Agenda-old | Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference

Jesse Noffsinger

Partner

McKinsey & Company

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
4:10 PM – 4:45 PM

Presentation Title:
The Evolution of the Energy Transition

Jesse leads the global Market Intelligence group within McKinsey’s Energy Solutions business; his team comprises 30+ energy systems experts with a global footprint. He has deep analytical experience in power systems, renewables and a wide array of clean technologies; he leads development and deployment of McKinsey’s global electric power advanced analytics platform.

Casey Matney

Associate Professor, Cooperative Extension Service

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Dr. Matney is the state coordinator for the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, Integrated Pest Management, and Produce Safety Program in Alaska through the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is located on the Kenai Peninsula, which is one of the fastest growing agricultural regions in the United States.

Pat Pitney

President

University of Alaska

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:35 PM

Presentation Title:
The Intersection of Research Within Energy and Food Security

Pat Pitney has served as the 17th President of the University of Alaska (UA) System since February 25, 2022. Prior to her permanent appointment by the Board of Regents, she served as interim president beginning August 1, 2020. President Pitney has a decades-long history of public service in the State of Alaska, including time as the state’s Director of Legislative Finance, and as Director of the Office of Management and Budget under former Alaska Governor Bill Walker. She is also a former Vice Chancellor of Administration for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and worked at UA System Office for 17 years. President Pitney also holds an MBA from UAF, and all three of her children are UA graduates, with degrees from UAF, UAA, and UAS. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, and hiking Alaska’s many beautiful trails.

Ryan Anderson

Commissioner

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska’s Strategic Location

Ryan Anderson, P.E., was appointed commissioner of the Alaska DOT&PF in fall 2021. Commissioner Anderson came to Alaska in 1993 to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After obtaining his degree in Civil Engineering, he joined the department in 2000. Since then, Anderson has worked through the ranks designing and managing road and airport projects, with a focus on improving transportation in rural Alaska. Throughout his career, Commissioner Anderson has received recognition for transportation excellence and innovation from the Northwest Arctic Leadership Team, WASHTO, FAA, FHWA, and the Alaska Society of Engineers, Fairbanks Chapter. He is currently a member of the AASHTO Council on Highways and Streets.

Dan Sullivan

U.S. Senator for Alaska

U.S. Senate

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:45 AM – 8:55 AM

Presentation Title:
Welcome Remarks

Dan Sullivan was sworn in as Alaska’s eighth United States Senator on January 6, 2015. Senator Sullivan serves on four Senate committees vital to Alaska: Armed Services, Environment and Public Works Committee, Veterans’ Affairs, and Commerce, Science and Transportation. Senator Sullivan has been able to pass numerous bills and amendments related to rebuilding and modernizing our country’s military, expanding responsible resource development, reining in federal overreach, spurring economic development, expanding benefits for veterans, and helping those who are most vulnerable, including survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Prior to his election to the Senate, Sullivan served as Alaska’s Attorney General and Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources—where he focused on pushing back against federal government overreach and growing Alaska’s economy. Senator Sullivan served in the George W. Bush administration as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and as a Director in the International Economics Directorate of the National Security Council staff at the White House. He is currently a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and serves as Chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI). Senator Sullivan holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and a joint Law and Master of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He and his wife, Julie Fate Sullivan, were married in 1994 in Julie’s hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska. They have three daughters.

Annalise Klein

Program Architect

Alaska Center for Energy and Power, UAF

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Arctic Energy Partnerships

Annalise Klein is a program architect at ACEP focusing on strategic design, collaboration, and implementation in remote community-research partnerships and education & workforce development. Her primary programs are the Arctic Remote Energy Network Academy (ARENA), ACEP Summer Internship Program, and the Alaska Regional Collaboration for Technology Innovation and Commercialization (ARCTIC) Community Innovation Hubs. Klein is interested in the nexus of emerging energy technologies and human factors that influence successful energy transitions and elevate local energy champions in remote and islanded communities. She spent seven years as a public school science teacher and curriculum designer with time in Hawai’i, California, Alaska, and Uganda, focusing on culturally responsive science that engaged students in community problem solving. Klein holds a B.A. in chemistry and English from Hope College and an M.S. in secondary science education from Johns Hopkins University.

Steve Moseley

Managing Director

Wafra, Inc.

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Global Investors: Investing Across Asset Classes

Steve Moseley is a Managing Director at Wafra, where he focuses on private equity strategy, research, origination, execution, and portfolio management. Previously, Steve lived in Juneau from 2013 to 2022 and was Deputy CIO and Head of Alternative Investments for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. Before that he was president of StepStone Group, a global manager of private market assets and, prior to that, co-president of the direct investment division of StepStone’s predecessor company, Pacific Corporate Group. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston (“CSFB”) and as a principal in CSFB’s private equity investment affiliate, Windward Capital Partners. Steve earned a BA from Wesleyan University and an MBA from Yale University.

Glen Bailey

Vice President of Key Accounts & Partnerships

Carbon Clean

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Glen is responsible for global engagement of companies who are committed to reduce their carbon intensity scores. He has successfully led business development teams across multiple industries including Energy, Computing, and Software. He has a passion for building unique value propositions through partner alliance.

Frank Richards

President

Alaska Gasline Development Corporation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

Presentation Title:
Increasing Production & Minimizing Impact: Alaska’s Environmental Footprint

Mr. Richards is a registered professional civil engineer with 35 years of experience developing large-scale infrastructure, power, mining, and oil and gas development projects. He oversees development and execution of all AGDC projects.

Jeremy Kasper

Director

Alaska Center for Energy & Power

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Innovative Storage Solutions

Jeremy Kasper is the Director of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and a founding co-Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center, a leading US consortium of marine energy research institutes and a Department of Energy designated National Marine Energy Center. Jeremy has spent the last 23 years carrying out applied research projects around Alaska. During his tenure as UAF’s marine energy lead, Jeremy helped establish UAF as a nationally recognized leader through execution of a number of successful projects that moved the industry forward and saw UAF’s marine energy research expenditures triple. Before joining ACEP as a research faculty member, Jeremy was a postdoctoral investigator with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He holds a PhD in oceanography from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a BA in physics from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

Colin le Duc

Founding Partner

Generation Investment Management

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Global Investors: Investing Across Asset Classes

Founding Partner, Generation Investment Management. Vice Chair, Just Climate. NGO Boards of NatureBridge & Ocean Conservancy.

Gideon Powell

Chief Executive Officer

Cholla Inc

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Gideon O. Powell is the Chairman & CEO of Cholla Inc. Chollas vision is to leverage its venture mindset and operating capabilities to be the partner of choice in the discovery and development of energy resources that are transformational and environmentally responsible.

Sean Dolan

Chief Executive Officer

NorthLink Aviation

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Aviation

Andy joins USDA RD with nearly three decades of experience as a political leader and elected official. He was the Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee from 2013 to 2021 where he served more than 180,000 residents Sean serves as the CEO of NorthLink and is responsible for the commercial development, construction, financing and management of the Company. He has over 25 years of experience investing, managing and financing infrastructure and has a track record of forming successful partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining NorthLink, Sean worked as a consultant to Tiger Infrastructure Partners on investments in the air cargo sector. Previously, Sean was a partner at Alinda Capital Partners, an infrastructure private equity fund with over $4 billion of assets under management. Sean received a bachelor’s degree cum laude from Georgetown University.
and improved the efficiency and day-to-day operations of local government. Under Andy’s leadership, Chattanooga operated its own wastewater system and received national recognition for improving access to high-speed internet for underserved communities. Andy was also a member of the Tennessee State Senate from 2007 to 2012. In that role, he worked with electric cooperatives and was a member of the Transportation and Education Senate Committees. Before joining RD, Andy was a Special Representative for Broadband at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University.

Marc von Keitz

Director

Grantham Foundation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Mariculture: Beyond Food

At the Grantham Foundation, Marc is supporting the development of innovative climate solutions, with an emphasis on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal strategies, through direct investments and grantmaking. Before joining the Grantham Foundation, he served as a program director at ARPA-E launching and managing a diverse portfolio of energy and climate focused funding programs, including the MARINER program. Other professional experiences include work as a consulting engineer, management of the central bioprocessing facility of the University of Minnesota, as well as founding and leading an industrial biotech startup. He studied biology and chemical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe (KIT) and INSA Toulouse and obtained an M.S. and a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Stanford University and the University of Minnesota, respectively.

Gabrielle Rubenstein

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Manna Tree

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Venture Capital

Ellie is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Manna Tree, an investment firm focused on improving human health by investing in growth stage businesses that transform the food supply chain. With a decade of experience studying the evolution of the food and beverage supply chain, she shapes the firm’s vision, strategy, and investment products, and develops Manna Tree’s global network. Prior to founding Manna Tree, Ellie helped develop the impact investing thesis for a family investment office well known for ESG driven strategies, and was part of new product development, including launching the first arctic asset manager based in Alaska. This established her early belief in the power of impact investing to address social challenges without sacrificing returns, as well as the importance of energy and food as asset classes.

Mike Driscoll

ERD Project Integration Manager

ConocoPhillips

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

Presentation Title:
Increasing Production & Minimizing Impact: Alaska’s Environmental Footprint

Mike has over 20 years of Alaskan oil industry experience in various capacities from facilities and production engineering to project management of major development projects. Recognized as a company expert in Decision and Risk Analysis he has a passion for complex projects from both a technical and organizational perspective; from that lens the Extended Reach Drilling project in Alaska fits him perfectly.

Samantha Galltin

Vice President Commercial Operations

FleetZero

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Marine Shipping

Samantha Galltin is Vice President of Commercial Operations for the for FleetZero, leading the organization’s business development and operations. Before joining FleetZero, Samantha held the position of Managing Director of Commercial Operations at the Port of Long Beach, leading the Port’s Business Development, Tenant Services and Operations, and Security Services divisions. She joined the Port team in November 2020 as Assistant Director of Business Development after she capped a 13-year career with BNSF Railroad holding roles such as Trainmaster, Sales Manager, and Director of Port Business Development, serving as liaison between the railroad and ports across the railroad’s network.

Ali Al-Saffar

Director, Energy Transition and Climate Action

Rockefeller Foundation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Global Investors: Investing Across Asset Classes

Ali Al-Saffar is the Director of Energy Transition and Climate Action at the Rockefeller Foundation, where he works on projects to promote energy access and a just and equitable energy transition. Prior to joining RF, he spent over a decade at the International Energy Agency, most recently as program manager for the Middle East and North Africa, leading the IEA’s engagement with the region and acting as a key advisor to the executive management. Prior to this role, he was an energy analyst and co-authored seven editions of the IEA’s flagship long-term forecast, the World Energy Outlook. He spent his early career at the Economist Intelligence Unit, after graduating from the School of Oriental and African studies in London.

Georgy Egorov

Chief Investment Officer

ZeroAvia

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Aviation

Georgy Egorov is Chief Investment Officer of ZeroAvia, a company developing the first practical hydrogen-electric, zero-emission aviation solution. He has got more than 25 years of finance, strategy, and capital markets experience as well as extensive knowledge of investor relations and corporate development. Before ZeroAvia, Georgy was CFO of Vaccitech, a company that co-invented the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and which he helped take public on Nasdaq in 2021. Prior to that, Georgy was the CFO of Exscientia, one of the global leaders in AI / machine learning, which also went public on Nasdaq. Prior to his CFO career, he spent 17 years in investment banking, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, during which period he led more than 50 IPOs, helped raise more than $100bn of equity and debt capital for companies around the world and was involved in numerous M&A transactions. He started his professional career in PwC. Georgy graduated from the University of Cambridge.

