WRISE Leadership Forum

Nwamaka Agbo | Founder & Principal, Nwamaka Agbo Consulting; CEO, Kataly Foundation; Managing Director, Restorative Economies Fund
Nwamaka is the CEO of the Kataly Foundation and Managing Director of the Restorative Economies Fund. In her roles, Nwamaka collaborates with the Kataly Team to lead the foundation's day to day operations, while holding the community-centered strategy and vision for the Fund. With a background in community organizing, electoral campaigns, policy and advocacy work on racial, social and environmental justice issues, Nwamaka is deeply committed to supporting projects that build resilient, healthy and self-determined communities rooted in shared prosperity. Prior to joining the Kataly Team, Nwamaka built an independent consulting practice guided by her framework on Restorative Economics. As a consultant, she provided technical assistance and strategic guidance to community owned and governed community wealth building initiatives like Restore Oakland, Black Land & Power and others. ▾

Commissioner Allison Clements | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Commissioner Allison Clements has two decades of public and private sector experience in energy regulation and policy, representing utilities, independent power producers, nonprofits and philanthropies on grid policy issues. Prior to joining the Commission, Commissioner Clements was the founder and president of Goodgrid, LLC, an energy policy and strategy consulting firm. She spent two years as director of the energy markets program at Energy Foundation. Prior to her time at Energy Foundation and Goodgrid, Commissioner Clements worked for a decade at Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, NY, as the organization's corporate counsel and then as director of the Sustainable FERC Project. Before that, Commissioner Clements spent several years in private legal practice. ▾

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | Founder of Urban Ocean Lab & Co-Founder of The All We Can Save Project
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for coastal cities, and is co-creator and co-host of the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet. With Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, she co-edited the anthology All We Can Save, and co-founded The All We Can Save Project. Recently, she co-authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Previously, she was executive director of the Waitt Institute, developed policy at the EPA and NOAA, served as a leader of the March for Science, and taught as an adjunct professor at New York University. ▾

Marissa Leigh Alcala | Co-Partner-in-Charge (Washington, DC), Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Marissa Leigh Alcala (pronouns: she/her) is a Project Finance Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, where she also serves as the Co-Partner-in-Charge of the Washington, DC office. Marissa previously served for many years as Hiring Partner for the Washington, DC office. She shares responsibility for delivering performance reviews for attorneys in her practice, and is a member of the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Marissa's practice focuses on the financing and development of energy and infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on renewable and clean energy, in the United States and emerging markets. Marissa regularly acts for sponsors, lenders, tax equity and other investors on deals ranging from small community solar and energy efficiency installations to multi-billion dollar projects powered by hydro, nuclear, and LNG. Outside of her law firm, Marissa has taught for over a decade as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. She enjoys creative problem-solving and is always ready to embrace a challenge.

KC Baker | Founder and CEO, WomanSpeak
KC Baker is devoted to unleashing the brilliance of women's voices worldwide. As the founder and CEO of WomanSpeak, she has supported thousands of women around the world in her unorthodox and highly effective methodologies for helping women to clarify their messages, write career changing talks, and find the internal safety to speak up in their public, professional & personal lives.

E'Lon Cohen Hall | Senior Manager, Operations and Programs, WRISE
E'Lon Cohen Hall is the Senior Manager, Operations and Programs at Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. In this position, E'Lon assists the WRISE team with program and volunteer management, fundraising, events, and administrative tasks. Prior to joining WRISE, E'Lon began her career in the renewable energy industry working as a Project Coordinator for the start up OwnEnergy. She supported Own's development team, local partners and overhauled the management of the company's land management system. In 2015, OwnEnergy was acquired by EDF Renewable Energy and E'Lon became an Associate Project Developer. ▾

Nakhia Crossley | Central Region Director and Counsel, SEIA
Nakhia Crossley is Central Region Director & Counsel at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a national trade association dedicated to solar advancement, advocacy, and education. In her role, Nakhia oversees and implements regulatory and legislative strategy to advance the growing solar market in the region. With nearly a decade of legal experience, Nakhia previously worked for the Illinois Commerce Commission, in private practice at Schumacher Electric Corporation and as a law firm owner serving entrepreneurs. Throughout her career, Nakhia has been passionate about the advancement and empowerment of minorities, women and youth in both legal and S.T.E.M. careers, She currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at The Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., a Founding Associate Board Member of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago/Northwest Indiana, and mentor and volunteer of the Women's Energy Network. ▾

