Super session 01: Fireside Chat – Financing a Clean Energy Future

7 May 2024 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Join us for an important fireside chat with Nobel Prize Winning Economist Michael Spence to discuss the critical decisions facing global energy future, and the hurdles that must be addressed to build the clean energy grid of tomorrow. 

During the discussion, which will be led by IEEE PES President Shay Bahramirad, Spence will address how the energy industry must identify how to reach an array of critical climate change goal, equity and affordability challenges of intensive capital required to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change. 

As a recent national survey commissioned by IEEE PES determined, climate change remains a growing concern for most people, and engineers are trusted more than environmental advocacy groups or government agencies to find critical solutions. Given the fact that engineers are driving climate change solutions, it remains required to integrate it into economic realities. 

This highly anticipated session will explore the vital solutions to the economic cost of grid upgrades and how to best accelerate the progress toward sustainable future that is affordable and achieves the desired goals necessary to address climate change over the coming decades. 

Currently focusing his renowned research on economic policy in emerging markets, the economics of information, and the impact of leadership on economic growth, Spence also holds dual professorship at New York University and Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Speakers:

Shay Bahramirad
IEEE PES President

BIO

Dr. Shay Bahramirad is the Senior Vice President of T&D, Strategy and Sustainability at LUMA Energy, the power company responsible for electric service in Puerto Rico. In this role, as the chief architect of the energy transformation in Puerto Rico, she is responsible for the oversight, planning, and execution of plans to modernize the power infrastructure, improve reliability and resiliency. This includes a foundation of developing local talent, teams and processes, and the prudent deployment of new technologies. Her primary goals are the safe, reliable, sustainable,
and cost-effective delivery of electricity to the people of Puerto Rico.

Dr. Bahramirad has held several positions in the sector including Vice President of Climate and Resilience at Quanta Technology, where she was responsible for assisting cities and utilities with climate change risk assessments for their assets, operations, and services and for developing investment strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Engineering and Smart Grid at ComEd, the electric utility serving Chicago and Northern Illinois, where she had led efforts to demonstrate and deploy technologies to ensure that the distribution system would meet strategic goals related to reliability, resiliency and sustainability, while developing and implementing a broader community of the future vision including a focus on industry-informed STEM education for underrepresented communities in the industry including girls. She has been an expert witness testifying in US Congress and several state and commonwealth regulatory agencies regarding disaster recovery, reconstruction of power grid, microgrids, energy storage, investment strategies, and the interconnection of distributed energy resources.

Dr. Bahramirad is a leading figure in the industry. She is the President of IEEE Power and Energy Society, an editorial board member of the Electricity Journal, US CIGRE Executive member, an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, board member of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and the founder of IEEE Women in Power.

Dr. Bahramirad completed her PhD in electrical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and has published more than 100 academic articles, as well as being the recipient of multiple US patents.

Michael Spence
Nobel Laureate

BIO

• Nobel Laureate, Economic Sciences
• Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
• Author of ‘The Next Convergence’ and ‘Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World’
• Senior Fellow – Hoover Institution at Stanford & Distinguished Visiting Fellow – Council on Foreign Relations

Michael Spence is the Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is an Adjunct Professor at Bocconi University in Milan, and an Honorary Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford University.

In 2001, he received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his work in the field of information economics.

He is the author of The Next Convergence: The Future of Economic Growth in a Multispeed World, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (May 10, 2011).

He is a Senior Advisor to Jasper Ridge Partners and a Senior Advisor to General Atlantic Partners, and chairs GA’s Global Growth Institute. He chairs the Advisory Board of the Asia Global Institute, and was the Chairman of The Independent Commission on Growth and Development (2006-2010). He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Luohan Academy in Hangzhou. He served as Dean of the Stanford Business School from 1990 to 1999 and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University from 1984 to 1990.

He was awarded the John Kenneth Galbraith Prize for excellence in teaching and the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to American economists under age 40 for a “significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge.”

Super session 02: Transmission Buildout – The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need

8 May 2024 | 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

The next 10-20 years will witness an unprecedented buildout of the transmission infrastructure, a necessity to support new resource development. This panel session will delve into the challenges and solutions associated with achieving a transmission system apt for a clean energy future. It will highlight the need for a more proactive and strategic approach in planning, designing, building, and operating existing infrastructure upgrades. The discussion will also encompass new transmission projects and the role of grid enhancing technologies. These elements combined can lead to effective and less costly implementation, paving the way for breakthroughs in the field. Join us as we explore the solutions we have at hand and the breakthroughs we need to ensure a sustainable energy future.

Speakers:

Darcy Immerman (Moderator)
SVP, Strategy and Growth at NORESCO

BIO

Darcy Immerman is the Senior Vice President for Growth at NORESCO, a Carrier Company. As a member of the senior leadership team, Darcy identifies market trends and strategic pursuits, leverages existing contracts, manages Carrier Corporation and strategic partner relationships, and expands go-to-market offerings including “x-as-a-service” and various P3 models. A 30+ year veteran of the clean energy industry, she helps campuses, buildings and communities meet energy transition challenges including decarbonization, digitization, resiliency, ESG compliance, and climate change adaptation. An IEEE Senior Member, she serves on the IEEE Power and Energy Society Governing Board as Vice President, Strategic Communications and Partnerships, and is a former chair of the Executive Advisory Committee. Previously, Darcy was the Senior Vice President of Resiliency and Energy at AECOM.