Andy Romanoff

Executive Director

Alaska Heat Smart

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
The Consumer Revolution

Andy is the Executive Director of Alaska Heat Smart (AHS), a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to educate and empower home and business owners on their journey to fuel switch space heating from fossil fuels to heat pumps. AHS offers free home heat pump and energy assessments, manages a HUD-supported Healthy Homes program, and offers fuel-switching financial incentives via its Clean Heat Incentive Program. In what free time remains, Andy’s position as a board member of non-profit Renewable Juneau finds him managing the organization’s Juneau Carbon Offset Fund (JCOF). JCOF is an all-volunteer program that applies carbon offset sales to the decarbonization of space and water heating in the homes of qualified, fossil fuel burning, lower-income families. Andy is honored to play a role in the global beneficial electrification movement and believes that we can save the world one heat pump at a time.

David Muth Jr.

Managing Director Asset Management

Peoples Company Capital Markets

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Sustainable Agriculture Practices

David Muth is the Managing Director for Peoples Company Capital Markets, the capital deployment affiliate for Peoples Company. David is an entrepreneur building businesses that focus on agriculture data service technologies, creating economic opportunities from sustainability and soil health focused management, and creating innovative land acquisition strategies that deliver improved investment returns. David is trained as a mechanical engineer receiving his PhD from Iowa State University. He spent the first several years of his career building technologies in advanced biofuels in partnership with the US Department of Energy. In 2013 he co-founded AgSolver, Inc in Ames, IA, an agricultural data service start-up. David is currently focused on building Peoples Company Capital Markets as a premier land investment firm creating maximum financial returns for investment partners.

Katherine Keith

Deputy Commissioner

Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Marine Shipping

Katherine Keith is the Deputy Commissioner for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Ms. Keith has over twenty years of experience working in rural Alaska and previously worked on projects in energy storage and distribution, transportation, ferry electrification, and strategic planning. She joined the department in 2021 as the Change Management Director after a career as a consultant.

Anthony Huston

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

GraphiteOne Inc

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Critical Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition

Anthony Huston is a successful entrepreneur with a background in the tech sector, business development and finance. Having served as Managing Partner in both public and private companies, he has played an integral role in raising more than $150 million in his career. Mr. Huston has served as an advisor on financial and acquisition transactions in industries ranging from the resource sector and real estate development to bio-technology and information technology. Mr. Huston is active in numerous local and international community service organizations, and lives with his wife and three children in Vancouver.

Dave Turk

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy

Department of Energy

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:55 AM – 9:55 AM

Presentation Title:
Research and Resources: Alaska’s Central Role in Global Energy

Prior to his nomination as Deputy Secretary, Turk was the Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he focused on helping countries around the world tackle their clean energy transitions. He also directed reports on the digitalization of energy systems, the future of clean hydrogen, and a project tracking progress on a wide range of clean energy technologies. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Turk coordinated international technology and clean energy efforts at DOE. During this time, he helped spearhead the launch of Mission Innovation—a global effort to enhance clean energy innovation.

Geoffrey R. Pyatt

Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources

U.S. Department of State

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:55 AM – 9:55 AM

Presentation Title:
Coming Soon

Geoffrey R. Pyatt was sworn in as Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources on September 19, 2022. Ambassador Pyatt served as Ambassador to Greece from 2016 to 2022 and Ambassador to Ukraine from 2013 to 2016. Previously, he was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs from 2010-2013. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Austria from 2007 to 2010. He also served three times at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2006 to 2007, Political Counselor from 2002 to 2006, and Political Officer from 1992 to 1994. Ambassador Pyatt was Economic Officer at the. Consulate General in Hong Kong from 1999 to 2002 and Principal Officer at the Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan from 1997 to 1999. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1989, he has served on the National Security Council staff, on the staff of Deputy Secretary Strobe Talbott and at the Embassy in Honduras.

Geoffrey R. Pyatt

Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources

U.S. Department of State

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:55 AM – 9:55 AM

Presentation Title:
Research and Resources: Alaska’s Central Role in Global Energy

Geoffrey R. Pyatt was sworn in as Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources on September 19, 2022. Ambassador Pyatt served as Ambassador to Greece from 2016 to 2022 and Ambassador to Ukraine from 2013 to 2016. Previously, he was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs from 2010-2013. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Austria from 2007 to 2010. He also served three times at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2006 to 2007, Political Counselor from 2002 to 2006, and Political Officer from 1992 to 1994. Ambassador Pyatt was Economic Officer at the. Consulate General in Hong Kong from 1999 to 2002 and Principal Officer at the Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan from 1997 to 1999. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1989, he has served on the National Security Council staff, on the staff of Deputy Secretary Strobe Talbott and at the Embassy in Honduras.

David Karp

SVP Alaska, Saltchuk & President, Naniq Global Logistics

Saltchuk

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska’s Strategic Location

Dave has worked in the transportation and logisitcs field in Alaska and the region for over 30 years. From 2006 till 2019 he ran Saltchuk’s aviation businesses in Alaska, Hawaii and Florida. Since 2019 he has worked with Saltchuk’s Alaska companies supporting business development, public policy and overall presence in Alaska. A 50 plus year resident of Alaska, Dave resides in Anchorage with his family.

Tim Sandstrom

Chief Operating Officer

Alaska Energy Authority

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Rural Energy in Alaska

Tim Sandstrom is the chief operating officer at the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). He has been with AEA since 2011 and previously served as director of rural programs. Sandstrom oversees AEA’s Rural Power System Upgrade, Bulk Fuel Upgrade, Circuit Rider, Emergency Response, and Training Programs. As a member of the senior management team, he is also responsible for the implementation of AEA’s strategy and budget management for his programs. With over 35 years in construction, project management, and engineering project management throughout Alaska, Sandstrom brings a broad range of private sector experience to his work. Outside of work, Sandstrom enjoys the Alaskan outdoors, photography, Jiu-Jitsu, and reading.

Carsten Brinkschulte

Chief Executive Officer

Dryad Networks GmbH

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Growing Assets: Tools and Technologies for Forest Carbon Management

Telecoms tech veteran and serial entrepreneur Carsten Brinkschulte is co-founder and CEO of impact tech startup Dryad Networks. The firm’s large-scale IoT network for the ultra-early detection of wildfires will help to save the world’s forests and fight climate change. Carsten’s 20 years in mobile network infrastructure includes three successful exits: Core Network Dynamics (acquired by Twilio), Movirtu (acquired by Blackberry), and Synchronica (acquired by DAT Group).

Bert Hunter

Chief Investment Officer

CT Green Bank

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
The Consumer Revolution

Bert Hunter is Chief Investment Officer of CT Green Bank – the nation’s first state-level green bank. Since 2012, Mr. Hunter leads a team that develops innovative financing programs that have deployed $2.2 billion in public and private investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy using approximately $300 million of public resources. As of 2021, its remit has expanded to include Environmental Infrastructure. The Green Bank’s programs include a residential energy efficiency loan with a network of banks, credit unions and CDFIs (Smart-E), a small business energy loan with the state’s largest electric utility, a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, a solar PV program for public buildings (including schools) and a battery energy storage incentive program it administers with the state’s utilities. Mr. Hunter received his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is an alumnus and former Trustee of Wake Forest University.

David Boyce

Chief Executive Officer, Schroders Greencoat

Schroders

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Investing in the Future

David joined Greencoat in July 2021 to head Greencoat’s US business. David has worked in the US power generation industry since 1997 and full time in renewables since 2007. Since 2012, prior to joining Greencoat, David has held CEO roles at both Wind Capital Group, a fully integrated US wind generation business and Conifer Power, a US wind, solar and storage developer. Prior to that, David held senior finance and commercial roles at Wind Capital Group, Airtricity and SkyGen/Calpine. He also ran the project finance group of CoBank from 2002 to 2007, which covered the energy sector with a focus on power generation. David holds finance and accounting degrees from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Ingemar Mathiasson

Energy Manager

Northwest Arctic Borough

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Overcoming Challenges of Scale and Cost Through Regionalization

Originally from Sweden, Ingemar Mathiasson, has lived in Alaska since 1987. Since 2009, Ingemar has continued his work with renewable energy as the Energy Manager for Northwest Arctic Borough, managing multiple renewable energy projects in 11 communities, including a Wind/diesel project Buckland & Deering 2010, $ 1.7 Mil Solar-PV project for all Regional Waterplants 2013, Biomass Project Ambler 2019, Heat-pump Pilot project and Energy efficiency for all Households Ambler 2020, Shungnak_Kobuk Solar Battery IPP 2021 and Noatak Solar Battery IPP in 2023. He is the Coordinator for the Northwest Arctic Energy Steering Committee that encompasses the communities Kotzebue, Buckland, Deering, Noatak, Kivalina, Noorvik, Selawik, Kiana, Ambler, Shungnak and Kobuk. He acts as one board director on the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP)His personal motto is; Your needs will be met once you can find a way of projecting energy and fulfilling someone else’s need… “Stuart Wilde”

Robert Venables

Executive Director

Southeast Conference, Alaska

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Overcoming Challenges of Scale and Cost Through Regionalization

Robert is the Executive Director of the State’s economic development organization for southeast Alaska. He has been involved with energy and transportation planning for over 20 years and was a member of the AK House Energy Stakeholders Group that was instrumental in creating the State’s energy policy. Southeast Conference has a long history of successful regional partnerships, most notably the Alaska Mariculture Cluster that was recently awarded $49 million in federal funding to accelerate the development of a mariculture industry in Alaska

Michael Rovito

Deputy Director

Alaska Power Association

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Overcoming Challenges of Scale and Cost Through Regionalization

Michael Rovito is the deputy director of Alaska Power Association (APA), the statewide trade association for electric utilities in Alaska. In this role, Michael works closely with APA’s member electric utilities to implement an effective government relations program and to help advance the goals of providing electric energy and other services at the best value to Alaskan consumers. Michael has previously served as a chief of staff in the Alaska Senate, legislative liaison for a large state infrastructure project, and as a journalist covering Alaska issues.

Matthew Perkins

President & Chief Executive Officer

Macro Oceans

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Mariculture: Beyond Food

Matthew is Founder and CEO of Macro Oceans, a startup transforming seaweed into low-carbon chemicals for use in materials, food, cosmetics and many other applications. He is an experienced entrepreneur, having built and sold his first company, Yield Pop, to The Climate Corporation. He has more than a decade of experience in terrestrial agriculture and was the first business hire at Inari, a gene editing technology company, where he helped raise >$100M in venture capital. When he isn’t working, he’s outside: skiing, hiking, climbing, or surfing.

Ranjith (Ran) Narayanasamy

President & Chief Executive Officer

Petroleum Technology Research Centre

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage

Ran Narayanasamy comes to the PTRC from a senior management position at SaskPower. He has been working in the utility industry since 2005 in Canada, and has over 16 years of versatile experiences in SCADA Cyber Security, Engineering and Operations, Corporate Finance, Business Transformation, Green Field Hydro Electric Development and Indigenous Business Development. He has also worked on SaskPower’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Mobilization to India Initiative to build partnerships with Indian thermal utilities. He successfully created more than $350 million dollars of new indigenous economy by implementing an Indigenous Procurement strategy at SaskPower and won the Premier’s Award for Public Service Excellence in 2019. Ran was chosen that same year as a CBC Saskatchewan Future 40 Finalist. In December 2022, Ran received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal from the Lieutentant Governor of Saskatchewan for his contributions to the Province and to Canada.

Cristian Rabiti

Vice President, U.S. Business Development

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Presentation Title:
The Nuclear Option: Is Micronuclear Right for Alaska?