Daisy Dowling | CEO, Workparent
Daisy Dowling is the Founder and CEO of Workparent, the leading provider of advice and solutions to working parents and to the organizations that employ them. She is also the author Workparent: The Complete Guide to Succeeding on the Job, Staying True to Yourself, and Raising Happy Kids (Harvard Business Review Press, 2021). Workparent's clients include leading and diverse organizations such as KKR, Morgan Stanley, Dow Jones, Paul Weiss, and the United States Air Force, and Daisy has advised, taught and coached clients in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Before founding Workparent in 2016, Daisy served as Managing Director and Head of Talent Development for Blackstone, the $325 BN asset management firm; Principal of Kiddy & Partners, a global leadership development advisor; and Vice President of the Pine Street senior leadership development team at Goldman Sachs, amongst other roles. ▾

Sherina Edwards | Chief Executive Officer, INTREN
Sherina Edwards is the Chief Executive Officer of INTREN, the largest WBE utility contractor in the nation. In this role, Sherina is responsible for the strategic direction, human resources, marketing, operations and financial performance of a US $550M private-equity owned utility contractor with 2000 employees and 14 regional offices throughout the United States. Prior to INTREN, Sherina was an energy and utilities regulatory Partner at Quarles & Brady LLP where she used her solid regulatory experience including analyzing, formulating, and implementing public policy at the state level along with her knowledge on issues affecting the energy and public utility industry including grid modernization, renewables, natural gas infrastructure, cybersecurity, reliability and supplier and workforce diversity. ▾

Stephanie Eyocko | Department of Energy Solar Fellow, Maryland Public Service Commission
Stephanie Eyocko is the Department of Energy Solar Fellow serving at the Maryland Public Service Commission. In this role, she is developing a unified benefit cost analysis on distributed energy resources for the State of Maryland. Prior to that she worked for an independent asset manager, 57 Stars where she analyzed mobility investments across eight countries, informing investment decisions for $600 million across various funds. She is currently the Food Editor for Mixed Mag, an online multimedia publication dedicated to promoting creatives of color where she shares the joy and stories found in Black foodways. She is a graduate of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and the University of Oklahoma. She is fluent in Mandarin and French and well-versed in China's energy and environmental policy.

Laurian Farrell | Regional Director, North America, Resilient Cities Network
Laurian has worked in the private, public and philanthropic sectors for 20 years, focusing on resilient city building, environment, and flood risk management challenges. She has applied her training in water resources engineering and landscape architecture to programs in Canada, where she is from, and more recently to 100 Resilient Cities in New York before joining the Global Resilience Network. Here, she works alongside Chief Resilience Officers and global colleagues to advance innovative and impactful solutions that realize the vision of equitable and resilient cities.

Jennifer Goodwillie | Senior Director of Onshore Development, Orsted
Jenn Goodwillie is a Senior Director of Development at Ørsted and leads the development of wind, solar, and storage projects in Texas and the central U.S. from the company's Austin office. She's a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law and provided legal counsel to utility-scale renewable energy companies on the development, construction and financing of wind, solar and storage projects prior to joining Ørsted. Jenn leverages her legal and development background to expand the energy economy in the U.S. and bring much needed carbon-free electric generation onto the grid. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and enjoys hiking, biking and paddling in her free time.

Carousel Gore | Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, California Energy Commission
Carousel Gore is the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer for the California Energy Commission (CEC). In her role she takes a proactive approach to creating a proactive work environment for CEC employees and managers. Carousel advises staff and management in developing, implementing, and maintaining discrimination-free policies, procedures, and practices. She also oversees policies to prevent abusive conduct. Carousel is one of the executive sponsors for the CEC's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Initiative with the goal of furthering a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive workplace for CEC employees. Carousel has a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration. She has worked 19 years for the State of California, including 13 year as an EEO investigator and EEO Officer.

