Eleni Adamopoulou
What is your background?
I was born in Greece and I moved to UK to study Economics when I was 18. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree (First class) in Economics from the University of Southampton and an MSc in Health Economics from the London School of Economics. Before joining ECA, I did an internship at the UK Department of Health and a traineeship at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.
What’s it like working at ECA?
You never get bored working at ECA. One day I may be conducting research on the Bulgarian electricity market and the next day attending a meeting with our clients in Zimbabwe to discuss our report findings regarding a solar electrification project. The ongoing success of the company in winning projects funded by reputable clients throughout the world means different challenges and rewards come every day.
How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?
The main asset of ECA is its people. From the first day in the office you get to work on real projects, along with some of the brightest people in the industry with many years of experience and worldwide recognition. We work in an open plan office, whereby junior members are always encouraged to ask questions and senior consultants are always eager to help you improve your skills by making suggestions and comments on the reports.
What type of projects do you typically work on?
I work on energy related projects, specialising in renewable energy and power markets, including tariff estimation, cost-benefit analysis, feasibility studies and regulatory framework analysis. I have also worked on a number of gas policy development projects.
Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?
Our clients include international organisations, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, plus energy regulators such as Ofgem. It’s mainly the Directors that present the findings to clients, but analysts and senior consultants participate in business trips and actively contribute to client meetings.
Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?
I have mainly worked in Western Balkan Countries (Serbia, Moldova, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro) and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey), but I also have experience in Africa (Djibouti, Kenya).
What is the best thing about working at ECA?
The culture of ECA is what makes it unique. Here, there is a real sense of ‘team spirit’. Directors and senior consultants are very approachable and there is no distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’ that you may find in other companies. Also, it’s great to know that you work for one of the best firms in the industry- ECA’s high quality reports and its commitment to striving for excellence has contributed to its high reputation and success.