Darcy has received the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Management from the DOE, and the Energy Efficiency Award from National Resources Canada. Recently, Darcy and her husband Steve were awarded the Essex County Community Foundation’s George Peabody Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.

Anthony Allard
EVP North America at Hitachi Energy

BIO

Anthony Allard is the Executive Vice President and Head of Hitachi Energy’s North American business. He has dedicated most of his career to the power sector, holding leadership roles in commercial, operational, and strategic areas in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and Africa.

He has extensive experience working for global technology leaders such as Hitachi Energy, GE, and Alstom, and has served on the board of directors for multiple companies, including publicly listed entities.

He holds an MBA from Yale University, and two Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications from the Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, France.

Michael Case
National Business Line Executive at WSP USA

BIO

Michael (Mike) Case is the National Business Line Executive Leader for Energy, which provides professional services related to the energy transition in key markets that include renewable energy, electrification, hydrogen and underground storage and disposal, in addition to conventional power generation and transmission and
distribution. Mike joined WSP in 2005 and has been a member of the business line’s leadership team since 2014. In his most recent role as Senior Vice President, National Business Line Executive, Mike leveraged his experience to support continued growth across all end markets and geographies. He has provided overall management of business and technical operations for power and thermal generation, transmission and distribution, renewable energy, and energy management, with responsibility for delivering high-profile projects and programs involving multiple engineering disciplines and cross-sector collaboration. He is actively engaged in the industry with participation in energy thought leadership, podcasts, industry organizations and roundtables. Mike holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states and is a LEED AP.

Fermin Fontanes
Executive Director at Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority

BIO

Fermín Fontanés has a career path of over 19 years as an environmental and energy law attorney and currently serves as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships
Authority (P3A). Highly knowledgeable in the areas of energy, public- private partnerships, land use law, corporate transactions, permitting, regulatory compliance and environmental litigation.

He is responsible for leading and managing the public-private partnership (P3) transactions for
the transformation the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), one of the largest public
utilities in the United States, including the awarded P3’s for the Operation and Maintenance
Agreements of its Transmission and Distribution System (T&D) and Legacy Generation Assets.
Fontanés is also in charge of several innovative infrastructure projects, such as the awarded P3 for the concession of Puerto Rico’s Maritime Transportation System, as well as a concession for the repair, design, construction, financing, maintenance, and operation of the San Juan Bay Cruise Terminals, a first of its kind. Most recently, the P3A awarded a 5-billion-dollar toll roads concession for the Island’s remaining existing toll roads and is procuring a new 300 MW LNG to hydrogen combined cycle generation plant.

Under his leadership, the P3A achieved the significant milestone of being presented with the Organization of the Year – Public Sector award at the P3 Awards.

Fontanés holds a Bachelor of Science, Environmental Policy and Resource Behavior from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School. Prior
to becoming Executive Director of the P3A, Fontanés was part of the Environmental Law, Energy and Land Use practice group in two of the leading legal firms in Puerto Rico. Before practicing as an environmental lawyer, he was founder and president of an environmental consulting company
for projects throughout the United States, Central and South America.

Lawrence Willick
EVP at LS Power Development, LLC

BIO

Lawrence Willick is Executive Vice President with LS Power Development, LLC. Lawrence leads LS Power’s competitive transmission regulatory efforts. Lawrence has been active in transmission planning and competitive transmission throughout the United States. LS Power has been the most successful competitive transmission developer in the U. S. with operating
utilities in CAISO, ERCOT, MISO, NYISO, PJM and Nevada, with additional facilities under development and construction in California, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Nevada and New Jersey representing over $6 billion in capital investment. He has served in various management capabilities in the development, permitting, construction, and operations management of independent power and transmission projects in all U.S. markets.

Mr. Willick has been with LS Power over 27 years, with 32 years experience in the utility and independent power industry. He has an MBA with honors and a Bachelors of Science in Engineering, summa cum laude, both from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Pat Wood
CEO at Hunt Energy Network

BIO

Pat Wood III is the past Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). The son of a small businessman, Mr. Wood has been a forceful advocate throughout his career for robust infrastructure and for customer-centered, technology- unleashing competition.

Today, as CEO of the Hunt Energy Network, Wood and his team are shaping the decarbonized,
democratized, decentralized and digitized future of the power grid. By the end of 2027, the team expects to have an 1100 MW portfolio of distributed batteries and peaking generation assets attached to the Texas power grid.

Mr. Wood has served as a director of a number of public energy companies: independent power producer Dynegy (Board chairman); solar pioneer SunPower (lead independent director), modular nuclear generation (NuScale) sponsor Spring Valley Acquisition Corp., natural gas producer Memorial Resource Development, and infrastructure contractor Quanta Services. Mr. Wood is chairman of the board of Luma Energy, overseeing the Quanta-ATCO joint venture to rebuild and operate the Puerto Rico utility system.

In 1995, Governor George W. Bush named Mr. Wood to head the PUCT with a mandate to inject competition into the state’s regulated utilities. The resulting restructured Texas electric market has improved customer service and cost, yielded innovative technology and service offerings, and attracted high infrastructure investment, including the nation’s largest transmission project, the 2008-2013 CREZ buildout.

During his four years at the helm of the FERC, under President George W. Bush, Mr. Wood led the responses to the 2000-2001 California energy crisis, the bankruptcy of Enron, and the 2003 North American power blackout. By the end of his term, over two-thirds of the nation was served by the reliable, organized wholesale power markets FERC championed.

