Sarah Montgomery: Visionary Leader Driving Renewable Energy and Supply Chain Innovation
Sarah Montgomery is an inspiring entrepreneur and expert in renewable energy supply chains, renowned as the co-founder and CEO of Infyos — an AI-powered supplier due diligence platform. With a background in Chinese studies and deep experience in sustainable technology, Sarah has made significant strides in transforming the renewable energy sector through innovation and strategic leadership. Her journey is marked by academic excellence, leadership roles in influential organisations, and a passionate commitment to sustainability and ethical business practices.
Early Life and Education: A Foundation for Global Impact
Sarah Montgomery’s academic journey laid a strong foundation for her later success. She graduated from Durham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Combined Honours in Chinese, History of Art, and Business. This unique blend of humanities and business studies gave her a broad cultural and analytical perspective, key to navigating global markets.
Following Durham, Sarah deepened her expertise in Chinese language and culture, attending prestigious institutions such as Peking University and National Taiwan University. She was honoured as a Huayu Enrichment Scholar, recognising her exceptional talents in Chinese language studies. Her fluency in Mandarin and cultural insights have been vital in building business connections across Asia, particularly in China — a pivotal region in the global renewable energy supply chain.
Her schooling journey also includes notable achievements such as the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, showcasing her dedication, leadership, and resilience from an early age. Prior to university, Sarah attended Fettes College, where she earned an International Baccalaureate Diploma with an impressive score of 42 out of 45 points.
Career Beginnings: Bridging East and West
Sarah’s early professional experiences demonstrated her talent for building bridges between Western businesses and the dynamic Asian markets. She served as China Projects Lead at Everledger, a blockchain technology company focused on enhancing supply chain transparency. Reporting directly to the COO, she was responsible for expanding Everledger’s presence in China and East Asia.
Her work at Everledger involved collaborating with high-profile clients including JD.com, Tencent, the World Economic Forum, and Ford Motors. The role allowed her to develop expertise in supply chain technologies, blockchain, and sustainability initiatives—an expertise that would later become the backbone of Infyos.
She also participated in the AustCham Future Business Leaders Program in Beijing, further honing her leadership skills and network in the region.
Founding Infyos: Revolutionising Renewable Energy Supply Chains
In June 2021, Sarah co-founded Infyos, a groundbreaking AI-powered platform designed to support renewable energy developers. Infyos helps companies meet bankability requirements by meticulously mapping and mitigating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks, as well as regulatory and tariff challenges.
Initially focusing on battery energy storage, Infyos quickly gained recognition as an essential tool for some of the largest renewable energy investors and manufacturers globally. The company’s mission is ambitious yet crucial: to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy worldwide by ensuring supply chains are transparent, ethical, and compliant with evolving regulations.
Infyos uses advanced AI algorithms to conduct supplier due diligence, helping companies avoid risks associated with forced labour, environmental harm, and regulatory violations. Under Sarah’s leadership, the company has secured backing from prominent investors like Pale Blue Dot, Nucleus Capital, and Carbon13.
Leadership in Climate and Sustainability Communities
Beyond Infyos, Sarah has played significant roles in organisations dedicated to climate action and international collaboration.
Young China Watchers
From January 2021 to November 2023, Sarah served as Co-Head of Young China Watchers (YCW), a global community engaging over 5,000 individuals interested in China-related issues. Under her leadership, YCW became a vibrant platform for discussions involving academics, policymakers, and business leaders.
She curated event series focusing on the intersection of China and climate change, inviting speakers from leading institutions like the National Resources Defense Council and the Food and Land Use Coalition. This role underscored Sarah’s commitment to fostering dialogue and awareness on environmental challenges linked to China’s economic growth.
Carbon13
Sarah was also a founder in the inaugural cohort of Carbon13, a venture builder dedicated to climate crisis solutions. During her time with Carbon13, she contributed to developing scalable business models aimed at significantly reducing CO2 emissions. The experience further deepened her understanding of entrepreneurship within the climate technology ecosystem.
Honours and Awards: Recognition of Excellence
Sarah’s contributions have been acknowledged through various honours. Her academic achievements, such as the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, reflect her early leadership potential.
Professionally, she has earned recognition on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, an accolade celebrating outstanding young innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide. This prestigious honour highlights her impact within the renewable energy and sustainability sectors.
Her role as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Battery Alliance places her at the forefront of international efforts to ensure battery sustainability and ethical sourcing in one of the most critical components of renewable energy technologies.
The Road Ahead: A Vision for a Sustainable Future
Sarah Montgomery’s vision extends beyond technological innovation; it embraces the broader goal of creating a sustainable, equitable future powered by clean energy. Through Infyos, she is empowering renewable energy developers to navigate complex global supply chains with confidence and integrity.
Her unique combination of cultural fluency, technical knowledge, and entrepreneurial spirit positions her as a key figure in the global green economy. As regulations tighten and the demand for transparent, sustainable supply chains grows, Sarah’s leadership will remain pivotal in shaping industry standards and fostering responsible business practices.
Conclusion: A Leading Force in Renewable Energy and Supply Chain Integrity
Sarah Montgomery exemplifies the modern leader who merges cultural insight, technological expertise, and sustainability commitment. From her academic roots in the UK and China to her professional ascent through blockchain and AI-powered platforms, she has consistently pushed boundaries.
Her work with Infyos and her involvement in global sustainability initiatives demonstrate a profound dedication to making renewable energy accessible and ethical worldwide. For anyone interested in the intersection of technology, climate action, and global commerce, Sarah Montgomery’s career offers valuable lessons and inspiration.
Her story is not only about business success but about harnessing innovation to tackle one of humanity’s greatest challenges — building a cleaner, more sustainable planet for future generations.
