eastern University Institute of Law and has been recognized for her research and analytical writing on environmental governance and sustainability issues.

 

 

Most recently, Ara served as Senior Legal Counsel for Asia Pacific at SAP, advising on artificial intelligence governance, data privacy, and regulatory developments across Southeast Asia. Her diverse experience across government, energy, sustainability, and technology policy positions her uniquely to support the Philippines' offshore wind ambitions and the broader clean energy transition through effective stakeholder engagement, regulatory advocacy, and evidence-based policy development.