Mr. Wood holds a B.S. degree (civil engineering) from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He, and his wife, Kathleen, are raising four sons, and there is never a dull moment.

Super Session 03: Meeting the Energy Needs of Tomorrow – Integrated Planning for the Customers, Distributed Energy Resources, and the Grid

8 May 2024 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

As the energy landscape undergoes a transformative shift towards sustainability and resilience, the imperative to holistically address the interplay between customers, distributed energy resources (DERs), and the grid has never been more crucial. This panel convenes visionaries, experts, and stakeholders at the forefront of energy innovation to explore the intricacies of integrated planning for tomorrow’s energy ecosystem. Focused on aligning customer needs with the evolving grid infrastructure and the proliferation of DERs, discussions will spotlight the challenges and opportunities in harmonizing these diverse elements. From fostering customer-centric approaches to optimizing DER integration and fortifying grid resilience, panelists will delve into strategies that bridge the gap between decentralized energy sources and traditional grid frameworks. By emphasizing collaborative frameworks, technological advancements, and policy imperatives, this session aims to chart a roadmap for a seamlessly integrated energy future. Join us for a dynamic exchange of insights and ideas that redefines energy planning paradigms, paving the way for a resilient, customer-centric, and sustainable energy landscape.

Speakers:

Damir Novosel (Moderator)
President & Founder at Quanta Technology

BIO

Damir Novosel is president and founder of Quanta Technology. He was also president of Quanta Energized Services. Previously, he was vice president of ABB Automation Products and president of KEMA T&D US. Damir served on various boards and is presently member of the Sandia National Laboratories Energy and Homeland Security External Advisory Board and Mississippi State University Industry Advisory Board. Dr. Novosel is also an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University.

Damir, a member of the US National Academy of Engineers and IEEE Fellow and Life Fellow, served as the IEEE PES president and the VP of Technology. He is a secretary of IEEE PES Executive Advisory Council, chaired the IEEE Industry Technical Support Leadership Committee, and served as a member of the IEEE Standards Board. Damir received the IEEE PES Patrick P. Ryan Meritorious Service and Leadership in Power awards. He is the CIGRE US National Committee VP of Nominations and received the CIGRE Philip Sporn and Attwood Associate awards. Dr. Novosel holds 18 US and international patents, published over 200 articles and reports, contributed to 7 books.

Damir holds PhD, MSc, and BSc degrees in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University (where he was a Fulbright scholar), the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and the University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively. Dr. Novosel was selected as Mississippi State University Distinguished
Engineering Fellow and received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Elaina Ball
Chief Strategy Officer at CPS Energy

BIO

Elaina Ball leads strategic planning for CPS Energy. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight and execution of CPS Energy’s Vision 2027. Elaina has over 17 years of experience working with both investor-owned and public power utility companies. She has provided effective leadership in power generation, transmission & distribution, market
operations, technology, and business development functions.

She has previously served as CEO for Fayetteville PWC in Fayetteville, NC, as Chief Operating Officer for El Paso Electric and Austin Energy, as Senior Vice President of Power Delivery at Entergy, and is a CPS Energy alumnus serving as Vice President of Technical Services & Energy Solutions in 2012. She also has extensive leadership experience with the South Texas Project (STP), having served on their Board of Directors, Owners’ Committee, and Benefits Committee.

Elaina has been actively engaged with multiple utility organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Electrical League and the Association of Women in Energy, in addition to community non-profits such as the Austin Science Education Foundation, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, and Fayetteville Tech Community College.

Elaina holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a graduate of the University of Idaho Utility Energy Executive program and a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Gabriel Bareux
Head of R&D at RTE

BIO

Gabriel received an Engineering degree from the Polytechnic University of Grenoble in 1996 and from the Imperial College in 1997. After some years working for the telecommunications industry within ALCATEL, Gabriel joined the R&D of EDF (French utility company) in 2001 and moved to the R&D department of RTE (the French Transmission System Operator) in 2003 working on different topic from long term planning, market coupling, system operations with a strong focus on European R&D projects. From 2014 to 2017 he leaded a team of 80 researchers performing advanced studies and developing methods and tools for the French TSO and European Regional Coordination Centers. From 2017 to end of 2019 he was deputy director of the IT division of RTE with a particular focus on applications for System Operation, Asset Management, virtualisation of the digital substations or artificial intelligence. Gabriel has been deeply involved in a collaboration with the Linux Foundation which gave birth in 2019 to a new Open-Source foundation for the energy sector called Linux Foundation Energy. Since December 2019 Gabriel is heading the R&D of RTE where he launched the creation of a new association for collaborative R&D on Power System Modeling and Simulation (CRESYM). Gabriel is also involved in Standardisation and so he seats at the board of the French Standardisation Agency (AFNOR).

Kevin Geraghty
COO & Chief Safety Officer at SDG&E

BIO

Kevin Geraghty is the chief operating officer and chief safety officer for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), one of Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. He is responsible for the safe and reliable engineering, construction, operations and maintenance of the company’s gas, electric and generation resources. He is also responsible for customer service and programs, workplace safety and public safety, including emergency management.

Previously, Geraghty served as both chief safety officer and as senior vice president of electric operations responsible for all aspects of electric transmission, distribution and substation operations, enterprise engineering and major capital projects.

Geraghty has been in the gas and electric utility business for more than 35 years. Prior to joining San Diego Gas & Electric, he served as Chief Operating Officer and senior vice president, operations at NV Energy.

