Argus North American Biofuels, LCFS & Carbon Markets Summit

Dr. Cliff was appointed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as Executive Officer (EO) in September 2022, where he leads 1,800 employees that create and implement programs to reduce air and climate pollution. He recently was the 16th Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), leading efforts to set vehicle safety standards for the US. Cliff has extensive scientific and regulatory experience. He previously served as CARB’s deputy executive officer, oversaw its climate program and worked as an air pollution specialist, and was appointed by Governor Brown to Caltrans as the inaugural assistant director for sustainability. He has also led research efforts at the University of California, Davis related to air quality and climate change. Cliff earned a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Davis’ Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. Read less

As Executive Director of RGGI, Inc., Andrew manages RGGI’s day-to-day operations, oversees execution of its quarterly CO2 allowance auctions, and engages RGGI’s internal and external stakeholders. Prior to RGGI, Andrew founded BusinessClimate, a sustainability consulting firm, where he advised major clients on corporate sustainability strategy, including Intel, PwC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Andrew began his career as technical staff at Bell Laboratories and then moved to finance, working at Goldman Sachs and then Deutsche Bank. Andrew is a published author with articles appearing in business magazines such as strategy+business and on-line sustainability fora including GreenBiz. Andrew has been an invited speaker at the UN, NASA’s Goddard Institute, NYU, Purdue University, and PwC. For five years he served on the board of TransitCenter, an NGO dedicated to sustainable transportation solutions. Andrew holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from Columbia University. Read less

Rajinder Sahota is the deputy executive officer, climate change and research, with the Air Resources Board whose primary portfolio of responsibilities includes management of the Cap-and-Trade Program, development and implementation of the State's AB32 Scoping Plan, and Energy Policy. Due to the global nature of climate change and interest in CA's programs, the role requires coordination and collaboration with subnational and national governments pursuing climate change mitigation action. Other climate programs within the division include the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, methane reduction strategies, and fuels initiatives. Prior to this position, Rajinder managed the design and implementation of the Cap-and-Trade Program, including its linkage with Quebec's program. She holds a BS and MS in Atmospheric Sciences from UC Davis. Read less

Nicole has spent her career developing and implementing innovative public policy to address climate change and to support an equitable clean energy transition. Nicole is currently the Senior Climate Policy Advisor at Oregon DEQ and leads the agency’s Climate Protection Program. With this program Oregon became the second state in the nation to place limits on greenhouse gas pollution from the natural gas and transportation sectors. Previously, Nicole spent several years as the Executive Director for RGGI, Inc., implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first mandatory market-based program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A multi-state initiative, RGGI caps and reduces carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector. Nicole also worked as the Associate Director for the Environmental Bankers Association (EBA), a trade association which focused on climate change risk, sustainability and environmental, social, governance (ESG) issues in financial operations and lending practices. Read less

Yuhau has been trading, originating and structuring US environmental commodities transactions since 2009. He got his start in the market at Noble Group, originating voluntary carbon offsets with the potential to be accepted into the California Cap and Trade compliance market as well as the ultimately doomed Federal Cap and Trade program (i.e., “Waxman Markey”). From there he went to NRG, where he traded compliance and voluntary markets in Carbon (CCA and RGGI), Renewable Energy Credits (Ercot, PJM, NEPOOL), Nox and SO2 (EPA CSAPR program), as well as various regional ERC products around the US. In late 2020 Yuhau joined the Morgan Stanley power and gas trading desk in New York, where he has helped to lead the effort to build out and expand the firm’s capabilities and product offerings in all things environmental commodities. Read less

Bruce W. Heine was named Vice President of Government Affairs for Magellan Midstream Partners in April 2017. In June 2001, Heine was named director of government affairs for Williams Energy Services, which became Magellan Midstream in 2003. In 1999, Heine joined Williams as senior manager of government affairs assigned to the Petroleum Services (Bio-Energy, Transportation and Terminals, Refining, Retail TravelCenters) Exploration and Production and Midstream business units. Prior to Williams, Heine worked for Methanex Methanol Co. in government affairs and marketing services from 1996 to 1999. He served as marketing manager and director for a leading US ethanol producer, New Energy Company of Indiana, from 1987 to 1996. Heine held managerial positions in a family petroleum distributorship and was a sole proprietor and dealer of an Exxon branded service station. Read less