Pooja Goyal | Partner and Co-Head, Infrastructure Group; Co-Head, Carlyle Global Infrastructure Opportunity Fund (CGI); and Head, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Carlyle
Pooja Goyal is based in New York and serves as the Co-Head of the Carlyle Infrastructure Group, Head of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Fund, and Co-Head of Carlyle Global Infrastructure Opportunity Fund. Prior to joining Carlyle, Ms. Goyal was the Head of the Alternative Energy Investing Group at Goldman Sachs, where she led Goldman Sachs' investments in the renewables sector. Ms. Goyal has been investing in the renewables sector since 2005 when she joined the Alternative Energy Investing Group as an associate. She was promoted to Managing Director in 2012 and took over as the Head of the group in 2013. ▾

Lauren Haller | Director & Legal Counsel, Operations, Pattern Energy Group
Lauren Haller is Director & Legal Counsel - Operations at Pattern Energy, a renewable energy company focusing on the clean energies of wind, solar, transmission, storage and advanced energy technologies with Operations in the U.S., Canada, and Japan, as well as additional development projects in Mexico. At Pattern, Lauren supports the leadership of the public company by delivering strategic guidance on legal issues and risk mitigation strategies in the ownership, operation, acquisition and divestiture of wind and solar facilities. Lauren also handles pre-litigation and litigation matters, including matters before federal regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and state regulatory agencies. While at Pattern, Lauren created, formed and led Blacks in Renewable Energy, which was Pattern Energy's first racial/ethnic affinity group. ▾

Chris Hill | Acting Director for the Our Wild America Campaign, Sierra Club
Chris Hill has a deep desire for social justice and a passion for the outdoors. She has been an avid adventurer since she was young, backpacking, climbing, snowboarding and fly fishing all over. As an environmental lobbyist for the past decade and currently the Acting Campaign Director for the Our Wild America Campaign at Sierra Club, Chris' desire for a just, equitable and sustainable future, one in which all people benefit from clean air, clean water and equitable access to the outdoors is rooted in community-based organizing. Chris got her start as a grassroots organizer in Appalachia working to stop mountaintop removal coal mining and advance just transition. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris earned a B.A. in broadcast communications and electronic media from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. and a J.D. from Vermont Law School. ▾

Yoomin Hong | Managing Director and Head of North America Renewables Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs & Co.
Yoomin Hong is a Managing Director in the Global Natural Resources Group and head of North America Renewables Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs and based in New York City, New York. She advises clients in the renewable energy, power and utility sectors. Yoomin joined Goldman Sachs in 2007 as an analyst in New York in the Americas Financing Group. She covered the Clean Technology and Renewables sector in San Francisco from 2010 to 2015. In 2016, Yoomin returned to New York to lead the firm's North America renewables coverage efforts. She was named managing director in 2019. Yoomin earned a BA in Economics and a BS in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

Anne Hoskins | Chief Policy Officer, Sunrun
Anne Hoskins serves as Chief Policy Officer of Sunrun, the largest dedicated residential solar and battery storage company in the United States. She leads Sunrun's policy and market development efforts to expand access to solar energy and storage and to modernize the electric grid. Anne previously served as a Commissioner on the Maryland Public Service Commission where she was a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Board of Directors and Chair of the NARUC International Relations Committee. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Interstate Renewables Energy Council (IREC). Anne also led federal and state advocacy for Public Service Enterprise Group, and served as a Visiting Research Scholar at Princeton University and as a regulatory counsel at Verizon Wireless. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and Cornell University.

Tricia "TJ" Jackson | Renewable Energy and Real Estate Attorney, Husch Blackwell
TJ's overall experience includes renewable energy, real estate, and environmental law. She currently counsels utility scale solar and wind energy developers and financing parties through title & survey review, curative, acquisition, financing, development, investment, and post-closing stages of transactions. Her recent and notable experience includes serving as outside counsel for the full commissioning of the 315 megawatt Phoebe Solar project in Winkler County, Texas (as of November 2019, the largest solar energy project in Texas) and the development and financing of the 336 megawatt TG East Wind Project in Knox County, Texas. While serving as the Lead Student Attorney for the Texas Solar Power Association from 2016-2017, she researched and drafted Senate Bill 1797/House Bill 3329, which was signed into law by Governor Abbott on May 30, 2017. Over the past two years, TJ's peers voted her as one of Austin Monthly Magazine's Top Attorneys in Austin in the areas of Real Estate and Energy. ▾

Larissa Johnson, MPA | Residential Energy Program Manager, Energy, Climate, & Compliance Division, Department of Environmental Protection
For the last twenty years, Larissa has dedicated her life to working with and for communities; helping to create sustainable, walk-able, bike-able, healthy neighborhoods that run on renewable energy and invigorate the communities' livelihood. Prior to receiving her MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs she worked predominantly in the field of nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention and what she gleaned through her work is that the environment is at the center of literally everything we do in life. Without clean air to breathe - how do we stay healthy and combat preventative illnesses? ▾

Suparna Kadam | Sr. Director of Business Development, Pivot Energy
Suparna Kadam is a Sr. Business Development Director with Pivot Energy focused on providing enterprise clients with comprehensive solar and storage solutions with a compelling, long-term ROI. Pivot Energy develops, finances, builds, and manages community and commercial solar and storage projects around the country. With over 15 years in the solar industry, she has worked throughout the solar value chain at solar module, electronics and mounting manufacturers and within commercial and residential sales and business development. As a cofounder of a microinverter startup built from technology concept to commercial sales, she's led the efforts to make solar cheaper and simpler for customers. After acquisition by SunEdison, she continued developing new technologies and markets for SunEdison's Technology and Residential divisions. Suparna holds an MS in Chemical Engineering and MBA from MIT and a B.S. Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.