Geraghty holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

He is a board member of the San Diego Habitat for Humanity, The Building Industry Association of San Diego and the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.

Raiford Smith
Chief Utility Innovation Officer at AES

BIO

Raiford Smith is the Chief Utility Innovation Officer of AES’ US Utilities, providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to more than one million customers. In this role, Raiford leads planning, asset management, engineering, and capital project management functions for transmission and distribution. He also leads efforts around creating new customer products and services and new analytics to generate insights about customers and the electric grid.

Raiford began his career as a unionized call center clerk at Savannah Electric and Power Company and has spent three decades since then in the electric, natural gas, and high-tech industries. Prior to his role at AES, Raiford led Google’s global energy, water and wastewater, economic and community development, and supply planning teams, managing over $1.2Bn OpEx and $15Bn CapEx budgets to help Google transition from 100% renewable energy to 24×7 carbon free energy. Additionally, he led the product and UX functions at Tapestry, Google X’s moonshot for the electric grid. Prior to his work at Google, Raiford held a wide variety of roles at other energy companies, including CPS Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy, and the Southern Company. He has led initiatives that contributed hundreds of millions of dollars of recurring EBITDA, grew customer engagement, and improved service reliability through new customer products and services, analytics, smart grid, and distributed energy resources. His career has spanned a very diverse set of roles in legal, mergers and acquisitions, energy trading, transmission & distribution, product management, regulatory, information technology, and customer support.

Raiford graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, earned an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, earned a JD from the Charlotte School of Law, and received a business analytics certificate from Harvard University’s Business Analytics Program. Raiford is a licensed attorney (North Carolina), holds multiple patents for distributed computing at the grid edge, and has published numerous papers on the future of the electric industry, energy regulatory economics, and energy-related technology.

PES Women in Power panel: grid modernization & the energy transition

8 May 2024 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

This technical panel, sponsored by IEEE PES Women in Power, brings together utility experts from across the country to discuss opportunities, challenges and success stories in the power industry’s transition. Panelists will focus on the key role that the electric grid has to act as an enabler for electrification and decarbonization and how it is challenged by these changes, by climate-change related extreme events and the increasing penetration of distributed energy resources. This panel will explore the critical intersection of grid modernization and the energy transition including addressing enhancing grid resilience against climate events and cyber threats, scaling capacity to meet demand, renewables integration, and latest concepts through utility use cases and best practices.

Speakers:

Dana Al-Qadi (Moderator)
Vice President at AECOM

BIO

Dana  Al-Qadi, D.Eng, PE  is a Vice President at AECOM where she leads AECOM’s Energy practice across the western United States. Her work focuses on advancing communities and infrastructure to achieve their priorities through innovation and technology. She has experience in transportation decarbonization, resilience, sustainability strategies, and drinking water treatment and design. She has led the development of a number of statewide, regional, and local transportation electrification strategies, including fleet assessments, nationwide. She was named a Consulting-Specifying Engineer Top 20 Under 40, American Society of Civil Engineers New Faces of Engineering, and Top Young Professional by Engineering News-Record Midwest. She sits on ASCE’s Sustainable Transport Committee, the Associate Board of the ACE Mentor Program, and also serves on the IEEE Women in Engineering leadership board.

Manuel Avendado
Sr. Engineering Manager at Southern California Edison

BIO

Manuel Avendaño is the Senior Engineering Manager of Transmission Planning at Southern California Edison (SCE). Dr Avendaño leads a team of engineering managers and engineers responsible for reliability, generator interconnection, and load studies within the CAISO-controlled SCE transmission system. His team initiates all transmission system expansion planning for reliability reasons and executes SCE’s resource interconnection process under the FERC open-access principles. Previously, he was the Manager of Emerging Technology at Commonwealth Edison and Project Engineer at S&C Electric Company. Manuel earned BSc and MSc degrees in Electrical Engineering in Mexico and the PhD in Electrical Engineering in the United Kingdom. He is Senior Member of IEEE and his past/current roles in IEEE PES include Chair of the Distribution Subcommittee, Chair of the Transmission Subcommittee, T&D Technical Committee Program Chair, and Co-Chair of the 2024 T&D Conference & Exposition.

Sainab Taiwo Ninalowo
Sr. Manager at ComEd

BIO

Sainab Taiwo Ninalowo is the Senior Manager of Smart Grid & Innovation – Grid Modernization at ComEd. In her current role, she is in charge of the development and trial of advanced technologies and solutions that enhance the distribution system and foster an equitable energy transition.

Sainab brings over a decade of experience in roles across Engineering and Program Management. She is passionate about education and empowerment. Sainab currently co-leads ComEd’s EV Rally, a program committed to inspiring young women to pursue STEM careers. Sainab was the chair of IEEE PES Women in Power – a global organization creating a movement to promote more diverse leadership in the Industry. She was the FY16 VP of Outreach for the Society of Women Engineers- Chicago Regional Section, where she oversaw the high school, elementary, scholarship, and collegiate programs.

Sainab holds a BS in ME from Bradley University and an MBA degree from DePaul University.

Lavelle Freeman
Director of Distribution Planning at Eversource

BIO

Lavelle Freeman is Director of Distribution System Planning at Eversource Energy overseeing distribution planning and DER interconnection activities in CT, MA and NH. Prior to joining Eversource, Mr. Freeman was Technical Director at GE Energy Consulting, leading activities in the distribution space with emphasis on advanced distribution planning, DER integration, microgrids and grid modernization. He received an M.S. degree in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University, an M.S. in Power Systems Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama. He has published over 35 technical and conference papers and holds a patent and an invention disclosure.