Marie LaRiviere is responsible for creating and driving Amazon’s low carbon fuel strategy across North America Operations, the network that moves Amazon packages to customers’ doorsteps. She focuses on renewable diesel, renewable natural gas, and sustainable aviation fuel as scalable solutions for today’s transportation assets. Prior to her role at Amazon, Marie advised Chevron on oil and low carbon fuel demand as a part of the Corporate Strategy and Sustainability function. Prior to Chevron, Marie was responsible for modeling long-term supply and demand for domestic energy markets and forecasting economic and financial market impacts of proposed Congressional legislation. Marie holds a Bachelor’s of Science and an MBA from Georgetown University and is CFA Charterholder. Read less

Michael Vomund is Vice President of Fuels Sales in Chevron’s Americas Products organization effective Oct. 1, 2020. He is responsible for maximizing the fuels products value chain across North and South America, focusing primarily on growth, value generation and the customer experience. Before his current role, Vomund was Vice President for Americas Products West, accountable for the profit and loss of Chevron’s three refineries and associated fuels marketing activities in the Western United States, along with driving enterprise value across the crude-to-customer supply chain. Vomund also served as General Manager, Americas Transportation & Operations. In this role he oversaw Chevron’s fuels distribution and transportation operations across the Americas, responsible for fuel distribution from Canada to Colombia via terminal, trucking and rail. Since joining Chevron in 1988, Vomund has held several roles of increasing responsibility, including positions in Engineering, Marketing, Environmental & Safety, Operations, and Corporate in North America and Africa. In Africa, he served in Chevron’s Downstream business with accountability for fuel sales profit and loss across South and Central Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana, Malawi and Lesotho). Vomund earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of California, Davis. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and is a member of the California State Bar Association. In his free time, he is an avid cyclist, who competes in mountain and road bike racing. Read less

Josh Bledsoe advises clients on complex infrastructure and development projects, particularly those utilizing renewable or low-carbon technologies. He has broad experience in the permitting, entitlement, environmental review, and financing of cleantech projects; and also handles related administrative and judicial challenges. Mr. Bledsoe has deep experience with climate change law, including California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (commonly known as “AB 32”) and associated Air Resources Board regulations such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and the Cap-and-Trade Program. He guides clients to monetize the low-carbon attributes of their products or services under various carbon pricing and regulatory regimes. He also possesses in-depth knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act (and its state and local counterparts throughout California), the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the Warren-Alquist Act. Read less

Paola Mellow is the Executive Director of the Low Carbon Fuel Division at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where she is responsible for implementing the Clean Fuels Regulations, a key part of the Government of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan to lower emissions by 40% from 2005 levels. . Prior to her current role, Paola has been responsible for developing number of other key climate change policies as Director of the Electricity and Combustion Division, including greenhouse gas regulations that will accelerate the phase-out coal-fired electricity in Canada, regulations for natural gas-fired electricity, and the output-based standard for electricity under the federal carbon pricing system. Paola graduated from the University of Victoria with a Master’s degree in Economics, and combines a strong analytical background with people management excellence to advance Environment and Climate Change Canada’s reputation as a world class regulator. Read less

Paul Machiele is the Center Director for Fuel Programs in the Assessment and Standards Division of EPA in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Throughout his 37 year career at EPA he has been responsible for a wide range of regulations and initiatives covering gasoline, diesel fuel, and alternative fuels, as well as light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty highway engines, and nonroad engines. He has managed the Fuel Programs for the last 18 years, leading the development of the gasoline and diesel low-sulfur standards and renewable fuel standards. In 2009 Mr. Machiele was the recipient of SAE’s Barry D. McNutt Award for Excellence in Automotive Policy Analysis and in 2011 became an SAE Fellow. He received a bachelor degree in Engineering from Calvin College and bachelors and masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Read less

Jolie Rhinehart has more than 20 years of experience in a variety of refining roles. She currently leads the San Francisco Refinery, which is converting to a renewable fuels facility in 2024 that will initially produce over 50,000 barrels per day. Previously, she was General Manager at the Lake Charles Refinery. She also served as General Manager at the Ferndale Refinery, Operations Manager at the Los Angeles Refinery, as well as the Operations Manager at the Ferndale Refinery. Rhinehart began her career as a process engineer at the Trainer Refinery in Pennsylvania. There, she worked on assignments of increasing responsibility in engineering, planning, economics and operations. She is the Phillips 66 representative on the AFPM Manufacturing Committee and serves as the committee’s vice chair. She also serves on the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) Bay Area Refinery Committee. Rhinehart graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering. Read less