Cheryl Lim | Analyst, Karp Strategies
Cheryl Lim is an Analyst at Karp Strategies, a mission-driven WBE/DBE/SBE-certified urban planning consulting firm located in New York City. An urban planner by training, she is the practice analyst at the firm for renewable energy and offshore wind projects. She brings experience in stakeholder engagement, economic development, market research, and has worked on offshore wind-related projects for both private developers and public agencies. She has delivered a stakeholder engagement strategy and workforce development analysis for an offshore wind developer and conducted a feasibility analysis of locating offshore wind support services for the New Bedford State Pier in Massachusetts for MassDevelopment. She holds a Master's in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a Bachelor's in Urban Studies & Planning from the University of California, San Diego. She is a member of WRISE and the American Planning Association.

Erin Lynch | President, Global Energy Practice, Beecher Carlson Insurance Services LLC
As President of Beecher Carlson's Global Energy Practice, Erin leads the overall strategy for the department, manages the production team and is also responsible for developing, managing, and servicing her energy clients across the globe. Erin is instrumental to her clients in developing risk mitigation strategies for difficult to place power generation exposures. She takes pride in coordinating a broad array of resources for her clients and delivering the highest standard of service and expertise in the energy sector. Erin currently sits on the Executive Leadership Team at Beecher Carlson, co-leads the National Sales Leadership Team and is a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Council. She was named Power Broker twice in the Energy & Utility division by Risk & Insurance and named a Woman to Watch by Business Insurance. In 2020, Erin was recognized as an Elite Woman by Insurance Business America and was recently named a member of Insurance Business America's 2021 Global 100 list.

Kathryn Mayer | Principal, Owner, Executive Coach, KC Mayer Consulting, Inc.
Kathryn Mayer is President & Founder of KC Mayer Consulting, Inc., a strategic leadership coaching firm. Kathryn has been a leadership development professional for over twenty years and she currently runs workshops and does executive coaching work with high potential and C-suite executives. She is certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF) at the PCC level as an executive coach. Her clients have included: Verizon, Guardian, Prudential, Smith College, UBS, and Society for Women Engineers, and others. Her perspective on leadership is shaped by her experience as a former top ranked amateur tennis player and as a Human Resource executive who lead change and developed talent in competitive corporate environments including Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, and Citigroup's investment bank. She is the author of Collaborative Competition™: A Woman's Guide to Succeeding by Competing, and has just published an eBook, How to Stay SANE and Successful in the COVID-World. She writes on a blog for all those perfectionists in recovery like herself who are striving for excellence and want to enjoy life more.

Rose McKinney-James | Managing Principal, McKinney-James & Associates
Rose McKinney-James is a long term advocate for clean energy and climate policy. She is the former CEO for the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, (CSTRR) a former Commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission, and Nevada's first Director of the Department of Business and Industry. She is the Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC, McKinney-James & Associates and Advocacy BL/ACK. Her firms provide consulting services in legislative advocacy and strategy in public affairs, clean energy policy, sustainable development and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a member of the Board of MGM Resorts International,CLEAResult, ACORE, and Toyota Financial Services Bank. Ms McKinney-James also serves as the Board Chair of the Energy Foundation, and is the immediate Past Chair of the American Association for Blacks in Energy (AABE).

Demetria Miles-McDonald | Founder and CEO, Decide Diversity
Demetria Miles-McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Decide Diversity, a company focused on increasing the presence and effectiveness of underrepresented groups in the workplace, specifically in leadership positions. Demetria specializes in bringing the experiences of people who identify with two or more marginalized groups to the forefront, to better understand and utilize the strengths they bring to the workplace. Demetria's experience in industrial and organizational psychology have energized her to take action and lead today's leaders away from stereotypes and biases that prevent qualified people from reaching their highest potential.