Dr. Cristian Rabiti joined USNC in May 2021. He is currently focused on developing the US market and framing the Micro Modular Reactor technology in the context of the integrated energy systems. Previously joining USNC, Dr. Rabiti worked at Idaho National Laboratory where he developed software to understnad how nuclear energy could be used to achieve a decarbonized and affordable US energy system. Dr. Rabiti received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Stuttgart in Germany, and an Executive MBA from IE Business School in Madrid

Jeff Gibbons

ESG Business Advisor

Bridge House Advisors

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Presentation Title:
The Alaska Standard: Inaugural Sustainability Report

Jeff Gibbons from Bridge House Advisors, an environmental and sustainability advisory firm, is based in Philadelphia and is a senior environmental and sustainability, information technology, and management consulting professional with 25+ years of consulting experience with a variety of global investors, multi-national corporations, and business startups. Jeff holds BA Applied Science and BS Mechanical Engineering degrees from Lehigh University and a ME Civil Engineering degree from the University of Virginia.

Joshua L. Parker

Director, Business Development

BWXT Advanced Technologies

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Presentation Title:
The Nuclear Option: Is Micronuclear Right for Alaska?

Joshua L. Parker, P.E. is director, business development for BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT). He is responsible for strategy development, sales growth, business expansion, and identifying and building strategic partnerships and alliances.

Kevin Hinrichs

Special Agent

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Cybersecurity on the Power Grid

Special Agent Kevin Hinrichs is a 12-year Alaska resident who spent 13 years in the control system industry as a software developer before joining the FBI. He previously worked as lead developer for a software suite focused on critical condition management across a vast array of ICS/SCADA platforms. Since pivoting to work for the FBI, Special Agent Hinrichs has been assigned to the Cyber Squad in Anchorage where he works a range of cyber issues including BEC, insider threat, hacktivism, nation state threats, and has extensively focused on the ransomware threat, specifically enterprise ransomware. Special Agent Hinrichs has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Houston in Computer Science and Mathematics. Among the roles Special Agent Hinrichs fulfills for the FBI Anchorage office are the InfraGard Coordinator position for the Alaska InfraGard Chapter, the primary point of contact for ICS/SCADA issues, and the subject matter expert for cryptocurrency.

Karen Matthias

Executive Director

Council of Alaska Producers

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Critical Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition

Karen Matthias has been the Executive Director of the Council of Alaska Producers since 2013. CAP, a statewide trade association established in 1992, represents the large metal mines and advanced projects in Alaska and promotes responsible mining. Prior to starting her consulting company in 2010, Karen was a Canadian diplomat for sixteen years. After assignments in Eastern Europe, she came to Anchorage in 2004 as Canada’s first Consul in Alaska. Karen serves on the boards of the Alaska Resource Development Council and the Alaska Chamber of Commerce.

Reg Manhas

Chief Executive Officer

Lapis Energy

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:10 PM – 4:10 PM

Presentation Title:
From Measurements to Markets: Monetizing Carbon

Reg is a veteran energy executive with an engineering and legal background and over twenty five years of global experience managing complex, above-ground risks. Having created and led external affairs functions in several multi-national corporations, Reg has a proven track record of building strategic partnerships with business, government and community stakeholders and exercising global leadership on sustainability and governance issues.

John Boyle

Commissioner

Alaska Department of Natural Resource

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:10 PM – 4:10 PM

Presentation Title:
From Measurements to Markets: Monetizing Carbon

John Boyle has been Commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) since early January – leading a 1,200 person team in the department’s mission to develop, conserve, and maximize the use of Alaska’s natural resources consistent with the public interest. After graduating law school, John moved to Alaska in 2010 for a judicial clerkship in Fairbanks with the Alaska Court System. At the end of his clerkship, he moved to Utqiagvik to serve the North Slope Borough as an Assistant Borough Attorney and later as Chief Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Borough’s Government and External Affairs department. In 2016 he went to work at BP as Director of Government Affairs before joining Oil Search (now Santos) as Government Affairs Manager in 2019. John holds a Juris Doctorate from J. Ruben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, and a Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance. He lives in Anchorage with his wife, Rosie, and two young children.

Abhijit Dandekar

Professor and Chair of Petroleum Engineering

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

Presentation Title:
Increasing Production & Minimizing Impact: Alaska’s Environmental Footprint

Abhijit Dandekar is Professor and Chair of petroleum engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks. He came to UAF in December 2000 via Edinburgh, Scotland and Copenhagen, Denmark after earning a PhD in petroleum engineering and post-doctoral fellowship. He is a SPE distinguished member, recipient of SPE WNAR Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty, SPE Alaska Section Service Award, and a Fulbright specialist. He has authored and co-authored 3 books on reservoir rock and fluid properties, phase behavior and flow assurance, and over 125 refereed and conference papers in the petroleum engineering literature. Currently he is serving as the co-principal investigator for the State of Alaska funded heavy oil recovery research project. He successfully led the US Department of Energy funded and Hilcorp Alaska LLC co-funded research project “First ever field pilot on Alaska’s North Slope to validate the use of polymer floods for heavy oil EOR”.

Jeff Myers

Chief Information Officer

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Cybersecurity on the Power Grid

Jeff Myers is currently the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Matanuska Electric Association (MEA), Alaska’s oldest and second largest electric cooperative, powering nearly 70,000 homes and businesses throughout Eagle River, Chugach, and the Mat-Su Valley. Jeff worked various roles at MEA since joining the cooperative in 2013, ultimately becoming CIO in 2017. Jeff grew up in Lock Haven Pennsylvania and joined the Air Force in 1988 where he served in multiple locations until he and his family were assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base in 1997. Falling in love with Alaska’s beauty and abundance of outdoor activities, they decided to make Alaska their home. Since his Air Force career, and before MEA, Jeff worked for Chugach Corporation supporting Air Force operations on the Aleutian chain, then worked 11 years as a Data Systems Manager for the Municipality of Anchorage. Along with his Air Force training and decades of experience, Jeff holds a degree in Management Information Systems.

Kara Moriarty

President & Chief Executive Officer

Alaska Oil & Gas Association

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

Presentation Title:
Increasing Production & Minimizing Impact: Alaska’s Environmental Footprint

Kara Moriarty has been a thoughtful leader in Alaska public policy issues for over 20 years. She has experience living in rural Alaska, working for the Alaska legislature, leading the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and has spent the last 18 years advocating for the long-term viability of the oil and gas industry at AOGA.

Peter Corsell

Partner

I Squared Capital

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Venture Capital

Peter L. Corsell invests in sustainable energy and infrastructure technology at I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment firm with over $36 billion of assets under management in the energy, utilities, telecom, transportation sectors across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Prior to joining I Squared, Peter was Co-founder and Managing Partner at Twenty First Century Utilities, a private investment firm specializing in sustainability and technology in the electric power sector, which was acquired by I Squared in 2019. Peter is Chairman of Atlantic Power & Utilities, a leading power generation and infrastructure company with a well-diversified portfolio of assets across the United States and Canada. Peter is also Chairman of GridPoint, a leading clean technology company, which he founded in 2003 and led as CEO until 2010. MIT’s Technology Review recognized Peter as one of the world’s top innovators under age 35, the World Economic Forum named him a Young Global Leader, and the National Association of Corporate Directors included him on its inaugural list of leading directors under 40.

Michael Sachs

Managing Director

Goldman Sachs

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Presentation Title:
Investing in the Future

Michael is a Managing Director in the Global Natural Resources Group and a member of the Investment Banking Services Group. Michael is responsible for coverage of the LNG and refining sectors in North America. In addition, he covers companies in the midstream and energy transition sectors. Previously, Michael was the business unit manager for the Natural Resources Group. Michael first joined Goldman Sachs as a summer analyst in London in 2003 and rejoined the firm in 2004 as an analyst. Michael became a vice president in 2010 and was selected for the VP Leadership Acceleration Initiative in 2014 and was named managing director in 2015. Michael earned an AB in Government, cum laude, from Harvard College in 2004.

John Lyons

Fieldwide Ops Support Supervisor

ConocoPhillips

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Ground Transportation

Started his oil and gas career in Houston for deepwater offshore, working various, global roles in engineering, operations and business development. Currently managing infrastructure and rolling stock for the Kuparuk Field in Alaska.

Marcus Nichol

Senior Director, New Reactors

Nuclear Energy Institute

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Presentation Title:
The Nuclear Option: Is Micronuclear Right for Alaska?

Marc Nichol joined Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) in 2011 and is the Senior Director of New Reactors. In this role, he leads industry’s efforts to improve the policy, regulatory, and business environment for new and advanced reactors.

Christine Resler

President & CEO

ASRC Energy Services

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Christine Resler is the President and CEO of ASRC Energy Services (AES). With approximately 2,500 employees, AES is the largest energy solutions company in Alaska and a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Her primary focus at AES is to ensure the organization transitions and diversifies with our changing energy landscape while delivering the highest attention to safety, service quality, and operational excellence in AES’ core business.

Ron Duvall

Vice President, Director of Information Technology

Alaska Electric Light & Power

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Cybersecurity on the Power Grid

Ron is not your typical IT guy. While he carries a Master of Science in Information Security from Boston University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from University of Alaska Anchorage, you will most likely find him in the mountains around Juneau with his family. He has experience providing guidance to policy makers in the State of Alaska and City and Brough of Sitka, and has recently joined the management team at the Alaska Electric Light and Power Company as the Director of IT. Ron believes ‘Availability’ in the cybersecurity pillar of “Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability” is highly undervalued and has spent 15 years in both the private and public sector advocating for balance and common sense when it comes to cybersecurity.

Michael Valore

Senior Director – Advanced Reactors

Westinghouse Electric Company

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:10 PM – 4:10 PM

Presentation Title:
The Nuclear Option: Is Micronuclear Right for Alaska?

Michael is currently the Senior Director of Advanced Reactors Commercialization at Westinghouse. In this role, he is responsible for leading the effort to bring eVinci to the commercial market. Prior to his current role, he served in a senior position as the Westinghouse Americas Procurement Officer where he was responsible for Westinghouse’s North American supply chain. He has previously held roles managing projects for AP1000® in the US and China and was responsible for all material and equipment delivery for AP1000 project sites.

Simon Freeman

Program Director

ARPA-E

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Mariculture: Beyond Food

Dr. Simon Freeman serves as a Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA‑E). His focus at ARPA-E is on maritime energy and environmental sensing technologies. Freeman previously worked as a civilian oceanographer for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport. Freeman was Principal Investigator in the development of inflatable and bioinspired soft robotic systems for underwater vehicle and sensor design, new signal processing methods for acoustic sensing, detection and environmental exploitation, and pressure-tolerant technologies to enhance our access to the seabed. Freeman earned a B.E. with Honors in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Audrey Alstrom

Director – Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

Alaska Energy Authority

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Ground Transportation

Audrey Alstrom is the director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programs. She is Yup’ik and from the community of Alakanuk. Before joining the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), she was a senior director for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). She is an alumnus of ANSEP as well. She received her Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from UAA, Associates of Arts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus, and Executive Masters in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. Alstrom previously worked for AEA as the hydroelectric program manager where she oversaw hydroelectric projects during all phases of development. She also has experience working in the oil and gas and transportation fields. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Alaska Native Professional Association.

Lorrie Irwin

Director

Space Farming Institute

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Controlled Environment: Increasing Food Security and Nutrition with Reduced Resources

Lorrie Irwin is a long time Alaskan. She is working at the nexus of climate change, sustainable agriculture, biofuels, emerging green technologies and space exploration. This work will change everything from the fresh foods we can eat year-round to how we power our communities.

Stuart Davies

Chief Executive Officer

ORPC

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Developing Hydrokinetic Energy in Alaska

As CEO, Stuart’s focus at ORPC is on driving growth and profitability. Prior to leading ORPC, Stuart was an investor in early stage companies with a primary focus on companies with products and services that either reduce carbon emissions or improve the health of the environment. He brings to ORPC nearly two decades experience at Bain Capital Credit where he served as Chief Investment Officer of Opportunistic Credit, Portfolio Manager and a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. While at Bain Capital Credit, he served on the boards of dozens of companies in the energy, manufacturing, food, consumer product, retail and packaging industries. A graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and the MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA, he is a member of Sloan’s renewable energy finance round table.