Derek Nixon currently serves as Washington State’s cap-and-invest auctions and market supervisor. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating auctions, trading, and market surveillance of the cap-and-invest program. Among other hats, he helped shape the design of the Washington cap-and-invest market during the 2022 rulemaking that established the program. Derek enjoyed working for five years in the California Cap-and-Trade program, specializing in EITE allocation and organized wholesale electricity markets. Prior to obtaining an MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Davis, Derek worked as a financial analyst in solar PV as the industry ramped up U.S. deployment. Read less

Lindsay Fitzgerald has served as Vice President, Government Relations at Gevo since May 2021. She leads a global team whose mission is to develop and promote policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to joining Gevo, Lindsay served as Senior Manager, then Director of Government Affairs at Renewable Energy Group, a leading provider of biodiesel and renewable biodiesel, where she was responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for local, state, federal and international governments. She also served as Director of Regulatory Affairs at the National Biodiesel Board. She started her career as a consulting member, then government team member responsible for implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard at the U.S. EPA. She is a seasoned government affairs professional with a special aptitude for strategy, collaboration, and big-picture, actionable planning, and execution. Read less

Abbey Brown is the Technical Lead for the Clean Fuel Standard at the Washington Department of Ecology. She has spent her career working on climate, energy, and air quality policy for governments and non-profits in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Washington State, including Environmental Defense Fund and the World Resources Institute’s NDC Partnership. She holds a B.A. in Political Studies from Bard College and a M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Read less

Dianne McGuire is currently a Senior Economist with the Low Carbon Fuels Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Energy Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. In this role she conducts economic analysis of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard including maintaining a model that predicts compliance costs, credit market balances, and emission reductions, and conducting cost benefit analysis of the program. She previously worked for the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy as an Environmental Economist and Senior Policy Analyst. She has over 25 years of experience in Economist and Policy Analyst roles in government. She holds a Master of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of British Columbia. Read less

I am part of the Fuels Strategy & Management team which supports our sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and ultimately, our emissions goals. I evaluate technology, help vet capital investments, negotiate offtakes, and support policy development internally and externally for SAF. With over 16 years of experience working in design engineering prior to Southwest, I am well-versed in the stage-gate approach to successfully scale up and build bioprocessing facilities with extensive work experience in sustainable/renewable/biofuels. I was a process engineer and then project manager for full multi-discipline engineering teams for capital project in excess of $1 billion. Read less

28+ years’ experience in aviation and oil/gas. Former Head of US commodity sales and trading for Cenovus (formerly Husky), co-founder of America’s first Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) Skybus Airlines, and senior leader in operations and business development across several startups. Read less

Leveraging 20 years of experience and a proven track record in the financial services industry, Leslie Durschinger founded Terra Global Capital in 2006 to attract private sector capital to nature-based solutions that provide climate and community benefits. She brings technical expertise in sustainable landscape program design and deployment of investment capital in a collaborative and participatory manner to Terra Global's client base. Leslie is recognized as a pioneer and innovator in aligning rural development values and financially viable approaches to sustainable landscape management. Under Durschinger’s leadership, Terra Global has launched numerous commercially viable sustainable landscape management programs that produce high-quality, multiple-benefits verified emission reductions/removals, designed new risk mitigation instruments, and developed climate finance investment vehicles that drive investment capital to developing and emerging countries to meet their NDCs. She is on the IETA Council, Co-chair of the IETA Natural Capital Solutions Working Group, and member of Verra’s JNR Stakeholder Group. Read less

Andy Meislin has helped corporations across business sectors to set and achieve their greenhouse gas reduction goals. She started her career in sustainability consulting, where she recommended pathways for corporate clients to meet their GHG emission and renewable electricity goals. At UPS, she plays a key role managing electric vehicle deployments and strategy, directing UPS’s renewable electricity procurement, and leading Low Carbon Fuel Standard data collection and reporting for EVs. In the past, she has lead UPS’s GHG emission calculations and reporting across operations extending throughout 220+ countries, improving the accuracy and granularity of those calculations. Andy works cross-functionally with UPS’s automotive, procurement, public affairs, engineering, and advanced technology teams to develop initiatives to reduce GHG emissions throughout the organization. A lifelong San Francisco Bay Area resident, Andy holds bachelor’s degrees in Human Biology and Art and a master’s in Sustainability Science from Stanford University. Read less