Susan Nickey | Executive Vice President and Chief Client Officer, Hannon Armstrong
Susan Nickey is executive vice president and chief client officer of Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI), a leading investor in climate solutions. She joined Hannon Armstrong as managing director in 2014 and is responsible for leading the business development team and managing client relationships with clean energy and infrastructure companies to drive new and recurring programmatic investments and strategic partnerships. She also leads a team charged with advancing issues that support Hannon Armstrong's clean energy thought leadership and climate policy agenda. Prior to joining Hannon Armstrong, she founded and served as chief executive officer of Threshold Power. ▾

Meghan Nutting | Executive Vice President, Policy and Communications, Sunnova Energy Corporation
Meghan Nutting is the Executive Vice President of Policy and Communications at Sunnova Energy Corporation, a leading U.S. residential solar and storage services provider. In this role, she works closely with company and industry leaders, nonprofits, state and federal policymakers, and regulators to craft and implement policies that provide a more stable and sustainable business environment for solar electricity generation. Prior to working at Sunnova, she served as the Director of Policy and Electricity Markets at SolarCity for nearly five years. She has also worked as a Legislative Director for New York State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal and as a Press Secretary for former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. Meghan has held policy positions at the World Bank and the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as a number of environmental organizations. ▾

Sarah Pendergast | Origination Manager, 8minute Solar Energy
Sarah Pendergast is an Origination Manager at 8minute Solar Energy, a utility-scale solar and storage developer based in Austin, Texas. Her professional background spans renewable energy, climate change policy, and education. Prior to 8minute, she worked in Washington, DC, advocating for climate change and renewable energy policies at the federal level and in the lead up to the Paris Climate Accord with the Union of Concerned Scientists. She also served as an appointee at the Department of Energy Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs and taught high school algebra with Teach for America. Sarah is originally from mid-Michigan and earned her MBA at the University of Texas' McCombs School and B.A. from the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy.

Milka Rodriguez | City Research Scientist, NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Milka Rodriguez is a City Research Scientists at the NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability who works on initiatives at the intersection of economic development and environmental sustainability that affect marginalized and disadvantaged communities. She performs stakeholder engagement and conducts neighborhood needs assessments to improve a building energy efficiency program that will provide technical and financial assistance to building owners to help them save money on energy expenses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, she oversees an internship program which connects CUNY college students to jobs in the energy sector and does research on increasing workforce education and minority and/or women-owned business participation in energy and construction procurement. She holds a Master of Science degree from CUNY City College of New York in Sustainability in the Urban Environment.

Melanie Santiago-Mosier | Managing Director, Access & Equity Program, Vote Solar
Melanie Santiago-Mosier serves as the Managing Director, Access & Equity for Vote Solar, where her work centers on implementing the organization's vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. In her role, Ms. Santiago-Mosier manages Vote Solar's work to build partnerships with underserved communities, and to work with them to design and advocate for programs that spread solar's opportunities and benefits equitably. She also coordinates Vote Solar's work to grow as organization that welcomes and supports people from all races, genders, identities, and backgrounds. ▾

Alissa Jean Schafer | Research and Communications Associate, Energy and Policy Institute; Managing Owner and Director, Copper Stamp Strategy
Alissa Jean Schafer is a research and communications specialist at the Energy and Policy Institute. She has been tracking policy and advocacy efforts since 2014, following several years of work in the building materials and solar industry. Managing Owner & Director of political consulting firm Copper Stamp Strategy, Alissa works throughout the southeast region of the United States to advance effective policies and candidates, with a special focus on energy policy in Florida and utility accountability. She is also a local elected official, serving on the Broward Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Southern Regional Director for Young Elected Officials Network. She is also mom to one of the coolest toddlers in South Florida.

Nicole Sitaraman | Vice President of Strategic Engagement, Sustainable Capital Advisors
Nicole Sitaraman serves as Vice President of Strategic Engagement at Sustainable Capital Advisors where she is responsible for building broad strategic partnerships with the private sector, community-based organizations and government officials to facilitate greater investment in sustainable infrastructure projects benefiting people of color and underserved communities. Prior to joining Sustainable Capital Advisors, Nicole was a Senior Manager of Public Policy at Sunrun, Inc., the nation's largest residential solar, battery storage and energy management services provider. She joined the team at Sunrun after serving, for several years, as an Assistant People's Counsel in the Office of the People's Counsel for the District of Columbia where she was the chief advisor on clean energy policy. ▾

Tatiana Stein | Project Development Manager, Orsted
Tatiana Stein is a Project Development Manager working on utility-scale wind and solar projects in the Coastal Bend Region of Texas. Tatiana is a graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology where she received a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and a Master's in Public Policy. She is currently working on a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Houston - Downtown. Tatiana has been in the renewable energy industry for the last four years and enjoys bringing her skillset to bring more clean, renewable energy onto the Texas electricity grid. Not only does she care about creating a cleaner world through her career, but also through composting and gardening in her home garden in Houston, Texas.