Jessica Arnaldy
Section Manager at LUMA

BIO

As a native of Puerto Rico, my journey in the field of engineering began with a deep-rooted passion for understanding and enhancing the infrastructure that powers our communities. Prepared with a bachelor’s degree in science, my early career focused on the intricate realm of geo-referencing structures, laying the foundation for my subsequent ventures in the power sector. Joining Pike Engineering as an Outage Analyst in 2016 provided me with invaluable hands-on experience, where I meticulously mapped the intricate web of power lines, gaining profound insights into the components of power distribution networks. This role ignited a curiosity for the complexities of power system design. Promoted to the role of Overhead Designer, I immersed myself in the intricate design of pole framing, reclosers, switchgears, and cut-outs. Transitioning to Duke Energy, my time as an Underground Designer positioned me at the forefront of innovative projects, where I not only contributed to infrastructure development but also played an active role in storm restoration efforts.

In 2021, I returned to Puerto Rico to join LUMA and oversee Substation projects as a Project Manager, contributing to the island’s infrastructure revitalization efforts. Navigating the challenges of startup culture, I played a pivotal role in refining processes and fostering a culture of innovation. Guided by a steadfast commitment to achieving excellence, in 2023 I transitioned to the role of Section Manager, tasked with spearheading a new business team of Project Managers, dedicated to exceeding our service level agreements and optimizing the team’s efficiency. As a proud advocate for Women in Power, I am committed to leveraging my journey to inspire and empower the next generation of females in the electric utility industry.

Super Session 04: Powering Progress: Overcoming Obstacles Towards the Energy Transition

9 May 2024 | 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

In the pursuit of a sustainable energy future, the path forward is marked by intricate challenges at the intersection of global supply chain complexities, the evolution of the electric power industry workforce, and advancements in grid technologies. This panel convenes seasoned leaders and experts to unravel these multifaceted obstacles. Discussions will delve into the ramifications of global supply chain disruptions on energy transition initiatives, emphasizing resilience strategies and localized solutions. Simultaneously, the evolving landscape of the electric power industry workforce and its skill demands will be explored, spotlighting the imperative for upskilling and diversity to meet emerging needs. Additionally, insights into cutting-edge grid technologies shaping the transition will be shared, highlighting their pivotal role in facilitating renewable integration and grid resilience. Through collaborative discourse, this session aims to chart actionable pathways, fostering innovation and cooperation vital for surmounting hurdles on our journey towards a sustainable energy landscape. Join us for an enriching dialogue that powers progress by overcoming pivotal obstacles in the energy transition.

Speakers:

Joseph Svachula (Moderator)
SVP, Transmission & Compliance at Exelon

BIO

Joseph E. Svachula, Senior Vice President, Transmission & Compliance (Exelon Utilities) is responsible for formulating and executing Exelon’s transmission strategy and supporting policies. He leads the company’s participation in PJM and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and serves as the company’s Chief NERC Compliance Officer. He is also responsible for the planning and safe and reliable operation of Exelon’s bulk power transmission system in Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco. Together, they form the nation’s largest utility company by customer count, serving approximately 10 million electric and gas customers in New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Svachula was named to his current role in August 2021. Prior to this role, he served as vice president, Exelon Utility Strategy & Technology.

Earl “Duke” Austin
President & CEO at Quanta Services

BIO

Duke Austin is the President and Chief Executive Officer
of Quanta Services, a Fortune 300 company with over $17 billion in revenue in 2022 and more than 50,000 employees worldwide. He is a fourth-generation leader in the electric utility business and has led Quanta Services to significant growth in key markets. Quanta is now the largest solution provider in North America and is a partner of choice for tackling the most complex infrastructure challenges.

Before joining Quanta, Austin served as President of North Houston Pole Line, LP, which is now a Quanta operating company. In 2009, he joined the Quanta executive team as President of Quanta’s Electric Power, Natural Gas, and Pipeline Division and expanded Quanta’s pipeline operations. He then served as Chief Operating Officer from 2013 until assuming the role in 2016.

Austin serves on the CEO Roundtable, the board of the Southwest Line Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, the Junior Achievement Board of Southeast Texas (JASET), the executive committee for the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), and is currently Chairman of the Texas State University System Board of Regents.

Austin graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Accounting. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater in Austin resides in Houston with his wife, three sons, and one daughter.

Marcus McCarthy
SVP, Siemens Grid Software US&MX at Siemens Germany

BIO

Marcus McCarthy is Senior Vice President of Siemens’ Grid Software, he is responsible for running the business in the US and Mexico.

With more than 30 years of experience, Marcus has a demonstrated history of successfully building hardware and software technology businesses. He joined Siemens from Trimble Inc. In his tenure with Trimble, a technology company serving the critical infrastructure industry, Marcus served as the general manager of the utility business, general manager of the water business, and business area director of the automotive autonomy business. It was during this time that McCarthy spearheaded significant acquisitions and facilitated organic growth initiatives for the company. Prior to his impactful contributions at Trimble, Marcus held the position of CEO at LET Systems from 2004 to 2010, a software company specializing in outage management solutions for distribution utilities globally.

McCarthy is a graduate of the University College Cork with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and holds an MBA from the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business. He resides in Texas where he lives with his wife and two children, enjoying activities such as golf and reading in his spare time.

