Speaker Bio
Ryan Kilpatrick is Director of Strategic Communications and Advocacy at GOGLA, the global off-grid solar association. He has nearly 30 years of global communications experience, with a decade focused on advancing energy access, infrastructure, and policy. At GOGLA, he drives initiatives that elevate awareness, influence policy, and foster investment in sustainable energy access solutions across Africa and beyond.
Before joining GOGLA, Ryan served as Communications Director at Tetra Tech, leading strategic communications for donor-funded and private sector energy programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. His work supported initiatives such as Power Africa, Scaling Up Renewable Energy, Powering Agriculture, and Water and Energy for Food, combining cross-cultural team leadership with innovative storytelling and data visualization to inspire action and improve lives.
Ryan began his career in radio, reporting for nationally broadcast shows including Marketplace and The World, before transitioning into communications roles in public affairs consulting and nonprofit organizations. He has led advocacy campaigns, built coalitions, and guided strategic outreach for government leaders, ambassadors, and executives. In the U.S., he managed a multi-state campaign that secured $65 million in federal funding for rural wireless and mobile data networks, and contributed to a World Bank–funded initiative in Malawi to expand digital inclusion through the Universal Service Fund.