Keith Sawyer, manager of alternative fuels for Avfuel Corporation, has worked in the energy business since 1977, including 10 years in the aviation industry. After a 40-year career with Chevron, Sawyer joined Avfuel—a leading independent global supplier of aviation fuel and services with 650+ branded FBOs and 3,000+ fueling locations worldwide—in 2016 as its regional business development/supply chain manager where he was responsible for developing and nurturing relationships with fueling locations throughout the Western U.S., Canada and Alaska. To further capitalize on his expertise in the fuel market, Sawyer became Avfuel’s manager of alternative fuels in 2017, leading all aspects of evaluating and developing the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market and its suppliers and securing SAF supplies for Avfuel’s customers while representing Avfuel within the environmental and fuel supply chain groups associated with GAMA, NBAA, NATA and IBAC. During Sawyer’s tenure at Chevron, he oversaw petroleum and natural gas product supply chain management, cargo operations, general aviation business, branded programs, aviation investments, and marketing in various markets, operating out of Perth, Western Australia; Houston, Texas; San Ramon, California; Almaty, Kazakhstan; San Francisco, California; and Vancouver, British Columbia. Sawyer received a bachelor’s degree in economic geography from the University of British Columbia, as well as completed the university’s executive development program, and Alberta’s Banff School of Management business and marketing development program. Read less

Chris Vervaet is the Executive Director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA), representing its members on matters pertaining to the oilseed processing industry. Chris also serves as a senior executive with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). He has worked at various levels of the agriculture industry for over 20 years, in both a domestic and international capacity. Prior to joining COPA and the CCC in 2015, Chris served as Agriculture Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. He’s also held various positions in government and private industry, with a focus on agriculture policy and trade. Chris holds a M.Sc. in Agriculture Economics from the University of Guelph and a B.Sc. in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba. He was raised on a grain farm in Manitoba and currently resides in Winnipeg with his wife and daughter. Read less

David Hovermale has served as NOPA’s Executive Vice President since May 2001. He is responsible for government relations, issues management, and political strategy and coordination. He is principal liaison for the Advocacy Committee and Government and Public Relations Subcommittee as well as support for NOPA’s two other primary Committees: Collaboration and Organization Effectiveness. From December 1998 through April 2001, David served as NOPA’s Director of Government and Public Relations. David has nearly 40 years of association with and extensive knowledge of agricultural and international trade policy. He has vast experience working with the Administration, Congress, and private sector associations. Read less

Daniel Kim is Managing Director and founder of Solariant Capital and its wholly owned subsidiary, Lumino Capital. Since 2012, he and his team have been developing utility-scale solar and biomass power plant projects as well as energy plantation/pellet plant projects in Japan and SE Asia. He is also the General Partner and Fund Manager for Solariant Renewable Energy Fund I, launched in Jan of 2019 focusing on development stage renewable energy power plant projects. Prior to founding Solariant Capital, Solariant Inc, and Lumino Capital, he held various finance positions including equity research (Wedbush Morgan Securities), fixed income (Transmerica), and public accounting (Nigro, Karlin & Segal). Read less

Simon Zhang has more than 25 years’ experience in strategy, business development and technology in the energy and petrochemical industries. As CEO, he is leading the development of a world-scale integrated clean hydrogen value chain in collaboration with strategic joint venture shareholders. Mr. Zhang founded and served as CEO of Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW). In this role, he led the development of a $2.5 billion methanol project on the US West Coast. His previous experience includes management and strategic leadership roles at BP in China and the United Kingdom, as well as with ExxonMobil as a senior engineer in Houston. He has co-authored five (5) U.S. patents on hydrogen carbon process technology. Mr. Zhang received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Wisconsin, M.S. from Purdue University, B.S. from Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), MBA from University of Chicago, and holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation. Read less

Mr. Pollitzer is a licensed Professional Engineer with more than 30 years of experience in environmental engineering, environmental consulting, and project management of large-scale environmental remediation sites, Over the past 13 years, Mr. Pollitzer has worked at more than 250 renewable fuel facilities under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. He has conducted reviews of ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and biogas facilities. Under the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program, Mr. Pollitzer has performed CA-GREET Carbon Intensity (CI) modeling for several different types of renewable fuel facilities. Mr. Pollitzer is also a certified Lead Verifier in the California LCFS Verification Program. With his extensive and diverse industry experience, Mr. Pollitzer is a recognized subject matter expert in the renewable fuels industry. He has provided both technical and economic consulting to biofuel producers, biofuel consumers, and investors looking to fund projects or contribute to research in the industry. Read less