Andre Begosso
Sr. Partner at Kearney

BIO

“Focus on the fundamentals of the business. That’s what creates value. There’s a lot of noise in the industry, but focusing on first principles will always make you successful.”

Andre Begosso brings 30 years of consulting experience to his role as senior partner and Kearney’s North America utilities lead. During that time, he’s led countless organizations through successful engagements—and that’s what he finds most rewarding about being a consultant. “It’s good to see a company that was in a very difficult financial situation emerge on the other side very strong,” Andre says.

Andre is no stranger to disruptions in the utilities industry, but over the years, he’s found that the principles of supply and demand endure. “Focus on the fundamentals of the business. That’s what creates value,” Andre says. “There’s a lot of noise in the industry, but focusing on first principles will always make you successful.” Andre applies universal concepts to each client’s specific challenges to find tailored solutions and drive the most value.

Andre brings unfiltered honesty to his conversations with clients. He believes in transparency for quickly getting to the heart of a problem and finding the right solution. He’s also learned the importance of separating the substance of what someone says from the feelings it provokes. Andre always tries to take the other person’s perspective, helping him approach every client project with empathy.

“When people say something that you might not find pleasant or you disagree with, there’s always a reason,” he says. “Compartmentalization allows you to not take anything personally, but also be the best you can be when advising clients.”

Andre has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of São Paulo and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Outside of work, he attempts and yet fails to be the “Cool Dad” to his three kids. He also enjoys reading, tennis, ice hockey, and thick sarcasm.

Mark Baranek
SVP, Technical Services at ComEd

BIO

As SVP of Technical Services, Mark is responsible for Engineering, Project Management, Contract Management and Smart Grid & Technology for ComEd. This position oversees the engineering and investment strategy for the energy delivery system in Northern Illinois.

Mark has over 35 years of increasing leadership experience in the Transmission and Distribution industry. Most recently, he served as vice-president of Project and Contract Management, responsible for the execution of all large investment projects, programs, and interconnections for ComEd’s distribution and transmission system. Additionally, Mark oversaw the management of construction and engineering contracts related to those investments.

Prior to that, Mark served as ComEd Director of Transmission where he oversaw maintenance, reliability, and construction of the overhead and underground transmission grid in Northern Illinois. Over his distinguished career, he has led teams in implementing the work management process at ComEd and establishing foundational Distribution Management Systems for real-time configuration control and outage management.

Super Session 05: Spark of Innovation: Exploring Decarbonization from Electrification

9 May 2024 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

In the ambitious pursuit of a decarbonized economy by 2045, electrification emerges as the linchpin for transformative change. This panel convenes trailblazers and experts at the forefront of innovation to unravel the blueprint for enabling widespread electrification and grid expansion. Focused on harnessing proven zero-emission technologies across passenger and commercial vehicles, as well as building electrification, discussions will center on actionable steps pivotal to achieving carbon neutrality. Exploring the symbiotic relationship between electrification, grid scalability, and technology integration, panelists will outline strategies to catalyze this monumental shift. By navigating the challenges and seizing opportunities inherent in this evolution, the session aims to chart a course that harmonizes policy, infrastructure, investment, and innovation, propelling us closer to a decarbonized future. Join us for an illuminating exchange that sparks innovation, driving us towards a sustainable, electrified economy by 2045.

Speakers:

Susan Tierney (Moderator)
Sr. Advisor at Analysis Group

BIO

Sue is a Senior Advisor at Analysis Group and is an expert on energy and environmental economics, regulation, and policy, particularly in the electric and gas industries. She has consulted to businesses, federal and state governments, regional grid operators, tribes, environmental groups, foundations, and other organizations, and has testified before Congress, state and federal regulatory agencies, and federal and state courts. Previously, she was the Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy. In Massachusetts, she was the Secretary of Environmental Affairs, Commissioner at the Department of Public Utilities, and Executive Director of the Energy Facilities Siting Council. She earned her Ph.D. in regional planning at Cornell University. She currently chairs the Board of Resources for the Future and the National Academies’ Board on Energy and Environmental Systems. She is a director of the Barr Foundation, Sloan Foundation, Energy Foundation, World Resources Institute, Coalition for Green Capital, and Climate Leadership Initiative. She was a member of the National Academies’ Committee on Accelerating Decarbonization in the U.S., which issued its report in October 2023, and the Committee on the Future of Electric Power (2021).

Matt Peterson
President & CEO at Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator

BIO

Matt Petersen is the President and CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI.) LACI is creating an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation (e.g., incubating leading startups), transforming markets (i.e., creating aspirational partnerships), and enhancing community (i.e., inspiring future entrepreneurs). LACI’s three priorities are accelerating transportation electrification, clean energy, and sustainable cities.

Prior to joining LACI, Matt Petersen was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti as the first ever Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles. Serving as CSO for four years, Petersen was the
chief architect of the groundbreaking Sustainable City pLAn, led efforts to make LA a global leader in EVs, and helped create the Climate Mayors.

Matt co-founded Global Green USA and led the organization for 19 years as President and CEO. The organization was a pioneer in greening of affordable housing, schools, and cities as well as helping grow the solar sector. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Matt put forth a vision and mobilized resources to green the rebuilding of New Orleans, including schools, the Lower 9th Ward, and more.