Laurent Nassif

Chief Executive Officer

Renewable Solutions

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Innovative Storage Solutions

I am a value driven strategic executive in clean energy & innovations. I am CEATI’s director of research and CEO of Renewable Solutions. Renewable Solutions aim is to fight the climate crisis by improving assets and projects’ sustainability via advisory, trading and development solutions. For 2 decades I have led various types of sustainable energy assets & projects from new business identification to operation. I am a board member and advisor for several sustainable energy and conservation organizations. I possess a Ph.D. in engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and am a Senior Portfolio Assessor from the International Project Management Association. I am a technical and financial subject matter expert for renewable energy, hydrogen, GHG, strategy and project management. On a personal level, my wife is a pediatrician, and we have three young children living in beautiful Windward Oahu.

Susan Su

Partner

Toba Capital

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Growing Assets: Tools and Technologies for Forest Carbon Management

Susan Su is a partner at the venture capital firm Toba Capital, where she leads the firm’s climate tech practice. Susan is a former operator with a background in building and scaling technology products at Stripe, Reforge, and Google. Today, she brings a builder’s ethos to her work investing in founders dedicated to reversing climate change and restoring nature. In addition to her work as a climate investor, Susan is a member of the board of advisors for The Environmental Voter Project and a board director at The Carbon Business Council.

Julie Decker

Executive Director

Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Mariculture: Beyond Food

Since in 1994, Decker has worked in the Alaska seafood industry in a wide variety of positions which gives her a unique perspective on the seafood industry. Since 2011, Decker has worked for AFDF. Decker has served on various boards and committees working toward economic development in the seafood industry, including the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, United Fishermen of Alaska, Southeast Conference, Wrangell Borough Assembly, Certified Seafood Collaborative, Mariculture Task Force, and Alaska Mariculture Alliance. Decker holds a BA degree from Northwestern University, and a Master of Public Administration, with a concentration in Natural Resource Management, from University of Alaska Southeast. In 2013, Decker was presented the Ernest Gruening Award for “Outstanding Graduate Student” from UAS. In 2021, Decker was named a “Highliner” by National Fisherman.

Erin Whitney

Director

Arctic Energy Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:55 AM – 9:55 AM

Presentation Title:
Research and Resources: Alaska’s Central Role in Global Energy

Erin Whitney is the Director of the Arctic Energy Office for the U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to this assignment, she was a faculty member at the Alaska Center for the Energy and Power at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a staff scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, she obtained her B.A. in Chemistry from Williams College and her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Garrett Boyle

Federal Cochair

Denali Commission

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Rural Energy in Alaska

Garrett Boyle is the federal cochair for the Denali Commission. He spent many of his formative years in rural villages in Alaska, then graduated from Seward High. He received his bachelor’s from Seattle University and his J.D. from Tulane University. After law school, he spent several years on Senator Lisa Murkowski’s staff in D.C. prior to taking his current role at the Commission.

Mark Merchant

Chief Information Security Officer

Municipality of Anchorage

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Cybersecurity on the Power Grid

Mark Merchant has been serving as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Municipality of Anchorage for the past 9 years. He has worked for a variety of state and local government agencies directly involved in cyber security, information technology and disaster recovery for over 28 years in Alaska. He was recently nominated and selected to attend the prestigious FBI CISO Academy in Quantico, VA and holds multiple industry related certifications. He is on the board of directors for the non-profit, Cybersecure Alaska and actively participates in many community organizations that specialize in cyber security and critical infrastructure protection. He was born in Anchorage, is a veteran and non-commissioned officer of the U.S. Army and served in the first Gulf War with the 1st Infantry Division. Some of his hobbies include public speaking on a variety of risk management topics and assists Alaskan businesses and State agencies with digital forensics investigations.

Dustin Madden

Rural Energy Program Manager

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Prioritization and Preparation: The Role of Data

Dustin grew up in Northwest Alaska and has family roots in the Bering Straits region. He currently manages the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Rural Energy Program, which develops and implements energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in partnership with rural Alaska Native communities to reduce energy costs for water and sewer systems.

Jim Flatt

Chief Executive Officer

Brightseed

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
The Bioeconomy: A Vital Market for the Conversion of Biomass into Biofuels, Biomaterials and Bioactives

Dr. Jim Flatt is a Biosciences leader, leading teams responsible for conceiving and translating innovative discoveries into successful commercial products in the nutrition, specialty chemical, and energy industries. Jim is a co-founder and CEO of Brightseed, which is making proactive health more accessible through the discovery and development natural product solutions for food, healthcare and agriculture industries through Forager, a powerful AI-powered and system biology-informed technology platform. Previously, Jim held senior R&D leadership positions at Synthetic Genomics, Martek Biosciences, Mascoma and Hampton Creek. Jim received his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduate degrees in Chemical Engineering from UC-Berkeley and University of Wisconsin.

George Potts

Head of Climate Principal Investments

Hartree Partners

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:25 PM – 4:15 PM

Presentation Title:
From Measurements to Markets: Monetizing Carbon

Following his Bachelors’ and Masters in 2011, George spent a decade in private equity, joining a start-up Fund that has since grown to 3 offices and $1.5bn of assets under management. He left as a Director in 2021 to spend a year at MIT to enhance his understanding of Carbon, Quantum Computing, AI & Synthetic Biology. In 2022, George was headhunted by Hartree Partners, a $5bn energy & commodities house, owned by Oaktree Capital, with a multi-billion-dollar nature and tech-based solutions pipeline, as well as tier one trading capabilities across environmental products. George established and Heads’ up Hartree’s Climate Principal Investment activities, with a discrete focus on Carbon Markets’ as both a physical and digital value chain.

Katie Conway

Energy Program Manager

Denali Commission

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Utility Planning: Growing Capacity and Improving Performance

Katie manages the Denali Commission’s energy program, which includes projects to improve rural power systems and bulk fuel tank farms, renewable energy integration, and training initiatives to support existing and future infrastructure. Before joining the Commission in early 2022 Katie spent two years managing public involvement for large infrastructure projects at an Alaska-based engineering firm, and previously she spent ten years in various roles at the Alaska Energy Authority. Katie has more than fifteen years of experience in energy policy and program development, project management, and strategic communications, and an MA in applied anthropology with a focus on communities and the natural resources on which they rely. Born and raised in Alaska, Katie is now raising her two sons in this most beautiful place, and when not working or parenting you’re likely to find her on a trail.

Jamie Boring

Vice President

Vertical Harvest Hydroponics

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Controlled Environment: Increasing Food Security and Nutrition with Reduced Resources

Jamie Boring, Vice President for VH Hydroponics, is a lifelong Alaskan who is passionate about the importance of building hydroponic food production systems to support local farmers and communities in offsetting the dependency of imported produce. VH Hydroponics is a full-service company with the four pillars of manufacturing, economic development, education, and wellness.

Michael Lavin

Founder & Managing Partner

Germin8 Ventures

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
The Bioeconomy: A Vital Market for the Conversion of Biomass into Biofuels, Biomaterials and Bioactives

Michael founded Germin8 Ventures, a venture capital firm with strong strategic backing throughout the food system and scientific domains. Germin8 is investing in generational-defining AgTech, FoodTech and frontier science companies of major consequence to food security, nutrition, climate and farmer prosperity. Germin8 works not only through investment partnerships, but as an active contributor to food system education, policy and stakeholder support. Michael was previously an investment banker, representing closely-held clientele in transactions involving the Fortune 500 and top private equity firms. He also has deep roots in agribusiness.

Patrick Boyle

SVP, Head of Codebase

Ginkgo Bioworks

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
The Bioeconomy: A Vital Market for the Conversion of Biomass into Biofuels, Biomaterials and Bioactives

Patrick Boyle is the Head of Codebase at Ginkgo Bioworks, the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end bioengineering services for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Over the past ten years, Patrick has worked on Ginkgo’s core microbial technologies at the intersection of biology, computation, and data. The Codebase team leads Ginkgo’s customer-facing programs by leveraging software, robotics, and novel biological assets to bring new products to market. Patrick was a 2014 fellow in the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security’s Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Program, and currently serves on the Board of Life Sciences for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Prior to Ginkgo, Patrick received a PhD from Harvard Medical School in 2012, where he developed synthetic biology applications in bacteria, yeast, and plants in the lab

Tim Leach

Transportation Lead

Launch Alaska

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Cold Climate Solutions (EVs, construction, energy efficiency)

Tim Leach is the Transportation Lead for Launch Alaska, a business accelerator partnering with game-changing startups from all over the world to deploy solutions in Alaska and solve the world’s greatest challenges. Tim brings to the organization over sixteen years of experience working in the energy and transportation sectors for non-profit, for-profit, and state-owned corporations and academia. Tim is a coalition builder and works closely with Launch Alaska’s portfolio companies, asset owners, regulatory agencies, and academia on clean transportation solutions for road, maritime, and air modalities.

Lance Miller

VP Natural Resources

NANA Regional Corp

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Critical Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition

Lance Miller is Vice President of Natural Resources for NANA Regional Corporation where he works to guide NANA through responsible resource development and help grow the corporation to meet the present and future needs of NANA shareholders.

Nicholas Goodman

Chief Executive Officer

Cyrq Energy, LLC

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Harnessing Alaska’s Geothermal Potential

Mr. Goodman joined Raser Technologies, an NYSE listed independent power company in 2010, with the mandate to lead a companywide restructuring. In 2011, Mr. Goodman oversaw the completion of this process including a thorough reorganization of the company’s capital structure, securing additional investment and taking the company private and renaming to Cyrq Energy, Inc. In January of 2021, Mr. Goodman oversaw the sale of Cyrq Energy to Macquarie Infrastructure. The company today owns and operates geothermal energy plants in CA, UT, NM and NV. Mr. Goodman oversees day to day operations of the company. Cyrq currently has several new projects under development in UT, and NV and is active in M&A discussions. Prior to joining Cyrq, Mr. Goodman was CEO of TDX Power, Alaska’s largest investor-owned electric utility, with extensive investments in renewable energy projects in Alaska. Mr. Goodman holds a Master of Science degree in Natural Resource Management with a concentration in Business.

Ramzi Fawaz

President and Chief Executive Officer

Ambler Metals

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Critical Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition

Ramzi Fawaz is President and CEO of Ambler Metals, focused on exploring and developing its sizable holdings in the Ambler Mining District. Throughout his career, Mr. Fawaz has engaged extensively with various stakeholders while executing major project developments. His most recent position was the Senior VP of Projects at Newmont Corporation. He has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master’s degree in power engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

Amy Foote

Senior Area Executive Chef

NANA Management Services, Alaska Native Medical Center

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Controlled Environment: Increasing Food Security and Nutrition with Reduced Resources

My dream is to create a full circle of sustainability, food sovereignty and food security. By building engagement, education, policy, indigenous culinary arts, agricultural diversity with farms fulfilling traditional indigenous and nutrient dense plants and proteins. While protecting and honoring ancestrial harvesting grounds and waters. Envisioning reindeer farms, seaweed farms to indoor year round greenhouses and hydroponic farms cultivated ingredients here in our state. Traditional Food and modern technology to provide food security. I am passionate about supporting our local and indigenous cultural food systems and way of life.

Rebecca Garrett

Rural Programs Manager

Alaska Energy Authority

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Prioritization and Preparation: The Role of Data

Rebecca Garrett, PMP Rural Programs Manager Rebecca Garrett is the Rural Programs Manager for the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). She oversees a team of project managers that administer AEA’s Rural Power Systems Upgrade and Bulk Fuel Upgrade programs, which aim to improve power generation in small Alaska villages located off the electrical-grid system. Through diligent planning, organizing, and administration the team ensures Alaska’s remote communities maintain safe and reliable electricity. Garrett joined AEA in 1997. Over the years, she has held various positions of increasing responsibility. Previously she served as a project manager where she managed the planning, design, and construction of 30 rural energy infrastructure projects across Alaska, including diesel power plants, renewable energy systems, and power distribution systems.