Bo Qin is the Lead Carbon Analyst at BloombergNEF (BNEF), a strategic research provider covering low-carbon technologies and business model transitions. Her research focuses on carbon policy development and price forecasting with an emphasis on the European and the U.S. markets. Bo and her team support energy companies, technology and manufacturing companies, financial institutions and policymakers navigating the transition towards a cleaner future. She joined Bloomberg in 2015 and has previously led BNEF’s European utility strategy research. She holds a BA in Accounting and MSc in International Business Management from Aalto University. Read less

Katie serves as Managing Director of IETA, the global multi-sector business voice for the intersection of markets and climate change. On behalf of IETA’s 150+ corporate members, Katie leads efforts to inform market solutions to address environmental challenges across the Americas and globally. She also manages IETA’s growing climate finance, aviation and digital innovation sustainability initiatives. Katie currently sits on the Global Steering Committee for the World Bank’s Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC), Boards of the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) and the International Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Knowledge Centre, and Advisory Panels for Canada’s Institute for Clean Growth & Climate Change, the Ivey Foundation, and Blockchain for Climate Foundation. Prior to IETA, Katie worked as a Senior Consultant at ICF International. In 2019, Katie was recognized as a Clean16 and Clean50 award recipient for contributing to Clean Capitalism Leadership in Canada. Read less

Brian is the West Coast Regulatory Affairs Advisor for Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Serving in this position since 2018, he is responsible for engagement with policymakers on energy, fuel, and climate matters. Prior to his current role, he held positions in business development, economics, and engineering. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach. Read less

Bill Peters is the Market Analyst for Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program, where he’s worked since 2016. He works on various aspects of the program from rulemaking to implementation and market monitoring. Prior to that he was a reporter and deputy editor for Argus Air Daily in Washington, DC and Portland, Oregon where he worked on covering North American carbon, emissions, and renewable electricity policy and markets. Read less

Sean Newsum is Managing Director for Environmental Affairs at Airlines for America (A4A), where he leads the A4A work to support the US airline industry on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and other environmental issues. Sean joined A4A after 32 years at Boeing, with the last 12 years focused on aviation's environmental strategy where he was Senior Director for Environmental Sustainability Strategy which including leading Boeing's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program that focused on partnering widely across and beyond the aviation sector to catalyze the availability of SAF. He was also an active member in various industry groups including the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) board of directors, Vice Chair of the Environment Committee at Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), and ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection. Read less

Sam Wade serves as the Director of Public Policy at the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. Previously Mr. Wade worked as Chief of the Transportation Fuels Branch at the Californian Air Resources Board, where he oversaw the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program for four years. In other roles at CARB, Mr. Wade served as Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, developed the Cap-and-Trade rule, and authored portions of California’s first Greenhouse Gas Scoping Plan. He’s also worked in energy policy at Pacific Gas and Electric and with a bioenergy/biochar start-up. Sam holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from U.C. Davis, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii, and an M.P.A in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. Read less

Dave Meyer is the Director of Transportation Markets at 3Degrees where he leads a team that is focused on expanding the company's presence in the clean fuels standard (CFS) markets. Dave brings a blended background of technical and business training with experience in operations, business development, corporate strategy and policy analysis to address the challenge of transportation decarbonization. Read less

Donna Warndof is the Head of Public Affairs, Americas, for NESTE, a global leader in solutions for the hard-to-decarbonize transportation sector. NESTE’s wide range of products include renewable diesel for road transportation fleets, sustainable aviation fuel, and renewable polymers and chemicals. Donna has over 20 years of experience in U.S. advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels. Her experience in the energy sector includes trade associations and Fortune 500 companies such as Occidental Petroleum. In the public sector, she has represented three of Texas’ most populous counties (Harris/Houston, Bexar/San Antonio, and Travis/Austin), including recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey. In addition to policy subject knowledge, she is an expert in advocacy strategy, building and leading advocacy teams and coalitions. Donna holds an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and son. Read less

