As YES-Europe Austria, we advocate for a socially responsible energy transition, organise internal meetings and public events with experts from the energy industry on a regular basis. Our team includes students, young professionals, lecturers and consultants with experience in the energy sector. We consider the energy transition and climate change a major socio-political challenge and strive to enhance the knowledge exchange between science, industry, and politics. Our approach incorporates an entrepreneurial and networking mindset, based on scientific facts.
Current Projects
Regular YES-Europe Austria Stammtisch
We’re launching a regular YES-Europe Austria Stammtisch as an open and informal get-together for everyone interested in energy and sustainability. It’s a space to chat about current topics, share ideas, get to know each other better, and co-create new event ideas together. We’ll also use it to announce upcoming activities and keep the community connected. Whether you’re just curious or already experienced in the field – everyone is welcome to join.
Location: Tunnel, Florianigasse 39, 1080 Wien
Next Stammtisch: 18.06.2026, 7:00pm
For further information about the upcoming Stammtisch join our WhatsApp group or follow us on LinkedIn.
Regular After-Work Sessions hosted by different partners
In collaboration with our partner organizations OurPower, e7 energy innovation & engineering, and M.O.O.CON
We regularly organize after-work gatherings in Vienna where, together with our renowned project partners,such as OurPower, M.O.O.CON, and e7 energy innovation & engineering, we explore current topics related to the energy and transport transition, climate policy, and sustainable economy. At the events young experts, early career professionals, and students experience an inspiring setting featuring engaging lectures, practical insights, and open discussion rounds. These events not only offer valuable professional impulses but also foster intensive exchange and networking in a relaxed yet professional atmosphere. Moreover, we use these after-work talks as a creative hub and test run for larger initiatives.
Our next after-work session will take place on May 21 at OurPower. Together with our partners, we will dive into key topics such as energy communities, participatory energy transition, and how you can get actively involved.
If you’d like to join, feel free to reach out to our Country Representatives via email or connect with us through our WhatsApp group or follow us on LinkedIn.
Excursions
We aim to organize multiple excursions per year—to visit and explore exciting projects in the field of energy, mobility and sustainability. If you are involved in a project you would like to showcase or have ideas for potential excursions, we’d love to hear from you — feel free to reach out to us, you can find our contact information below.
YES Europe Austria Energy Community
By initiating the YES-Europe Austria Energy Community we want to be more than a young professionals network! This tangible project gives our members a simple way to boost renewable energy— even if they live in rented flats or shared housing and cannot install their own solar panels. Members share their renewable electricity with each other for a fair price and easily become active participants in a more sustainable future. For this project we joined forces with the start-up sonnnig and the cooperative Ourpower as part of the European project Poweryouth.
Join now, if you are based in Austria: https://strom.ourpower.coop/yes-europe-austria-energiegemeinschaft/
Lead Energy Community Project: Guntram Preßmair
Regular Internal Strategy Meetings, International Networking
To enhance the visibility of YES-Europe both in Austria and across Europe, our teams regularly convene for strategic workshops. These meetings encourage internal exchange and the development of innovative approaches that continuously advance our organization. In these sessions, we engage in intensive discussions on how to optimize our initiatives and become even more present in public discourse.
Past Projects
Annual Conference – Vienna, October 2-4, 2025
The YES-Europe Annual Conference 2025, held from October 2–4 in Vienna under the theme “Next Generation Europe: Sustainable Cities | Energy Transition | Meaningful Impact,” brought together around 150 students, young professionals, and experts from across Europe. The three-day event featured high-level discussions, interactive workshops, and site visits to innovative sustainability projects, fostering knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration within a growing European community. Building on previous successful initiatives in Vienna—such as the Energy & Sustainability Day 2023 and ongoing after-work events—the conference further strengthened dialogue between young talents, industry leaders, and policymakers while promoting practical solutions for a sustainable future.
Energy and Sustainability Day 2023
Another central achievement of YES-Europe Austria was the organization of the Energy and Sustainability Day 2023 in Vienna, supported by the Wiener Bildungsakademie. As a Europe-wide network of students and young professionals passionate about renewable energy and sustainability, we hosted an event that addressed the interconnected crises in the realms of climate, energy, and social issues. The event featured engaging lectures, stimulating panel discussions, and international guests who participated both via live stream and in person at the Wiener Bildungsakademie near the city center. We are deeply grateful to all the volunteer helpers who contributed to the success of this event, and we look forward to working together towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Stay tuned to our LinkedIn channel for further updates and upcoming events.
About Our Team
Our dedicated team currently consists of approximately 12 active members who combine diverse academic backgrounds—from engineering and business administration to the social sciences—with practical experience. Under the leadership of Country Representative Rachel Leutgöb, who brings his expertise as a socio-economist and urban sociologist along with extensive international experience, we work hand in hand to drive the transformation in the energy sector. She is supported by Co-Country Representatives Rebecca Hauschild and Marie-Luise Zwicker.
Our regular internal strategy meetings not only strengthen collaboration within the team but also foster networking with other country teams across Europe. In these exchanges, we address topics such as energy communities, hydrogen technologies, and other forward-thinking approaches. Through our diverse activities—from informative workshops and discussion rounds to networking events—we have built an extensive network of over 70 dedicated contacts and continue to expand our influence in the European energy sector.
As an economist based in Vienna, I work on topics related to sustainable heat transition and energy efficiency. In my studies and work, I have come to see that the energy transition is not only a technical challenge, but fundamentally a social one — requiring solutions that are not only sustainable, but also fair, affordable, and inclusive. At YES Europe, I enjoy connecting with people from different fields and perspectives and exchanging ideas. I really value the open and collaborative atmosphere, as well as the opportunity to learn from each other while working towards a shared goal.
As a political scientist specialised in international politics I have a strong interest in topics of social-ecological transformation. Over the past few years, I’ve worked on infrastructure topics such as sustainable energy, mobility, and resource use. Based in Vienna, I currently work as a research assistant on the governance of sustainable mobility transitions. I believe that international collaboration between actors who are willing to drive change is key in order to build a socially and environmentally just future.
As a spatial planner and transport consultant, I work at the intersection of mobility, energy, infrastructure economics, and future planning, combining data modelling, scenario analysis, and data science to understand how the systems we build today shape the societies of tomorrow. Based in Vienna, I translate complex analyses into insights that matter for policy and practice. Through this work, I’ve come to see how essential it is to think across borders, not just geographically, but across disciplines and sectors. YES Europe is where I put that conviction into action: connecting with young professionals who believe that building a sustainable and just future requires exactly that kind of collaborative, forward-thinking approach.