Michelle Wilber

Research Engineer, Lead of the Beneficial and Equitable Electrification Initiative

UAF, Alaska Center for Energy and Power

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Cold Climate Solutions (EVs, construction, energy efficiency)

Michelle works on solar, electric vehicle and microgrid research with the Alaska Center for Energy and Power and is leading a project to investigate the transition to electric transportation in remote communities in Alaska. She has an undergraduate degree from Caltech and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UAA.

John Farrell

Laboratory Program Manager – Vehicle Technologies

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Aviation

John Farrell is the Laboratory Program Manager for Vehicle Technologies and Distinguished Member of the Research Staff at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). He is responsible for managing the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office R&D portfolio, which includes technologies spanning vehicle electrification, batteries/energy storage, power electronics, vehicle/grid interactions, biofuel/advanced engine interactions, and smart mobility. He is also responsible for developing and integrating NREL’s advanced mobility strategy with broader initiatives across NREL, other DOE national labs, and industry.

Paul L. Craig

Chief Executive Officer

GeoAlaska, LLC

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Harnessing Alaska’s Geothermal Potential

30+ year energy exploration and production entrepreneur in Alaska. Founder of GeoAlaska, LLC. Projects include geothermal exploration at Mt. Spurr and Augustine Island. GeoAlaska partnered with Ignis H2 Energy, Inc. in March 2023 to explore these prospects to the benefit of all Alaskans.

Dan Smith

General Engineer – Alaska

U.S. Department of Energy – Office of Indian Energy

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Utility Planning: Growing Capacity and Improving Performance

Dan Smith serves the Office of Indian Energy as a technical expert supporting the technical assistance program and administering financial assistance awards to Alaska Native entities. He has led his career focused on improving the quality of life through infrastructure development, particularly energy systems.

Erin Trochim

Assistant Research Professor

ACEP / UAF

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Prioritization and Preparation: The Role of Data

Erin is a geospatial data scientist with a strong interest in decision making focused on energy and northern applications. Trochim earned a Ph.D. in remote sensing and hydrology from UAF, supported by a NASA Earth and Space Science graduate fellowship. Her postdoctoral experience included producing permafrost information for policy application through the NSF SEARCH program with the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center. Present energy-related projects include the Railbelt Decarbonization study, the Arctic Energy Atlas, and creating environmental data for marine and hydrokinetic applications.

Justin Tuomi

Rural Assistance Manager

Alaska Energy Authority

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Utility Planning: Growing Capacity and Improving Performance

Justin Tuomi joined the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) in 2012, and has been the Rural Assistance Manager since 2021. In this role, Tuomi leads the Circuit Riders and Rural Electric Utility Workers who train and provide technical assistance to rural power plant and bulk fuel operators. This ensures that energy infrastructure lasts its full economic life, preventing catastrophic electrical emergencies, and building self-sufficiency.

Previously, Tuomi served as a Rural Electric Utility Worker for AEA, where he was responsible for constructing new rural power plants, providing technical assistance, and advising and performing routine maintenance and operations and minor repairs on rural energy infrastructure.

Prior to joining AEA, Tuomi worked as a welder on a team of construction workers to build rural power plants in remote communities throughout Alaska.

Chris McConnell

Director Alaska Network of Energy Education and Employment Organization

Renewable Energy Alaska Project

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Utility Planning: Growing Capacity and Improving Performance

Chris McConnell works to maximize energy literacy and training opportunities at the K-12, vocational, and University levels so that Alaskans can more easily identify and embark on career pathways in the energy sector.

Levi Kilcher

Senior Scientist

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Developing Hydrokinetic Energy in Alaska

Dr. Kilcher leads Marine Energy resource characterization at NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. He is an expert in tidal processes, ocean turbulence, and surface waves. He is a contributing author to International Electrotechnical Commission standards for resource assessment and power performance. He has supported several rural Alaskan communities in identifying renewable energy options appropriate to their environment. Born and raised in Cook Inlet, Alaska, he has a strong personal connection to the ocean, and pragmatic understanding of the opportunities and inherent challenges of marine energy. He is passionate about identifying local renewable energy options that meet the cultural, environmental, and economic needs of communities of all scales.

Ben Loeffler

PMEC Co-Director

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Developing Hydrokinetic Energy in Alaska

Ben Loeffler is a research professional with ACEP. He leads its marine energy research group and is a co-director for the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC). His primary efforts include mechanical engineering and project management for research projects at the Tanana River Test Site in Nenana.

Ashwin Jadhav

Vice President, Business Development

Twelve

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Aviation

As Vice President of Business Development at Twelve, Ashwin is responsible for the sales, commercial strategy and customer acquisition of the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) domain. He joined Twelve from Pratt and Whitney (P&W), a division of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX; Fortune 50), where he led the Commercial Strategy and Strategic Planning departments. Before that, he spent three years with Bombardier leading the strategy and forecasting role for the Q400, CRJ Series and C Series (now Airbus A220) aircraft. Prior to that, he worked with IATA, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in Airline Consulting, Flight Operations and Air Traffic Management. Ashwin has an Executive Leadership degree from Thayer Leadership in the West Point Military Academy, USA. He holds a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an undergraduate degree from St. Petersburg University in Russia.

Chris Gearhart

Center Director

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Ground Transportation

Chris Gearhart was appointed director of CIMS after joining NREL as director of the Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center in late 2012. In more than 16 years with Ford Motor Company, Gearhart led research and development teams in that company’s Fuel Cell System, Stack, and Hydrogen Storage division as well as playing pivotal roles in product development, safety research, and quality assurance programs. Gearhart has also served on the faculty of Michigan State University and the School for Renewable Energy Science in Akureyri, Iceland. He holds doctorate and master’s degrees in physics from Washington University in St. Louis, and a bachelor’s degree in physics and math from Drake University.

RAHM EMANUEL

United States Ambassador to Japan

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:05 AM – 10:50 AM

Presentation Title:
Keynote Address

Rahm Emanuel was confirmed in a bipartisan vote as the 31st United States Ambassador to Japan on December 18, 2021. Previously, Ambassador Emanuel was the 55th Mayor of the City of Chicago, where he made it a priority to bring global companies to the city, helping Chicago to lead the U.S. in corporate relocations and foreign direct investment for seven consecutive years. Prior to becoming Mayor, Ambassador Emanuel served as President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff. Ambassador Emanuel was also elected four times as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois’s 5th Congressional District (2002-2008). From 1993 to 1998, Ambassador Emanuel was a key member of President Bill Clinton’s administration, rising to serve as Senior Advisor to the President for Policy and Politics.

KIP TOM

Former U.S. Ambassador

United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:35 PM

Presentation Title:
The Intersection of Research Within Energy and Food Security

An agribusiness leader who transformed a seventh-generation farm into a scaled commodity and value added businesses in the midwestern United States while launching international operations and deploying new technologies. Kip is recognized by multinational businesses, financial firms, humanitarian organizations and national press as an individual who can explain global agribusiness trends to farmers and corporate board members. So as a family farmer, serving as the US Ambassador in Rome has been a privilege to bring the realities of production agriculture and food systems to the multilateral policy arena. While the slow pace of reaching consensus can be frustrating, the past year has seen the Rome-based UN Agencies effectively act at lightning speed in responding to the global pandemic, reforming themselves to improve governance and resource stewardship, and positioning themselves to be more agile and prepared for future challenges.

DANIEL YERGIN

Vice Chairman

S&P Global

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Lunch Keynote Address

Daniel Yergin is a respected authority on energy, international politics, and economics, and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He is Vice Chairman of S&P Global, and is chairman of S&P Global’s CERAWeek conference, which CNBC has called “the Super Bowl of energy”. Dr. Yergin’s book The New Map: Energy, Climate and the Clash of Nations is described by NPR as “a master class on how the world works.” He is the author of the bestseller The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World. Dr. Yergin’s book The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil Money and Power was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was a number one New York Times bestseller, and has been translated into 20 languages.

Laurel McFadden

Director of Independent Assessments

DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Opportunities and Incentives: Making the Most of U.S. Energy Policy

Laurel supports the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) as the Director of Independent Assessments within the Independent Data, Engineering, and Analysis (IDEA) Division. OCED was created to invest and manage over $25 billion in clean energy demonstration projects, working to transform our economy, create jobs, and scale innovative climate solutions. Laurel’s team is responsible for leading technical, programmatic, and security assessments throughout OCED’s portfolio to help ensure successful investment in America’s energy future. She brings industry perspectives from managing carbon dioxide removal, cybersecurity, and experimental engineering start-ups, and previously supported the National Science Foundation as a contractor in the Arctic Research Support and Logistics program. Laurel holds a M.S. from the University of Alaska, Anchorage and a B.A. from Pomona College.

Griffin Hagle

Executive Director

Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Cold Climate Solutions

Griffin Hagle-Forster is the CEO of the Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority, a tribally designated housing entity serving six Native villages across Alaska’s North Slope. Having entered the energy efficiency field as a weatherization installer in 2006, he is professionally committed to buildings and energy systems that deliver health and prosperity for people everywhere. He serves as Vice Chair of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center board of directors and is currently renovating his 1950s home in Anchorage for resilience and the decarbonized world to come.

Michele Anderson

Program Officer

Office of Naval Research

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Arctic Energy Partnerships

Michele Anderson is a Program Officer in the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department at the Office of Naval Research. Her alternative energy portfolio is accelerating energy and climate resiliency and the blue economy in the Arctic and Pacific regions. Michele also manages a portfolio of electrochemical materials and power sources projects. Prior to ONR, she was a Research Chemist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory. She holds a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Arizona and BS degrees in physics and chemistry from Purdue University.

Arthur Miller

Chief Executive Officer

Chugach Electric Association, Inc.

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:35 PM – 4:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska Railbelt Utilities

Mr. Miller is Chief Executive Officer of Chugach Electric, a position he has held since July 2022. In this role, he has responsibility for the largest electric utility Alaska, serving over 91,000 members and more than 113,000 service locations. In his more than three decades at Chugach, Mr. Miller has held several key positions prior to being named CEO including Sr. Vice President, Regulatory and External Affairs; Vice President, Regulatory and External Affairs; Executive Manager, Regulatory and External Affairs; Director, Regulatory Affairs and Pricing; and manager and analyst positions. He has extensive experience in the electric utility industry and played a key role in the 2020 acquisition of Municipal Light & Power by Chugach. Miller has an M.S. in Economics from the University of Wyoming and a B.S. in Business from Colorado State University.

Julie Estey

Senior Director of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:35 PM – 4:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska Railbelt Utilities

Julie Estey is the Senior Director of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Matanuska Electric Association where she manages both the Member Services and Public Relations departments along with the organization’s strategic plan, legislative strategy and special projects. She serves as the organization’s representative, past Board Chair and founding member of the Railbelt Reliability Council, the recently certificated Electric Reliability Organization for the interconnected Alaska Railbelt electric system. Before joining MEA, Ms Estey was the Business Director for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, an energy research group at the University of Alaska Fairbanks focused on improving how Alaskans generate and distribute power. She moved to Palmer in 2011 where she escapes to the mountains whenever possible, often dragging along her 9 and 12-year-old boys and 2 overly exuberant dogs.

Mike Dunleavy

Governor

The State of Alaska

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Presentation Title:
A Governor’s Discussion on The Energy Transition

Governor Mike Dunleavy arrived in Alaska in 1983 as a young man looking for opportunity, and he found it. His first job was working in a logging camp in Southeast Alaska. Later on, Governor Dunleavy pursued his dream of becoming a teacher. He earned his teacher’s certificate, and then a master of education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Governor Dunleavy’s wife Rose is from the Kobuk River Valley community of Noorvik. Together, they have three children – Maggie, Catherine, and Ceil – who were raised in both rural and urban Alaska.