Mr. Wine serves as Clean Energy’s Vice President, Renewables, Distribution. In this role, Sean manages the renewables distribution division which is responsible for all sales, operations, compliance, and sustainability reporting related to Clean Energy’s renewable natural gas (RNG) product. Since joining Clean Energy in 2006, Sean has successfully developed a multitude of natural gas fuelling implementation programs across all company markets, along with deploying some of the very first RNG to transportation fuel in the U.S. Mr. Wine is focused on expanding the company’s negative-carbon intensity RNG product offering, while also managing the regulatory risks associated with the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Sean is recognized as an RNG industry expert, working closely with various stakeholders across the entire RNG supply chain, while advocating on behalf of the company for additional Clean Fuel Programs throughout North America. Sean graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Political Science. Read less

As Vice President for Renewable Road Transportation at Neste North America, Carrie Song is responsible for the company's increasing development and expansion efforts in the region. She joined Neste in 2020 and has spearheaded the growth of Neste MY Renewable Diesel in the North American market since then. Carrie is passionate about renewable fuels and other new technologies and innovations that can help the transport industry cut carbon emissions. Carrie has a track record of success in driving business growth for both Fortune 500 companies and startups in a variety of industries, including global commodity trade, IT, capital goods, retail consulting, energy, and oil and gas. Prior to her current role at Neste, she served as Sales Director - Americas for BP, where she oversaw business development performance, expanded business footprints, and developed high-performing teams across North, Central, and Latin America regions. Prior to that, Carrie was the Sales & Marketing Director of Global Oil and Gas Power Solution at Cummins. Carrie holds a BA in Economics and Public Administration from the University of International Business and Economics in China, a Master in Management from London School of Economics in the UK, and a Master of Science in Marketing Research from Texas A&M University in the US. She is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt sponsor. Read less

Jonathan Martin serves as Director of Economics and Market Analytics for Clean Fuels Alliance America, responsible for monitoring market data and current events to provide in-depth market intelligence and forecasts. Jonathan leads a team focused on modeling and forecasting the direction of liquid fuels, energy, and feedstock markets. Prior to joining Clean Fuels, Jonathan was an Economist at Marathon Petroleum Corporation, where he led economic and market analyses and forecasts in the oil and gas market. Jonathan has also previously worked as a process engineer and environmental compliance professional at multiple refineries in Marathon’s portfolio. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Read less

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Nishal Patel is a Trading Manager with the Valero Energy, Biofuels Supply & Trading Team. In her role she is responsible for developing international biofuels market strategy. Her current focus is on Sustainable Aviation Fuel with the upcoming production from the Valero and Darling Ingredients Joint Venture, Diamond Green Diesel. Prior to her current role, she worked multiple roles in refining including Process Engineering, Planning & Economics, Process Safety, and Operations. Nishal earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from UCLA. Read less

Janie Kilgore is the Associate Regulatory Council for POET, LLC, the largest biofuel producer in the world. Her work involves developing regulatory and legislative positions on federal and state law, directing litigation efforts, and coordinating with EPA, the California Air Resources Board, and trade associations. She manages regulatory and legislative engagement on climate and vehicle fuel issues related to federal Renewable Fuel Standard, California Low Carbon Fuel Standards, Clean Air Act mobile source provisions, developing state low carbon fuel programs as well as international low carbon fuel standard programs. In addition, she works on environmental, FDA, TTB and other regulatory compliance at POET’s 33 bioethanol production plants. She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Read less

Michael Ball is editor of Argus Air Daily, the leading source of pricing, news and analysis for the North American environmental markets. Michael joined Argus in 2003 and has been editor of Air Daily since 2012. He has covered wide range of state and federal environmental issues, including the development of California’s AB 32 legislation, US Environmental Protection Agency regulations such as the Clean Power Plan, and Clean Air Act cases before the US Supreme Court. Read less

Erika specializes in energy transformation acceleration, evolving ClimeCo’s solutions for the hard–to–abate sectors. Her focus is offering solutions in Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS), hydrogen markets, and developing insetting services to enable and monetize direct supply-chain emissions reductions. Before joining ClimeCo, Erika worked in the low-carbon energy industry for ten years, spanning energy storage to renewable fuels and CCUS with Chevron. Erika helped launch their Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) business, forming two joint ventures in dairy RNG production. She then moved to their strategy and sustainability team, where she led the commercial strategy for a new CCUS global business line and supported the start-up of Chevron’s New Energies. Erika earned her Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, and her Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University Read less