Matt is chair of the Climate Mayors board, and a board member of Global Green USA, Habitat
or Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, Center for Environmental Health, and the Sir Edmund Hillary Institute for International Leadership. Matt is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the LA Sustainable Leadership Council, and served as an advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative on energy and the environment while a CGI member for 10 years. He has a son and is a retired AYSO coach.

Peter Fox-Penner
Partner & Chief Impact Officer at Energy Impact Partners

BIO

Peter Fox-Penner is Partner and the Chief Impact Officer of Energy Impact Partners and a Senior Advisor at The Brattle Group. In his EIP capacity he directs all ESG and impact measurement and reporting, works with EIP’s portfolio companies to improve their ESG performance, and collaborates with EIP’s limited partners to accelerate their clean energy transitions. In his capacity as Brattle Senior Advisor, he continues his wide-ranging work on electricity industry
issues and climate policy. He also serves on the Global Leadership Council of the World Resources Institute and as a co-founder and member of the steering committee of both Project Frame and the Venture Climate Alliance. He is also co-founder and senior fellow of the Boston University IMAP program, a collaboration between industry and academia to improve ESG metrics.

Prior to EIP, Peter served for over two decades as Principal and Chairman of The Brattle Group, a leading energy consultancy, as a Professor of the Practice at the BU Questrom School of Business, and as the founding director of the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy, now the Institute for Global Sustainability. He also previously served as a Senior Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. He has served on the boards and advisory boards of numerous companies, including EOS Energy Storage (EOSE), Gridpoint, the Global Energy Group (GHG), and Lighting Retrofit, Inc (now Envocore).

Peter is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on clean energy and ESG topics and the author of numerous published articles and books, including the highly acclaimed Smart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric Utilities (Island Press, 2010) and its sequel Power After Carbon: Building a Clean, Resilient Grid (Harvard University Press, 2020). His research has been widely cited, including in one Supreme Court decision.

Peter holds degrees in Electrical Engineering (BA, 1976) and Mechanical Engineering (MS, 1978) and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (1987).

Ann Rondeau
Vice Admiral, Retired at United States Navy

BIO

Ann Rondeau is a visionary leader with broad executive experience and a track record of achieving results. She has a reputation for acting with integrity, for asking hard questions, and for building strong and enduring avenues for collaboration. A former United States Navy Vice Admiral, her distinguished career includes responsibilities for complex operations afloat and ashore in the United States, Europe and Asia, as well as experience in strategy development and policy advisory roles at the highest corporate levels of the Department of Defense. Her post-Navy career continues her record of influencing transformative change and opportunities. She is collaborative and relates amicably and effectively across personalities and cultures. She has been privileged to lead organizational and cultural transformation in diverse and complex environments. With keen instincts in dynamic environments, she sees through problems, identifies opportunities, and builds consensus. While building a reputation leading troubled organizations to safer waters, Ann also adeptly leads healthy organizations to anticipate future opportunities to build financial, political, and moral support for change.

Marianna Vaiman
Co-Founder & CEO at V&R Energy Systems

BIO

Marianna Vaiman is co-founder and CEO of V&R Energy. She has over 30 years of experience in the development and deployment of innovative technologies for the electric utility industry. She has B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering. Her areas of expertise include stability, resilience, optimization, and control in power systems with high penetration of inverter-based resources; use of synchrophasor measurements for enhanced situational awareness and control; use of machine learning; and analysis of cascading outages.

Marianna is an IEEE Fellow. She was recognized as IEEE PES Women Engineers and Achievers in Power & Energy. She is a member of Power & Energy Magazine Editorial Board, the immediate past Co-Chair of IEEE PES Corporate Engagement Program, a member of IEEE PES Industry Technical Support Leadership Committee, a member of Long Range Planning subcommittee, and a VP of Marketing at CIGRE US National Committee. She’s active in NERC, WECC, and NASPI communities.

Super Session 06: Climate Change Impacts on the Grid of Tomorrow

9 May 2024 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

As climate change reshapes our energy landscape, the imperative to fortify the grid against its impacts has never been more pressing. This panel convenes experts and visionaries to delve into the critical nexus between climate change and grid resilience. Discussions will underscore the urgency of investing in climate adaptation, highlighting the stark contrast between present costs and the exorbitant toll of inaction. Emphasizing the need for modernized grid planning to empower communities amidst an uncertain future, panelists will advocate for adaptive strategies and innovative solutions. Moreover, the session will spotlight the imperative of enhanced collaboration among industries, governments, and communities to steer a transition towards a clean energy future that prioritizes equity. By fostering dialogue and actionable insights, this session aims to chart a course for a resilient, adaptive grid capable of navigating climate impacts while fostering an inclusive, sustainable energy paradigm for all.

Speakers:

Wayne Bishop (Moderator)
VP of Industry Outreach & Strategy at Quanta Technology

BIO

Wayne Bishop Jr. is Vice President of Industry Outreach and Strategy at Quanta Technology, a subsidiary of Quanta Services, and Fortune 500 company. He has worked in the electric power industry for over 30 years.

Wayne is a Senior Member of IEEE and currently serving as the 2025 Chair of the IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies Conference and Exposition. For the last 5 years Wayne served as IEEE PES Vice President of Conferences and Meetings and was a member of the IEEE PES Governing Board from 2019-2023. In addition, Wayne currently serves as a Senior Advisor to LUMA Energy, the electric utility in Puerto Rico.