Governor Dunleavy and his family moved to Wasilla in 2004, where he owned an educational consulting firm and worked on a number of educational projects statewide. Dunleavy served on the Mat-Su Borough School Board, with two years as Board President, and then as a state senator for five years.
The Dunleavys enjoy spending time together as a family, often in Alaska’s great outdoors. Hunting, fishing, snowmachining, and camping are all favorite activities.
Governor Dunleavy is focused on moving Alaska forward and believes that our greatest years are yet to come if we work together to maximize our potential.

John Burns

President & CEO

Golden Valley Electric Association

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:35 PM – 4:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska Railbelt Utilities

John Burns is the President & Chief Executive Officer for Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA). He has served in this position since March 2020. Prior to serving as GVEA’s President & CEO, Mr. Burns served as GVEA’s Vice President and General Counsel from 2016 – March 2020, and served as GVEA’s Corporate Counsel from 2012 – 2016. Burns is a lifelong Alaskan and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He also earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Puget Sound. As GVEA’s President & CEO, Burns is familiar with the challenges the state and Railbelt face relating to generation, transmission, reliability, cost and the integration and regulation of renewables.

Dave Bronson

Mayor

Municipality of Anchorage

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:30 PM – 3:35 PM

Presentation Title:
Introductory Remarks

Anchorage, Alaska is home to Dave Bronson after a two-year corporate commitment that turned into a love for Alaska lasting 29 years and counting! Born June 26, 1958 in Superior, Wisconsin, Dave earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin. After graduation, he was an Active Duty Air Force Pilot from 1981 to 1990, USAF Reserves Plans Officer from 1992 to 1993, and an Alaska ANG Maintenance Officer and Pilot from 1993 to 2005 while balancing a commercial airline pilot career from 1990 to 2020. While flying military aircraft, he met and married Debra. They have been married for 37 years and have raised two children, Katie and Zach. His love for The Last Frontier includes land, air, and water as he enjoys exploring Alaska while hunting, fishing, and flying to remote areas.

Keriann C. Baker

Director of Member Relations

Homer Electric Association Inc

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:35 PM – 4:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska Railbelt Utilities

Keriann is presently employed as the Director of Member Relations for Homer Electric Association, Inc. (HEA). The department provides the cooperative’s customer service programs, public relations efforts, and legislative affairs for HEA. Keriann has served on numerous boards including local and state chambers, state and national bar associations the Resource Development Council, South Peninsula Hospital, Inc. Board. Prior to her employment with HEA, Keriann practiced law with Reeves Amodio in Anchorage and Lewis, Longman & Walker in Palm Beach County, Florida. Keriann received a Bachelor of Science from Utah Valley University and a Juris Doctor Degree from Loyola Chicago School of Law. Keriann and her husband, Bryan, live in Homer and spend most of their free time chasing after their three school aged children and two dogs. Keriann enjoys fishing hiking, camping, reading, and skiing.

Bryce Wrigley

Owner

Alaska Flour Company

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Sustainable Agriculture Practices

I have farmed in Alaska since 1983. In 2011 we started Alaska Flour Company to help address food security in Alaska. In 2023 we added a bakery in response to our customers difficulty getting kitchen help after Covid. We are producing premade baked goods to school districts, restaurants, and distributors throughout Alaska using the products we make in the flourmill.

Amanda Toerdal

Pilgrim Hot Springs General Manager

Kawerak, Inc.

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Harnessing Alaska’s Geothermal Potential

Amanda Toerdal is Kawerak’s Pilgrim Hot Springs General Manager. Her position is responsible for carrying out Unaatuq’s strategic plan objectives to responsibly develop the geothermal resources of Pilgrim Hot Springs. Before holding this position, Amanda managed Kawerak’s Energy Program, working with the Bering Strait Region to develop energy projects including renewable energy resource development and community energy planning for tribal communities in the region.

Lorali Simon

Vice President External Affairs

Usibelli Coal Mine

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Lorali’s family was one of the original colonist families in the Mat-Su Valley, which settled there in the 1930’s. Lorali grew up in Palmer and graduated from Palmer High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Lorali serves as an executive committee member of the Board of Directors for the Resource Development Council and Alaska Miners Association. Lorali began her professional career as a legislative aide in the Alaska State Legislature where she held many positions including House Resources Committee Aide, Finance Aide, and Chief of Staff. Lorali joined Usibelli Coal Mine in the spring of 2010 and serves as the Vice President of External Affairs.

Bryan Scoresby

Director of Agriculture

Alaska Division of Agriculture

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Bryan Scoresby began as Director of the Alaska Division of Agriculture in February 2023. He came to Alaska in 1992 as District Director of the Farm Service Agency. He then worked in the mortgage finance business for almost 22 years in Alaska, helping homeowners throughout the state and country. Scoresby was appointed Alaska State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency by the Trump Administration in 2017. Working with the farmers, ranchers, and producers in Alaska every day has been his dream and goal for the past 30 years. Bryan has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from Utah State University and a master’s degree in Agribusiness Management from Brigham Young University. They raise a very large garden, have produce to enjoy, store against the season, share with family, friends, and sell. He feeds dairy calves to market size to sell fill the freezer. He and his wife live in Palmer where they raised 5 children and have 16 grandchildren.

Randy Ruaro

Executive Director

Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska’s Strategic Location

Randy Ruaro joined AIDEA as the Executive Director in January of 2023. He is a licensed attorney with 28 years of experience working on access issues, permitting, and state land rights for Alaska. Prior to joining AIDEA, Ruaro served as Governor Dunleavey’s Chief of Staff and Special Assistant for Statehood Defense. He has over 20 years of experience providing administrative oversight to state agencies, agency leaders, and implementing policies supporting resource development, infrastructure, and job growth. Mr. Ruaro is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a degree in Political Science and holds a doctorate Juris Doctorate from Willamette University.

Dominique Pride

Research Assistant Professor of Economics

Alaska Center for Energy & Power, UAF

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Heat Pumps in Cold Climates

Dominique Pride is a research assistant professor of economics at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her research is centered around reducing residential energy costs in Alaska and the Arctic. She has a Ph.D. in natural resources and sustainability and a master’s degree in resource and applied economics from UAF and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Marshall University.

Jodi Mitchell

Chief Executive Officer & General Manager

Inside Passage Electric Cooperative

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Rural Energy in Alaska

Jodi Mitchell has been with Inside Passage Electric Cooperative since 1993. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon, and is a certified management accountant. She also serves as vice chair of the Sealaska Corporation, and is a board member for the Alaska Federation of Natives.

Dan McIntosh

Manager of Distribution

Cordova Electric Cooperative

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Innovative Storage Solutions

Graduate from Gonzaga Universtiy (Spokane, WA) with a BSEE. Been working for various Alaskan utilities since graduation in 2015. While working at Homer Electric had the opportunity to manage the construction side of the Soldotna BESS project. General focus has been on transmissions and distribution systems of the utilities. While not at work can often be found exploring the Alaskan backcountry on skis or Packraft with a golden retriever named Chase.

Ben May

Founder & CEO

Alaska Solar

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
The Consumer Revolution

Ben A May is the founder and CEO of Alaska Solar. Prior to this he worked for Intelligent Energy Systems in rural Alaska, for Antarctica Support Services in McMurdo plus various field camps, and for NOLS and Outward Bound throughout Western USA. He was raised in Pullman, WA and Troy, ID. Ben attended Whitman College and received a bachelor’s degree in Geology. To complete his varied resume he has a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Alaska Pacific University.

Katie Koester

Engineering & Public Works Director

City & Borough of Juneau

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Ground Transportation

Katie Koester was born and raised in Homer, Alaska where she served 5 years as City Manager before moving to Juneau as the Director of Engineering and Public Works in April of 2020. Before working in municipal government, she was a legislative aide with the Alaska State Legislature. She holds a BA in Government from Smith College, a MA in Political Science from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile where she studied as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and is a graduate of the University of Alaska Southeast’s Master of Public Administration Program. Katie is passionate about government’s role in economic development and is proud to lead a department that provides the essential infrastructure to keep Juneau running.

Mark D. Houston

Net Zero Consultant

The Comforts Of Home, LLC

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Heat Pumps in Cold Climates

I am a retired contractor, 15 years Alaska Energy Rater, certified Passive House Rater, AK HEatSmart Rater, Consulting on Net Zero for 7 years, Distributor in Alaska for materials that go in to Net Zero building. Consulted on and provided ASHP’s for projects in Atka, Ambler, All villages in NWAB, Sitka, Kodiak, Homer and all over South Central.

Melissa Heuer

Principal

Spork Consulting

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05PM

Presentation Title:
Controlled Environment: Increasing Food Security and Nutrition with Reduced Resources

Born and raised in Alaska, Melissa is proud to work and raise her family adventuring outdoors, playing in the garden, and eating delicious local and wild foods. She owns Anchorage-based Spork Consulting with specialized knowledge in systems thinking and mapping as well as project management focused on food-based system dynamics. She has expertise in a wide range of projects dealing with all aspects of rural and urban food issues spanning across the often logistically unique and culturally diverse landscape of Alaska.

Robbin Garber-Slaght

Research Engineer

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Heat Pumps in Cold Climates

Robbin is a research engineer at NREL’s Fairbanks, Alaska campus. She has 14 years of experience as a mechanical engineer improving building efficiency in extreme cold climates. Robbin studies geothermal and air source heat pump technologies in cold climates, as well as building envelop designs to create more resilient buildings in Alaska’s changing climate.

Indra den Bakker

Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder

Overstory

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Growing Assets: Tools and Technologies for Forest Carbon Management

Indra is Co-founder & CEO of Overstory. Overstory applies machine learning to satellite imagery in order to reduce the risk of wildfires and power outages. Indra has a background in Computational Intelligence and is the author of a Deep Learning book. Indra is on a mission to enable better decision making about the Earth’s forests and vegetation by leveraging advancements in AI and satellite technology.

Nick Cooper

Chief Executive Officer

Storegga

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Presentation Title:
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Nick Cooper became Chief Executive Officer of Storegga in 2019. His career has been in the international energy sector and in corporate finance. Prior to Storegga, Nick had been Chief Executive Officer of Ophir Energy plc and Chief Financial Officer of Salamander Energy plc. He began his career as a geophysicist with BG and Amoco before joining Booz-Allen & Hamilton. From 1999-2005 he was a member of the energy and power team at Goldman Sachs. Nick has a BSc and PhD in Geophysical Sciences and an MBA from INSEAD.

Rebecca Clark

Co-Founder

Remora App

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Alaska’s Strategic Location

Rebecca made her way to Alaska after college, and received her first job in aviation working for Copper Valley Air Service. That experience in rural aviation allowed her to develop a special understanding of Alaska’s aviation logistics. Rebecca then joined MonoCoque Diversified Interests, LLC, in Austin, TX. where she assisted with aircraft sales and acquisitions worldwide. Rebecca returned to Alaska’s aviation community, and started a third-party logistics company. Through her deep understanding of the Alaskan market, and complicated logistics, Rebecca sees the Remora App as being a groundbreaking tool for Alaskans.

Sophie Chu

Principal Oceanographer

Captura

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Mariculture: Beyond Food

Dr. Sophie Chu is a chemical oceanographer with a background in developing and testing ocean carbon sensors. She recently joined Captura, a marine carbon dioxide removal company, as their principal oceanographer and director of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). Captura technology provides a low cost, scalable technology for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using the ocean. Sophie received her B.S. from Columbia University in chemical engineering and her Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Dayne Broderson

ARCTIC Program Administrator

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Arctic Energy Partnerships

Dayne Broderson is a computer and information research scientist and program manager. He is the project director of two of the capacity-building programs at ACEP: the Alaska Regional Collaboration for Technology Innovation and Commercialization (ARCTIC) program and the Modeling of Converter Dominated Power System (CDPS) project. He is on the Teaching Through Technology (T3) alliance leadership team and is the chief technologist for the UAF Alaska T3 program.