Shailesh Sahay is a partner in the Environmental, Safety and Incident Response practice at Baker Botts. Shai previously served as in-house counsel to the largest renewable fuels producer in the world, and as an acting general counsel of the largest renewable fuels trade association. He directs legal and policy strategy on climate, environmental, sustainability issues at the federal, state, and international levels. Shai has more than a decade of experience with transportation decarbonization, and has worked with fuel suppliers, users, feedstock providers, and other supply chain participants to reduce the greenhouse gas impacts of fuels. Read less

Patrick Serfass is Executive Director of the American Biogas Council. Patrick has led the American Biogas Council since he helped create it in 2010. The American Biogas Council now represents nearly 400 organizations and 5,000 professionals as the voice of the US biogas industry. The ABC is dedicated to maximizing carbon reduction and economic growth using biogas systems. Beyond biogas, Patrick has more than 20 years’ experience growing clean energy industries, like solar, hydrogen, biochar, and woody biomass. In Patrick’s early career, he was a physical oceanographer, architectural engineer and designed unmanned deep ocean vehicles. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College. Read less

Ian Thomson is President of Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC), the national trade association for advanced biofuel producers and developers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors. Its members are Canadian companies that are global leaders in commercial production of a range of synthetic fuels and advanced biofuels from sustainable feedstocks, with more than 14bn litres of installed annual capacity worldwide. ABFC members include Canada’s leading technology innovators, which are actively developing new clean liquid fuels production and distribution assets in Canada. ABFC has provided over 15 years of guidance in Canadian federal and provincial fuels, carbon pricing, and climate policy. Ian currently chairs a federal advocacy coalition of non-fossil clean fuel trade associations and NGOs focused on an effective federal Clean Fuel Standard. Read less

John Storey-Bishoff has been with Alberta Environment and Parks for 15 years in the area of climate. John holds a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta. In role of Executive Director of Climate Regulation and Carbon Markets, John oversees application of greenhouse gas regulations for industry in Alberta as well as provincial biofuel blending requirements. Read less

In his 30-plus year tenure at Citigroup, he has assisted corporate clients raise more than $40 billion of tax-exempt and taxable bonds for infrastructure projects primarily on a project finance basis. He is specialist in financing circular economy and waste-to-value projects, having led over 40 such financings. Most recently, he managed the financing of Gevo’s Iowa dairy manure-to-RNG project, Enviva’s Epes, AL and Bond, MS wood pellet manufacturing facilities, GO Lab’s Madison, ME carbon negative insulation production facility, CMC’s Mesa, AZ scrap steel micro mill and AMG’s spent residual catalyst-to-vanadium project near Zanesville, OH. David has a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Brown University and was a registered Professional Engineer. Read less

Mark Horowitz serves as Managing Director – Global Sales & Business Development. Mark’s experience in markets spans more than 25 years. Prior to joining IncubEx, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at Tellus Markets. He also had a primary role in the creation and success of the Nasdaq Futures Exchange (NFX) eventually rising to serve as President. Mark’s prior career history also includes energy derivatives trading and portfolio management, hedge fund administration as well as business line management for CME Group where he headed the silo for Energy and Metals Options. He earned his B.A. in History from Villanova University. Read less

Jordan manages the policy analysis and rulemaking team within the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program at CARB. Prior to this role, Jordan was the staff lead for the transportation sector in the 2022 Scoping Plan Update, and has developed regulatory proposals for several regulations at CARB. Jordan has a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis & Planning from UC Davis. Read less

Brad Schallert, Winrock’s director of net zero services, has more than 15 years of experience in the field of climate change. His areas of expertise include aviation and climate, carbon credit markets, international climate negotiations, climate policy design, and voluntary corporate climate strategies. Brad joins Winrock after 10 years at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US) where he led work on aviation and carbon markets and helped launch cross-departmental projects including We Are Still In, the largest and most diverse coalition ever established in pursuit of climate action in the U.S. He led WWF’s delegation to the U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization and served on technical committees that developed the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. For years, Brad served as WWF’s policy lead on the carbon trading provisions in the Paris Agreement. He has advised both policymakers and businesses over his career. In 2012, Brad was part of the team that developed The 3% Solution, the pre-cursor to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). He authored and co-authored several publications while at WWF including the WWF/Boston Consulting Group Corporate Climate Mitigation Blueprint, and has advised initiatives including the SBTi, the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative, and the precursor to the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market. Brad holds a MPA in environmental science and policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a bachelor’s in international and environmental studies from the University of Oregon. Read less