Kerene Tayloe | Director of Federal Legislative Affairs, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Kerene N. Tayloe, Esq. is a social justice advocate who has worked tirelessly in the areas of Environmental Justice, Civil Rights, and voter protection. Before returning to WE ACT for Environmental Justice, she was the Policy Director for Green For All. She is focused on ensuring that communities of color lead and speak for themselves as we address the important challenge of climate change. To that end, she believes it is imperative that people of color and women have access to economic opportunities in the clean energy sector. In 2019, she was chosen for the Grist 50, an annual list of emerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to our world's biggest challenges. As Kerene grows in her influence in the fight for our climate, she has shared her insight and experience as a speaker at various events including Afropunk, Broccoli City Fest, The Clean Energy Leadership Institute and The Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, just to name a few. ▾

Marie Thompson | Senior Venture Associate, Powerhouse Ventures
Marie leads sourcing and diligence for Powerhouse Ventures, as well as portfolio engagement and support post-investment. She has an MBA from Berkeley Haas, and previously worked in strategic planning at Apache Corporation and sales strategy at Bloom Energy.

Jessica Thrasher | Vice President - Products and Services, SNP Communications
Jessica Thrasher is dedicated to the mission of SNP Communications: to search the world for the good people, and help make their truth persuasive. As the Vice President of Products and Services, her first love is working with leaders to create clear messaging, deliver with presence, and cultivate feedback, innovation, and education. Jessica joined the team in 2017 and has since written keynote speeches, keynoted company offsites, and facilitated workshops of two people to 300 people. With a career ranging from higher education to hi-tech, the constant thread has been: the transformational power of clear communication. Currently living in Southern California, Jessica is a lifelong fan of Wonder Woman, monograms...and really bad puns that make her colleagues (and family...and friends...) roll their eyes.

Anne Weisberg | Women's Initiative Director, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Anne Weisberg is Director of the Women's Initiative at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP, where she is responsible for designing and implementing a gender strategy that fosters a high performing, inclusive work environment for all. Anne joined Paul Weiss from the Families and Work Institute, where she served as Senior Vice President. She has worked at BlackRock and Deloitte on women's leadership and talent management strategies, and at Catalyst, the non-profit research and advisory organization focused on changing workplaces for women, where she advised law firms and directed seminal research on women in the legal profession. ▾

Donele Wilkins | CEO, Green Door Initiative
Leader, visionary, result-oriented, Donele Wilkins has demonstrated servant leadership in her hometown Detroit for nearly 20 years. First by leading the local movement for environmental justice on the front-lines, and secondarily expanding to achieving true sustainability for all. Her leadership style has motivated many to take their place in a truly transforming movement. Her achievements include: participating in the development and adoption of an Environmental Justice Policy in the state of Michigan, and conceiving and launching the first Green Jobs Training Program in the city! She's been an advocate for citizen involvement in Brownfield Redevelopment as well as other environmental policies, placing environmental stewardship on the agenda of many community leaders and decision makers. Ms. Wilkins is noted for inspiring young people to take a lead in their communities. As the founder of The Green Door Initiative, Donele plans to take not only the city of Detroit to the next level of environmental stewardship but the nation. GDI stands out as a national model for sustainable living through civic engagement for everyone!

Dr. Beverly Wright | Founder, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Dr. Beverly L. Wright environmental justice scholar and advocate, author, civic leader and professor of Sociology, is the founder and executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. The Center addresses environmental and health inequities along the Louisiana Mississippi River Chemical Corridor and the Gulf Coast Region. The Center is a community-university (communiversity-model) partnership organization providing education, health and safety training and job placement for residents in environmental justice and climate-impacted communities within the United States. Dr. Wright has conducted groundbreaking and significant research in the area of environmental justice and developed a curriculum for use at the elementary school level that has been used by the New Orleans Public Schools. She manages Hazardous Waste Worker Training Programs that embrace a work-based curriculum and a holistic approach to learning for young men and women living near Superfund and Brownfield sites resulting in their employment. ▾