Kassia Yanosek

Partner

McKinsey & Company

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Presentation Title:
A Governor’s Discussion on The Energy Transition

Kassia is a partner at McKinsey and co-leads of McKinsey’s global energy private equity practice. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the energy sector across strategy, structured finance, and principal investing. She founded McKinsey’s initiative on energy transition financing, which catalyzes partnerships between private capital and industrial companies to accelerate energy investments at scale. In 2020, Kassia was honored as one of the 50 most powerful women in oil & gas by the National Diversity Council. In 2019, she founded Advancing Women Executives (AWE), an industry initiative which aims to accelerate the number of women CEOs in the energy sector. Prior to McKinsey, Kassia founded Tana Energy Capital, an energy advisory firm, and worked at Hudson Clean Energy Partners, one of the first renewable energy PE firms. Previously, she worked at BP and Bechtel, where she structured investments in energy projects. In 2005, she served in the White House as an energy advisor.

Macky Tall

Partner & Chair Global Infrastructure

Carlyle

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Presentation Title:
Investing in the Future

Macky Tall is a Partner & Chair of Carlyle’s Global Infrastructure Group, which includes efforts across transportation, renewables, energy, power, water and digital infrastructure.

Chris Rose

Executive Director

Renewable Energy Alaska Project

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Prioritization and Preparation: The Role of Data
The Consumer Revolution

Chris Rose is the founder and Executive Director of Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), a non-profit coalition of diverse energy stakeholder organizations working since 2004 to promote clean energy across Alaska.

Kellie Metcalf

Managing Partner – Energy Transition

EnCap Investments L.P.

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Venture Capital

Ms. Metcalf is a founding member and Managing Partner for EnCap’s Energy Transition Fund. The EETF partnership was formed in early 2019. The fund has made over $2B in equity commitments in energy transition portfolio companies over the last three years.

James McIntyre

Senior Managing Director

Moore Strategic Ventures

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Venture Capital

Over his 17 year career with Moore, Mr. McIntyre has invested in both public and private markets on a global basis. One area of focus has been energy transition, supporting investments that straddle the reality that both legacy and future infrastructure / technology will have a role to play. He is uniquely positioned to comment on how Venture Capital can play a part in our evolution to a more sustainable future.

Teresa Mattamouros

Managing Director

EQT Partners

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Presentation Title:
Global Investors: Investing Across Asset Classes

Teresa Mattamouros is a managing director of EQT partners, where she is responsible for pursuing, sourcing, underwriting, executing and monitoring infrastructure investments. Prior to EQT, she was a managing director of SCF Partners from 2019 through 2022, having been a vice president at the fund between 2017 and 2019. SCF Partners is a private equity fund that provides growth capital and strategic support to companies in the energy sector. While at SCF, she served on the boards of Pro Directional and Frontier Tubular Solutions. Teresa was part of Baker Hughes between 2016 and 2017, serving in key positions in the finance and technology organizations and playing a key role in the integration of GE Oil & Gas and Baker Hughes. Prior to Baker Hughes, she was a Vice President of Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, advising companies in the Energy sector in M&A and capital markets transactions.

Kim Kovol

Commissioner

Department of Family & Community Services

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
All Day

Presentation Title:
–

Kim Kovol serves as commissioner for the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS). She moved to Alaska over 26 years ago and has lived a traditional military family life, transferring and moving both internationally and within the Lower 48. She has over 25 years of experience in the private sector in executive leadership, management, operating licensed childcare facilities, organizational development and restructure, logistics, and working in the human and social services realm with youth and adults. She is both passionate and compassionate when addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, as seen through her efforts with various non-profit organizations in Alaska focused on children, hunger, and homelessness.
Prior to being appointed commissioner, Kovol was Special Assistant to Governor Dunleavy with a social services portfolio focusing on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, Human and Sex Trafficking, Homelessness, Foster care, Early Childcare, Eldercare, Opioids / Fentanyl, and Suicide Prevention.
Kovol has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and studies (K-8 Education) from San Diego State University and a Master of Social Work from University Alaska Anchorage. She is a 2018 – 2019 LEND Fellow through UAA with a focus on navigating Autism in Alaska. Kovol is also a huge Star Wars fan and appears regularly at community events as “Asajj Ventress” with the 501st Legion / Alaska Garrison – Aurora Borealis. At every opportunity she has time, you can find her bow hunting (donating 100% of harvested game to local soup kitchens), riding a Harley Davidson with her beloved dog, and “mom-ing” to three Alaskan born and raised children, ages 22, 21, and 18.

Tom Hsieh

President

Northern Pacific Airways

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Presentation Title:
Emerging Technologies Powering the Energy Transition – Micronuclear, Hydrogen, and Beyond

Tom Hsieh is the President of Northern Pacific Airways, Co-Founder of FLOAT Alaska, and Co-Founder of FlyCoin (a venture-backed cryptocurrency start-up). Tom began his career in technology, as an early employee at EarthLink where he managed engineering and IT functions for over ten years, overseeing the growth from a fledgling startup through its successful IPO on the NASDAQ exchange. He serves on a number of boards including Launch Alaska, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Claremont Graduate University. Tom received his BS in Physics from Harvey Mudd College and has an Executive MBA from the Peter F Drucker School of Management.

Justin Freeman

VP CCUS & Hydrogen

Coffman

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
3:10 PM – 4:10 PM

Presentation Title:
From Measurements to Markets: Monetizing Carbon

Justin spearheads Coffman Engineers’ national Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen market strategy, capabilities development, and management of projects. His background includes CCUS program management and strategy, managing international giga projects, and leading process transformations.

Bruce Dingeman

Executive Vice President & President, Alaska

Santos

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

Presentation Title:
Increasing Production & Minimizing Impact: Alaska’s Environmental Footprint

Bruce Dingeman currently serves as the Executive Vice President and President, Alaska at Santos. With over 35 years of global oil and gas industry experience, Bruce began his career in Alaska, and since that time has held a wide range of technical, financial, and executive leadership roles covering a number of international and domestic locations at ConocoPhillips, Talisman, CASA Exploration, Naftogaz, and Oil Search. Bruce holds a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, where he was named a Fuqua scholar. He is an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas.

Nancy Dahlstrom

Lieutenant Governor

The State of Alaska

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
All Day

Presentation Title:
–

Nancy Dahlstrom is the 15th lieutenant governor for the State of Alaska. She previously served as a Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 18th and 13th districts. Dahlstrom served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2003-2010. She was later appointed to various positions in the Executive Branch from 2010-2014 and served as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections from 2018-2020.

Mark Cheeseman

Head of Business Development & Future Programmes

Rolls-Royce

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Presentation Title:
The Nuclear Option: Is Micronuclear Right for Alaska?

Mark joined Rolls-Royce in 1998, initially working on R&T programmes in the aerospace division. In 2005 he joined the Submarines division where he has held a number of senior engineering, technical and project roles in support of the UK Royal Navy’s Naval Propulsion programme. More recently, he has been helping develop new products and markets where nuclear expertise can be applied, with a focus on micro reactor technology for defence, space and commercial applications.

Jason W. Brune

Commissioner

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
All Day

Presentation Title:
–

Prior to his appointment as the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Mr. Brune was the senior director of land and resources at Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native Corporation. Brune is also the former executive director for the Resource Development Council and past president of the Alaska Miners Association. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Carleton College and his graduate work was in environmental science at Alaska Pacific University.

Robert P. Bernard

Director, Energy Storage – Commercial Operations

Westinghouse

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Innovative Storage Solutions

Robert Bernard has over 20 years of experience in the power industry, currently serving as the global Director of Energy Storage for Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC. Prior to this role, Robert has successfully led various business segments within Westinghouse including Plant Modifications, Major Programs, and Turbine Services. Robert also spent several years based in Paris, France, managing a multi-national consortium responsible for major upgrades to the French nuclear energy fleet. In his current role, Robert is responsible for the global commercialization of cutting-edge energy storage technologies, as part of the Energy Systems Business Unit within Westinghouse.

Greg Poelzer

Professor

University of Saskatchewan

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Arctic Energy Partnerships

For over thirty years, Greg Poelzer has worked extensively with Indigenous communities, government, industry and utility partners across Russia, Scandinavia, Canada and Alaska. Greg is Co-Director of the Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) project involving utility, industry, academic, 17 communities from Alaska, Canada, Norway and Sweden. He is also co-lead of the Energy and Mineral Resources for a Sustainable Future Signature Area of the University of Saskatchewan. For the past decade, Greg has served as a negotiator for SaskPower with a First Nation in Northern Saskatchewan. Currently, Greg is a visiting professor at the UAF and UAA.

L. Monika Moskal

Professor and Director of Precision Forestry Cooperative

University of Washington

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Growing Assets: Tools and Technologies for Forest Carbon Management

Prof. Moskal specializes in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS), within the College of the Environment, at the University of Washington, Seattle and serves as the Director of the Precision Forestry Cooperative (PFC), which also houses her Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory (RSGAL). She is affiliated with the UW Interdisciplinary PhD Program and the UW Department of Geography. Prof. Moskal earned a PhD in Remote Sensing and GIS from the University of Kansas, Masters in Remote Sensing from the University of Calgary and Bachelors of Environmental Sciences from the University of Waterloo. Prof. Moskal has worked throughout the western U.S. and Canada, and her research has received substantial funding from the NSF, USDA Forest Service, as well as NASA.

Chandler Kemp

Assistant Professor

UAF Bristol Bay Campus

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Marine Shipping

Kemp began studying energy use in Alaska fisheries in partnership with the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association in 2016. Kemp has contributed to energy audits on over 100 fishing vessels, developed models of energy use and written about the feasibility and cost of alternative energy systems on the vessels.

Arlo Hannigan

Pilgrim Hot Springs Sustainability Coordinator

Kawerak, Inc.

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Harnessing Alaska’s Geothermal Potential

Arlo Hannigan is originally from Nome, Alaska, and currently lives there year-round. New to the team, this will be his first season working as the sustainability coordinator for Pilgrim Hot Springs. Arlo is also an award winning singer-songwriter, and silversmith.

Raymond Byrne

Manager, Energy Storage Technology & Systems

Sandia National Laboratories

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Cold Climate Solutions

Ray Byrne is manager of the Energy Storage Technology & Systems Dept. at Sandia National Laboratories where he has been employed since 1989. Prior serving as manager, he was a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff. He completed a B.S. in electrical engineering at the University of Virginia, an M.S. in electrical engineering at the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico. He also completed an M.S. in financial mathematics (financial engineering) at the University of Chicago. He currently serves as team lead of the Equitable Regulatory Environment thrust area of the Sandia energy storage program. Awards include Time Magazine invention of the year in robotics in 2001, as well as the Prize paper award at the 2016 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting for a paper on maximizing revenue from energy storage in grid applications. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Sigma Xi.

Cathy Woollums

SVP, Chief Sustainability Officer

Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Presentation Title:
Investing in the Future

Cathy Woollums was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer for Berkshire Hathaway Energy in September 2018, having previously served as the company’s Senior Vice President, Environmental and Chief Environmental Counsel. In her current role, she is responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s worldwide corporate sustainability program and advancing the company’s journey to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Ms. Woollums serves as the chair of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s Sustainability Leadership Council. She received her B.A. in Political Science from Winona State University, her J.D. from Drake Law School, and is licensed to practice law in Iowa and Illinois.