Previously, Wayne worked at OMICRON electronics for 13 years where he was the Head of Marketing for North America. Prior to that, Wayne was employed at Doble Engineering Company for nearly 20 years in several senior management positions. In 2007, he was appointed by Doble’s Board of Directors to serve on the Executive Committee to broker the sale of Doble Engineering to ESCO Technologies.

Wayne is a graduate of Merrimack College, Harvard University, and the Executive MBA Program at Suffolk University in Boston, graduating with honors. He speaks regularly at industry conferences and has published several articles and papers in industry publications including IEEE Power and Energy Magazine and T&D World Magazine. Wayne is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the College of Science and Engineering at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Wayne and his family live in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts.

Michael Pesin
Deputy Assistant Secretary at U.S. DOE

BIO

Michael Pesin is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Grid Systems and Components Division at DOE’s Office of Electricity. His organization is responsible for the development and management of projects for next-generation electricity delivery technologies and supporting activities to accelerate their introduction to the marketplace.

Mr. Pesin has over 35 years of experience in the electric utility industry directing development and execution of advanced technology programs. Mr. Pesin is a licensed professional engineer and spent most of his career leading technology organizations at electric utility companies where he led technology strategy development, managed research and development projects, and directed strategic programs and demonstration projects in generation, transmission, distribution; system protection, automation, controls and metering; communication networks and cybersecurity; energy storage; distributed energy resources; microgrids; electric vehicles; and many other advanced technologies.

Prior to joining DOE, Mr. Pesin was also the founder and president of a consulting company working with electric utilities, technology companies, and investors. He served as a board member at a number of technology organizations, is actively involved with many electric power industry groups, and is a frequent speaker at industry events.

Catherine Stempien
President & CEO at Avangrid

BIO

Ms. Stempien currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Avangrid Networks, Inc. and as a member of the Avangrid Networks Board of Directors. Ms. Stempien earned a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Dartmouth College. She also completed a joint Dartmouth/London School of Economics program in comparative political studies and participated in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. She is a member of the District of Columbia, Colorado, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit bars.

Kenneth Seiler
SVP of Planning at PJM

BIO

Previously, Seiler was the executive director of System Operations and was responsible for the reliable operation and coordination of the bulk power system, including PJM’s real-time dispatch operations and near-term reliability studies. Seiler oversaw the dispatcher training and certification functions, as well as the markets coordination function, to ensure the efficient and most cost-effective dispatch of the generation fleet.

Seiler is on the board of directors of ReliabilityFirst. ReliabilityFirst is one of the eight Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-designated regional entities responsible for ensuring the reliability of the North American bulk power system. He is also on the board of PJM Environmental Information Services Inc. In addition, Seiler is an instructor for the Mayfly Project, which is a national organization that uses fly fishing as a catalyst to mentor and support children in foster care and introduce them to their local water ecosystems, with a hope that connecting them to a rewarding hobby will provide an opportunity for foster children to have fun, build confidence and develop a meaningful connection.

Prior to joining PJM, Seiler was employed by Metropolitan Edison Company/GPU Energy for nearly 14 years. He held the positions of operations manager, transmission engineering manager, relay protection and control engineer, and substation/transmission construction and maintenance engineer.

Seiler earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration from Lebanon Valley College.

Steve Edwell
Chair of the Governing Body at Economic Regulation Authority, Perth, AU

BIO

In August 2021 the Government of Western Australia appointed Steve as the State’s economic regulator – Chair of the Governing Body of the Economic Regulation Authority, for a 5 year term. Steve is also a member of the Electricity Market Reform Implementation Taskforce in the Northern Territory, as the independent energy market expert.

In addition to these Statutory Appointments Steve’s recent consultancy assignments include:

• In April 2022, appointed by the Northern Territory (NT) Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism to undertake an independent expert Gateway Review of the proposed design for the NT electricity market – 5 month project.
• In August 2021, appointed by the Northern Territory Department of Treasury and Finance to undertake an Independent management and financial review of Power and Water Corporation – 4 Month project.
• In July 2019, appointed by the Western Australian Government to provide commercial and strategic advice regarding the future sustainability of coal mining in Collie – 15 month appointment.
• Commissioned by WA Treasury to project manage an analysis of the outlook for the mix of generation plant within the South West Interconnected System over the period to 2038. (January 2018 to February 2019.) This work included the capacity mix impacts on the price of energy, system security and carbon emissions and policy recommendations.
• Engaged by WA Public Utilities Office as consultant to the Electricity Market Reform project to design and implement reforms to the capacity market (September 2015- August 2018). This work included design of a revised capacity pricing curve, revised arrangements to procurement of DSM capacity and various position papers and consultation processes with stakeholders.
• Engaged by the Northern Territory Department of Treasury and Finance to undertake a peer review of a proposed capacity market design for the NTEM (December 2018- February 2019).
• Appointed by WA Department of Finance as Project Director of the procurement and financial close of 150MW of baseload generation capacity at South Hedland WA (Pilbara Power Project) (2013-14).
• Appointed by WA Department of Finance as Project Director of the Pilbara Electricity Infrastructure Project to develop reform recommendations for the operation and regulation of the North West Interconnected System (2014).
• Provision of commercial and regulatory advice to the Western Australian Department of State Development on major mining and LNG project developments, including the Wheatstone and Browse LNG projects, the Oakajee port and rail project and a proposed gas pipeline from Bunbury to Albany (2010-13).
• Engaged by the Western Australian Government to provide commercial advice (including financial modelling and regulation framework) for the development of a proposed new 70mtpa iron ore port development at Oakajee (2010-12).