Brett Pingree

Country Manager

EWT, America’s

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Presentation Title:
Building a 100% Renewable Microgrid North of the Arctic Circle

Brett is a seasoned and accomplished Commercial Executive with over 20 years of experience and a strong background in market creation, market development, senior sales leadership, strategy deployment, channel development, product commercialization and business planning. With 20 years of working in the distributed renewables (wind & solar) market Brett now leads the development of the North American market for EWT’s 1 MW wind turbine. As a distributed wind energy industry expert, Brett had been a long serving member of AWEA’s Small Wind Committee and chair of AWEA’s Distributed Wind Committee. He is also a founding member and Board Director for DWEA. While living in the UK Brett served as chair of Distributed Wind committee for Renewable UK

Brian Tochman

General Partner

Trust Ventures

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Venture Capital Panel

Brian is an experienced venture investor, founder, and business operator. Through his career he has held roles in engineering, supply chain and M&A at Bell Helicopter, Alvarez & Marsal and Platinum Equity. Prior to founding Trust Ventures, he was President and COO of Kasita, a leading innovator in the modular housing industry.

Gwen Holdmann

Associate VCR, Innovation & Industry Partnerships

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Presentation Title:
Emerging Technologies Powering the Energy Transition – Micronuclear, Hydrogen, and Beyond

Gwen Holdmann serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Research for Innovation and Industry Partnerships at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Through this role, she manages UAF’s innovation and technology transfer programs, and helps guide strategic partnership opportunities with the State of Alaska and the private sector. Previously, Gwen was the founding director of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP), an applied energy research program based at the UAF which focuses on community-scale fossil and renewable/alternative energy technologies. She continues to maintain a research affiliation with ACEP where she focuses on energy policy and planning, and small-scale nuclear energy. Prior to joining the University of Alaska, Gwen worked in the private sector as a design engineer and project manager, including the design and construction of the only operating geothermal power plant in Alaska at Chena Hot Springs.

Marcus Frampton

Chief Investment Officer

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Presentation Title:
Investing in the Future

Marcus Frampton currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. Marcus has been with APFC since 2012 after working previously in investment banking at Lehman Brothers, private equity at PCG Capital Partners, and strategy and M&A at LPL Financial. Marcus is a graduate of UCLA and enjoys volunteering with community organizations such as the Southeast Alaska Land Trust where he is a Board member and Treasurer and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance where he advises the Board on endowment and pension investments.

Tom Atkinson

General Manager & Chief Executive Officer

Kotzebue Electric Association

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Presentation Title:
Building a 100% Renewable Microgrid North of the Arctic Circle

Tom Atkinson has been a resident of Kotzebue since 2006. He Managed the local grocery store in Kotzebue for seven years. In 2014 he began working for the City of Kotzebue and served as a department head in 2 different departments before becoming City Manager in 2020. Tom also served on the Board of Directors for the Kotzebue Electric Association for 5 years. In April of 2023 Tom accepted the role of General Manager / CEO for the Kotzebue Electric Association.

Andy Berke

Administrator

Rural Utilities Service

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Opportunities and Incentives: Making the Most of U.S. Energy Policy

Andy joins USDA RD with nearly three decades of experience as a political leader and elected official. He was the Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee from 2013 to 2021 where he served more than 180,000 residents and improved the efficiency and day-to-day operations of local government. Under Andy’s leadership, Chattanooga operated its own wastewater system and received national recognition for improving access to high-speed internet for underserved communities. Andy was also a member of the Tennessee State Senate from 2007 to 2012. In that role, he worked with electric cooperatives and was a member of the Transportation and Education Senate Committees. Before joining RD, Andy was a Special Representative for Broadband at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University.

Brian Hirsch

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

DeerStone Consulting

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Overcoming Challenges of Scale and Cost Through Regionalization

Dr. Brian Hirsch founded DeerStone Consulting in 2015. With a focus on remote islanded microgrids, he has developed renewable energy and storage projects all across Alaska, lower 48, and parts of Canada, Central America, and Asia. Previously, Dr Hirsch was the first Senior Project Leader for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Alaska Initiative.

Andrew McDonnell

Vice President

Alaska Renewables

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Opportunities and Incentives: Making the Most of U.S. Energy Policy

Andrew McDonnell, PhD is the co-founder and Vice President of Alaska Renewables, a Fairbanks-based company focused on deploying energy projects designed to deliver a sustainable, low-cost and reliable supply of renewable energy to Alaska. Drawing on a background in Earth and environmental science, engineering, and energy systems analysis, Andrew leads the origination and technical development of the company’s utility scale wind energy projects, engages with local communities, and helps shape its strategic business development. Prior to founding Alaska Renewables, Andrew worked for a decade as a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, served on a number of community-based organizations, and worked as an independent consultant helping to identify cost effective decarbonization strategies and renewable energy opportunities across the state.

Kalb Stevenson

Principal Consultant

Axiom Environmental

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Opportunities and Incentives: Making the Most of U.S. Energy Policy

Dr. Stevenson has worked in Alaska in areas of environmental engineering, sustainable energy, and natural resource development. He leads coordination and tracking efforts as a contractor to the Office of Infrastructure in the Alaska Governor’s Office to track federal funding awards and opportunities coming to the State of Alaska through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Chris Fletcher

Senior Policy Analyst

National Governors Association

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentation Title:
Opportunities and Incentives: Making the Most of U.S. Energy Policy

Chris supports the development of thoughtful state energy policy as a Senior Policy Analyst for the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices. Prior to working with the National Governors Association, Chris served in former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s administration where he was Director of Policy and Agency Affairs. Chris holds degrees in anthropology, history and public administration.

Dave Messier

Infrastructure Division Director

Tanana Chiefs Conference

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
10:50 AM – 11:50 AM

Presentation Title:
Rural Energy in Alaska

Dave Messier has been working on Energy issues in Alaska’s interior for nearly 15 years, serves on the board of Golden Valley Electric Association and through his side business Daylight Energy Services has designed and installed a number of lithium Ion battery energy storage systems on Remote Alaskan energy grids. He lives and works in Fairbanks.

Jennifer Gordon

Director, Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative

Atlantic Council

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Presentation Title:
Emerging Technologies Powering the Energy Transition – Micronuclear, Hydrogen, and Beyond

Jennifer T. Gordon is the director for the Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Jennifer earned her PhD from Harvard’s History Department and Center for Middle Eastern Studies; Jennifer graduated from Wellesley College with a major in Middle Eastern Studies and a minor in English.

Francis O’Sullivan

Managing Director

S2G Ventures

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Presentation Title:
Investing in the Future

Francis O’Sullivan is a Managing Director at S2G Ventures where he oversees the firm’s clean energy investing activities. Previous roles included Senior Vice President and Head of Onshore Strategy for Ørsted and Director of Research for the MIT Energy Initiative. He is a Senior Associate with the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a Distinguished Associate with the Energy Futures Initiative. He also served as a Senior Advisor on electricity to the U.S. Secretary of Energy during the second Obama administration. Frank received his Ph.D., E.E., and S.M. degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

John C. Eichelberger

Research Professor

Alaska Center for Energy & Power, UAF

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Harnessing Alaska’s Geothermal Potential

Educated at MIT and Stanford, John Eichelberger’s career spans 50 years in DOE national laboratories (Los Alamos and Sandia), academia (UAF), and U.S. Geological Survey. As Vice President Academic of the University of the Arctic, a virtual university, he learned much about Arctic issues from the perspectives of the eight Arctic countries, including Russia which at the time was an active UArctic participant. His research focus has been volcanology but with a changing context of geothermal energy to natural hazards and back to geothermal energy. Dr. Eichelberger is best known internationally for discoveries in magma mixing (and hence magma convection and eruption triggering), magma degassing to produce alternatively explosive or lava eruptions, and drilling of active volcanoes. He is currently a leader of the effort to drill into an active magma chamber under Krafla Caldera, Iceland and is an advocate for geothermal exploration of Augustine Volcano, Cook Inlet, Alaska.

Richard Voorberg

President, North America

Siemens Energy

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Presentation Title:
Emerging Technologies Powering the Energy Transition – Micronuclear, Hydrogen, and Beyond

Richard has regional responsibility for the Energy business in the Americas, which includes the company’s Generation, Industrial Applications, Renewables/Wind and Transmission divisions. Previously he served as the Head of Service in North America, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of Large Power Service, including Gas Turbines, Steam Turbines, Generators and Nuclear. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Board for Advanced Airfoil Components and a member of the DOE’s National Petroleum Council. Richard holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and his MBA from ESMT in Berlin Germany. Richard holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and his MBA from ESMT in Berlin Germany.

Mindy O’Neall

Executive Director

Cold Climate Housing Research Center

Presentation Date:
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Presentation Time:
11:05 AM – 12:05 PM

Presentation Title:
Cold Climate Solutions (EVs, construction, energy efficiency)

Mindy O’Neall is the Executive Director for Cold Climate Housing Research Center, a non-profit organization promoting and advancing the development of healthy, durable, and sustainable shelter for Alaskans and other circumpolar people. CCHRC has built affordable, durable and sustainable housing in Alaska for over 20 years, engaging partners throughout the state and Arctic to advance a holistic approach for healthy, efficient housing in rural Alaska. Mindy works with partners across the state and the arctic to match energy efficient standards to catalyze housing that meets the needs of Alaskans.

Curtis W. Thayer

Executive Director

Alaska Energy Authority

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Presentation Title:
Rural Energy in Alaska

Curtis W. Thayer is the executive director at the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). His past roles include president and CEO for the Alaska Chamber, commissioner of the Department of Administration and cabinet member for Governor Parnell, deputy commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, and working with Alaska’s Congressional Delegation. He also worked for ENSTAR Natural Gas Company and the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team. His board experience includes Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, Alaska Retirement Management Board, Alaska Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and current Chair of Alaska’s Board of Marine Pilots. He is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Executive Energy Leadership Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in business from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Justin Sternberg

Director, Alaska Blue Economy Center

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Mariculture

Justin Sternberg is a clean energy and ocean technologies entrepreneur. Starting in 2014, he led the first private sector deployment of commercial seaweed mariculture in Alaska, including permitting the first hatcheries and farms in the state. Justin subsequently founded several ocean-based innovation and entrepreneurship programs, before joining the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2021 as the founding Director of the Alaska Blue Economy Center (ABEC). He has worked in Alaska since 1997 and holds an MBA from Presidio Graduate School.

Michael Lammert

Senior Commercial Vehicle Technologies Engineer Organization

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Presentation Date:
Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Presentation Time:
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM

Presentation Title:
Decarbonizing Marine Shipping

Mike Lammert is a Senior Commercial Vehicle Technologies Engineer in the Advanced Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure Group within the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He investigates a variety of topics related to current and future technologies to reduce energy consumption and emissions in commercial vehicles with a focus on electrification and connected and automated vehicle technologies. Author/coauthor of over a twenty journal articles and technical papers on results of advanced vehicle technology studies. Mike received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the University of Dayton. He worked in the truck and automotive industry for a decade at Cummins Inc, Sturman Industries and PACCAR Inc before joining NREL in 2007.

Alexander Lavin

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Pasteur Labs & Inst for Simulation Intelligence

Presentation Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Presentation Time:
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Presentation Title:
AI and its Role in the Energy Transition

Alexander Lavin is a leading expert in AI for engineering physics and scientific computing. He is the Founder of Pasteur Labs (and non-profit “sister” Institute for Simulation Intelligence), reshaping industrial R&D with novel AI-driven simulators, commercializing in “energy security” — see simulation.science. He is also an AI Advisor for NASA, overseeing physics-ML efforts on the NASA & ESA Digital Twin Earth initiative. Previously, Lavin focused on artificial general intelligence research with top startups in neuroscience and robotics, namely Vicarious, Numenta, and Latent Sciences (his own that was acquired in 2020). Before working in AI, Lavin was a spacecraft engineer, developing state-of-art optimization algorithms for NASA and Blue Origin, and winning several int’l awards for his work in rocket science and space robotics (including the Google Lunar Xprize). Lavin was a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Science, and a Patrick J. McGovern Tech for Humanity Changemaker.

AGENDA

What Alaska Has to Offer

Building the Future

What’s on the Horizon?

The 2023 conference was proudly sponsored by: