Argus North American Biofuels, LCFS & Carbon Markets Summit

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

Richard has many years of experience in the air pollution field and has been with the California Air Resources Board for more than 30 years. His team of over 1,700 professional managers and staff are responsible for a broad range of programmes including those concerning fuels, climate, incentives and air toxics. Some of the key programmes that his team is responsible for implementing include the low-carbon fuel standard, cap-and-trade regulation, measures and incentives to reduce emissions from a variety of goods movement sources, including port trucking, transport refrigeration units, cargo handling operations, maritime operations, rail-related goods movement and measures to reduce emissions from stationary and portable diesel engines, as well as a number of strategies to reduce toxic air contaminants from a wide variety of sources. Richard has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Toxicology and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, 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

Michael Rensing is the Director of the Low Carbon Fuels Branch of the Environment Ministry. He moved to the Ministry of Energy and Mines in 2007 to develop policies and legislation for renewable and low-carbon fuels after joining the British Columbia public service in September 2003 to work in the Air Protection Section of the Ministry of Environment. Michael has a PhD in physics from the University of Victoria in British Columbia. Read less

Cory-Ann Wind works for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality as the Oregon Clean Fuels Program Manager. Cory has worked for ODEQ for over 28 years, the last 11 in fuels, transportation, and climate policy. Cory holds a B.S. in BioResources Engineering from Oregon State University.. Read less

Shereen has over 20 years of experience working at the intersections of environment, climate and equity. From grassroots food justice work in Oakland, CA, to leading the U.S. State Department’s adaptation and loss and damage team and negotiating the Paris Agreement, to researching the benefits and risks to smallholder communities of engaging with carbon markets, Shereen has dedicated her career to advancing these important issues. In June 2021, Shereen was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve as CalEPA's Deputy Secretary for Climate Policy and Intergovernmental Relations. She previously held roles at US EPA, AECOM, the US State Department and worked as a consultant on climate resilience and environmental justice. Shereen also spent 10 years as a food justice advocate, including as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras. Shereen holds a masters from Yale and bachelors from Georgetown. Read less

Joel Creswell is a climate policy expert with a background in environmental science and a career spanning the public, private, and academic sectors. His background includes over a decade of environmental field research, federal positions at the Environmental Protection Agency at the House of Representatives, and positions in regional and state government in Washington. He holds a Ph.D. in environmental chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and is an alumnus of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Program. He is currently the Climate Policy Section Manager at the Washington Department of Ecology, where he leads a team focused on a range of greenhouse gas mitigation programs including the state’s Clean Fuel Standard, Zero Emissions Vehicles program, and Volkswagen Settlement. Read less

As the Climate Commitment Act Implementation Manager, Luke is responsible for helping to lead the design, implementation, and management of Washington State’s comprehensive new cap-and-invest program. Previously, Luke served as the Director and Chief Counsel for the Vermont General Assembly, where he handled legislation relating to energy and climate change. Before moving to Vermont, Luke served as an Assistant Counsel to the Governor of New York State and practiced law in New York City, including with the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Luke is a graduate of Princeton University and Brooklyn Law School. Read less

Julie oversees policy, development and communications at NYLCV, which helped persuade the state of New York to implement the US’ most progressive climate law. She also helped secure increased state funding for water infrastructure and New York City funding for parks and open spaces. Julie served for 11 years with New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation, where as Chief of Staff she was instrumental in advancing reform of brownfield clean-up works and a primary negotiator for the $2.5bn clean water infrastructure Act and the US’ most comprehensive electronics recycling law. 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 34 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 17 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

Carrie joined Neste in 2020 and has spearheaded the growth and expansion of Neste MY Renewable Diesel in the North America 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. Carrie holds a BA in Economics and Public Administration from 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. 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

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Mr. Brisson is a partner in Latham & Watkins' Environmental, Land & Resources Department and Co-Chair of its Air Quality and Climate Change Practices and Global Co-Chair of the Environmental Regulations & Transactions Practice. He was previously Vice President in Goldman Sachs’ Global Commodities business where he helped establish Goldman’s US carbon trading desk. Mr. Brisson’s recent engagements include the representation of SoCalGas in connection with the natural gas leak at Aliso Canyon, the Western States Petroleum Association in connection with the extension of California’s cap-and-trade program and FivePoint Holdings in connection with the design of Newhall Ranch, the largest carbon neutral city west of Masdar. 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

Harry Simpson is the President/CEO of Crimson Renewable Energy and its subsidiaries SeQuential Biodiesel and Sequential Environmental Services. Harry also serves on the Governing Board of the National Biodiesel Board, the biomass-based diesel industry’s national trade association. Prior to founding Crimson, served in a variety of senior executive capacities at venture capital backed technology companies and foreign exchange derivatives trading operations. Harry is a Chicago native and a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington. Read less

Sam Wade serves as the Director of State Regulatory Affairs 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

Helen leads Environmental Sustainability at Southwest. She drives the Company’s environmental sustainability goals, strategy, and portfolio of initiatives and engages externally in environmental policy, coalitions, and partnerships. Helen stepped into her role in 2021, standing up Southwest’s new Environmental Sustainability function. She works to ensure Southwest achieves its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, and on efforts to do right by our Planet and our Company in the communities we serve and beyond. In 2019, Helen started her career at Southwest in Corporate Strategy, where she led many strategy projects for the Company. Prior to Southwest, Helen was a Director of Corporate Strategy at Neiman Marcus Group and held strategy and transformation roles at GameStop, The Hackett Group, and Accenture. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Economic Analysis and German Studies from Rice University. Helen and her husband, Michael, are proud parents to Olivia and Ethan. Helen is conversationally fluent in German and Mandarin. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys travel, gastronomy, and gaming. Read less

Jennifer has two decades of experience in policy analysis and forecasting environmental commodities–including regional compliance markets for carbon (California\WCI and RGGI), voluntary carbon, Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Prior to joining ClearBlue Markets, Jennifer was Lead Analyst for Low Carbon Markets at S&P Platts and Director of Emissions and Clean Energy for PIRA Energy Group, acquired by S&P Global in 2016. 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

Lauren Clarke is the acting Executive Director of the Low Carbon Fuels Division in the Carbon Markets Bureau at Environment an Climate Change Canada (ECCC) working on the Clean Fuel Regulations to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of liquid fossil fuels in Canada. She earned her MSc. in Biology (Aquatic Toxicology) from Queen's University in 2005 and has spent the majority of her career at ECCC, working on programs and regulations such as the Clean Fuel Regulations, the Chemicals Management Plan (New and Existing Substances) and regulations in the oil and gas sector. Read less

Chris Cooper is the President of Neste US. In his role, he is responsible for supporting and aligning regional business strategies to deliver the strategic growth targets, and he acts as Neste’s primary representative for the external community. In the US Chris has over 25 years of Aviation experience which began with his early passion for flying when he began acquiring pilot ratings at a young age. Previously, he was the Vice President for Renewable Aviation of Neste US, where he led a team across the Americas to increase the distribution and accessibility of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. Chris received an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University and a Master’s of Business Administration from Wesleyan University. Chris believes that the future of air travel will be lower emission, it will be sustainable, and it will be powered by SAF. Read less

Anthony Cottone is VP of Carbon Products and Marketing for 1PointFive, a leading industrial-scale Direct Air Capture company, and is responsible for the sales and marketing of carbon removal credits and other carbon products, such as low carbon fuels. Prior to this role, he was Senior Director of Strategy leading strategy development, planning and execution for Oxy Low Carbon Ventures. His team was responsible for the financing and funding of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration projects utilising 45Q tax credits and developing creative financial and business models to deploy first-of-their-kind technologies that reduce global emissions. He has a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Emory University and an MBA from Columbia University. Read less

Bo Qin is a senior analyst in the European carbon research team at BloombergNEF. She focuses on EU emissions trading system policies and price development with an emphasis on the power sector. In addition, she analyses European utility business models in energy transition. She holds an MSc in management and international business from the Aalto University School of Business in Finland. Read less

Mr. Pettit brings 20+ years of entrepreneurial experience identifying opportunities and leading strategic business initiatives for growth. Harrison has led the dramatic market and geographic expansion and diversification that defines Pacific Ag today as a market leader. Since first joining Pacific Ag as a Partner in 2010, Harrison has avidly imparted a vision of Pacific Ag as an essential catalyst for the emerging bioeconomy. Prior to Pacific Ag, Harrison served four years as director of business development for Pacific Ethanol, Inc. during the development and construction of 220 million gallons of production capacity. He further led Pacific Ethanol’s advanced biofuels efforts as developer and principal investigator. Harrison earned his MBA from Georgetown University and his BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read less

Peter brings more than 15 years of experience in developing and financing greenhouse gas reduction projects and monetizing their environmental attributes. With a focus on generating carbon credits for voluntary carbon markets, compliance cap-and-trade systems and transportation-focused clean fuels standards, Peter writes greenhouse gas quantification methodologies and monitoring plans, structures the design and financing of projects and develops offtake structures for a wide variety of agriculture, removal and supply-chain projects. Peter has been working in carbon markets since 2007, spending more than a decade at The Climate Trust, an early non-profit buyer of carbon credits that set standards for credit environmental integrity where he launched Climate Trust Capital, a carbon investment fund, and NativeEnergy, where he developed projects in Fortune 500 company supply chains. Read less

Nik Weinberg-Lynn is manager, Rodeo Renewable Energy for Phillips 66, a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. He leads several renewable energy initiatives at the San Francisco Refinery, including Rodeo Renewed, a project to convert the Rodeo refinery into one of the world’s largest renewable fuels plants. A Bay Area native, Weinberg-Lynn is a chemical engineer with 17 years of industry experience. Previously, he held various roles in economics, planning and operations at the San Francisco Rodeo Refinery starting in 2013. Prior to moving to the Rodeo refinery, he worked in Advanced Process Control and Operations at the Los Angeles Refinery. Weinberg-Lynn began his career with Phillips 66 in 2006 as an Operations intern at the Los Angeles Refinery. After graduating from UCLA, he began with the company as an Advanced Process Control engineer, focusing on computer modeling and simulation, at the Los Angeles Refinery. He attended University of California, Los Angeles and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. Read less

Lorna Luebbe leads PSE’s enterprise-wide strategy for sustainability and serves as deputy general counsel. She is responsible for PSE’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts and progress toward PSE’s aspirational Beyond Net Zero Carbon goal. Lorna also handles complex litigation and other legal issues on behalf of PSE. Lorna has 20 years of utility experience and has held multiple roles throughout her long tenure at PSE, most recently as assistant general counsel and director of PSE’s Environmental Services Department. Lorna has led the company on compliance, regulatory issues, environmental strategy, climate change policy and mitigation, energy infrastructure siting, permitting, due diligence, and dispute resolution matters with additional experience with real estate, energy, contracts, municipal and transactional legal work. Read less

Tom Dower, VP, Public Policy for LanzaTech, Inc., has over 25 years’ experience in Washington, DC in government and industry, specializing in energy and climate policy. Prior to joining LanzaTech, he was senior director, government relations for ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company. He previously served over 15 years in the US Senate for Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) including as deputy chief of staff and legislative director, and as senior climate advisor on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation for Chairman Rockefeller (D-WV). He was also VP for Lighthouse Consulting Group representing the US Climate Action Partnership and energy sector clients. Tom holds degrees from Keystone Jr. College and The American University. Read less

Brendan joined the Great Plains Institute in 2004 and is the Vice President overseeing transportation and fuels programs. He has eighteen years of experience leading initiatives to promote deployment of low carbon transportation and fuel technology. He works across subject areas, including electrification, bioenergy, low carbon fuels, transportation, carbon management, carbon removal, and energy infrastructure. Brendan is an experienced facilitator, energy researcher, policy analyst, project manager, communicator, and advocate. He is lead facilitator for a variety of initiatives, including the Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative, the Midcontinent Transportation Electrification Collaborative, the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota, and Drive Electric Minnesota. He assists policymakers at the state and local level with their low carbon fuel and electrification initiatives. He is part of a team collaborating with Argonne National Laboratories on life cycle accounting methodology for biofuels and supports initiatives to commercialize lower carbon intensity advanced and conventional biofuels. He collaborates with the carbon management team at GPI and leads initiatives with the biofuels industry and agriculture to lower emissions through carbon capture and agricultural soil carbon and fertilizer management. Brendan has an M.S. in science, technology, and environmental policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and an undergraduate degree in biology from Carleton College in Northfield, MN. Brendan lives in Minneapolis, MN with his wife and two daughters Read less

Derek Six joined ClimeCo in 2015 after serving as CEO of Environmental Credit Corp. He has been working in environmental markets since 2006. Derek has been deeply involved in Cap and Trade policy and Offset policy, including co-founding the Carbon Offset Provider’s Coalition (COPC) and participating in the Compliance Offset Developer’s Association (CODA), the Verified Emission Reduction Association (VERA), the Climate Action Reserve ODS workgroup, and many other policy and trade associations. He has produced several research studies, articles, and blogs involving climate change policy, cap-and-trade design, and the roles of voluntary and compliance offsets, and writes ClimeCo’s Monthly Market update. He leads ClimeCo’s ODS Destruction program and has completed more than 30 ODS Destruction projects. Derek is also the Managing Director of the ClimeCo Environmental Fund I, L.P., an environmental private equity fund managed by ClimeCo. Read less

Ezra Finkin is Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs and Development for Chevron Renewable Energy Group. In this role, Mr. Finkin regularly engages with federal agencies, trade associations, biofuel producers and engine manufacturers to further advocate for biofuel policies. Prior to joining Chevron Renewable Energy Group, Mr. Finkin served as Policy Director for the Diesel Technology Forum where he advocated on behalf of diesel engine, vehicle and equipment manufacturers as well as fuel producers. Prior to his time at the Diesel Technology Forum, he served as a consultant to the retail industry on global and domestic supply chain sustainability policy. Mr. Finkin received an M.A. in International Affairs from the School for Advanced International Studies and a B.A. in Economics from Kenyon College. Read less

Claudia Borchert joined the New Mexico’s Environment Department in November 2020 as the Environmental Protection Division’s Climate Change Policy Coordinator. As a member of the leadership team of New Mexico’s interagency Climate Change Task Force, Claudia is developing a suite of climate action strategies for the state’s 5-year climate action plan to achieve the statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction goal of at least 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Claudia is implementing climate actions specified in New Mexico’s Governor Lujan Grisham 2019-003 Executive Order on Addressing Climate Change and Energy Waste including cleaner tailpipe emission standards for passenger cars. Read less

Dr. Roxby Hartley is the Climate Risk Director at EcoEngineers, a consulting and auditing firm that specializes in low-carbon fuels and decarbonization strategies. He has expertise in biofuel production, carbon capture and sequestration, compliance management, and sustainable program development. He is also an expert on the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Read less

Harrison Clay serves as the Head of Biogas in the Energy Transition Group at Mercuria Energy. Prior to Mercuria, Harrison served as President of Clean Energy Renewable Fuels, a biogas production, marketing and distribution company, from its inception through its sale to BP in 2016. Harrison spent four years working in the Environmental Products group at BP in Strategic Development. Read less

Timothy J. Cesarek has over 30 years of business development and private equity experience with over 15 of those years in renewable fuels, chemicals, and energy. He is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Gevo, a renewable fuels and chemicals business. Prior to Gevo, Tim was the Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, of Enerkem, a waste to chemicals and fuels company, where he was responsible for leading commercial and project development efforts. Mr. Cesarek was a Managing Director at Waste Management, Inc. where he was responsible for directly investing in opportunities for waste optimization. Prior to Waste Management, Mr. Cesarek was the President of Koch Genesis Company LLC, an investment arm of Koch Industries, Inc. specializing in commercial ventures, licensing, and early-stage investments in the refining, petrochemicals, forest products, polymers, resins and consumer products industries. He holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. Read less

Andrew Howard is the Senior Director for Climate Finance and Markets at Verra, where he leads strategic engagement to develop opportunities for Verra’s carbon-related standards and build greater ambition in climate action. He works with initiatives in the voluntary market as well as governmental and intergovernmental programs to shape new frameworks for private and public sector finance. Andrew has been developing climate policy and carbon markets for over 20 years. As a consultant before joining Verra, he worked with government clients, international institutions and business groups. Prior to this, Andrew worked with the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to build carbon markets under the Kyoto Protocol, including the Clean Development Mechanism, international emissions trading and Kyoto’s international accounting framework and infrastructure. He later led the secretariat’s strategic development of carbon markets, including by coordinating the UNFCCC negotiations on markets and supporting the development of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Read less

As President and CEO of California Ethanol + Power, Dave Rubenstein leads the firm’s development of its first renewable energy venture, Sugar Valley Energy in Imperial Valley, CA. The 160-acre energy campus will include North America’s first sugarcane to ethanol plant, a biomass electricity plant, and a wastewater treatment facility. The project represents a $1 Billion investment in the Imperial Valley region and will support permanent new as well as hundreds of agriculture-related jobs associated with cultivating sugarcane. The Sugar Valley Energy campus will also house an innovation hub, partnering with research organizations and universities to develop scalable next-generation renewable energy products. Prior to joining California Ethanol + Power, Rubenstein acquired and built a company that provided ammonia to industrial facilities, which he sold to Airgas, Inc. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in business from Winona State University where he serves as a trustee. Read less

Russell Karas is the Head of Carbon Market Development at Xpansiv market CBL, the world’s most active spot carbon offset exchange. He leads development of standardized instruments and technology solutions for spot carbon offsets. Prior to CBL, Russell spent a decade at CME Group overseeing the Environmental and North American Crude and Refined businesses. At CME he launched more than 100 derivative contracts, including the Global Emissions Offset (GEO) and Nature-based Global Emissions Offset (N-GEO) futures contracts developed with CBL. He has a B.A. from Hofstra University’s Honor College in Political Science and Economics, an M.S. in International Affairs and an M.B.A. in Finance, Strategy, and Marketing from New York University. Read less

Emily Mott is a Senior Associate in Baker Botts’ Environmental, Safety, and Incident Response Group in Houston, Texas. Her background is in complex environmental litigation and internal investigations and she regularly provides legal counsel to companies with respect to environmental compliance and reporting. Emily also helps companies handle and investigate major industrial incidents, with a focus in crisis response and subsequent government investigations and enforcement matters, both civil and criminal. Read less

Jessica Masters serves as the business lead for environmental products at CME Group, developing and promoting derivatives that support sustainability. Prior to joining CME Group, a majority of Jessica’s career was served at Neste in trading and strategy development. Jessica has 13 years of experience in the clean transportation space with specialized knowledge in international compliance and voluntary markets. Read less

Jon Costantino was the original AB 32 Climate Change Planning Manager for the California Air Resources Board's Office of Climate Change. He oversaw the first publication of the State’s foundational climate policy document—the AB 32 Scoping Plan. In that role he managed the program, from its infancy, through implementation. He also oversaw the development of policies and strategies that eventually would be followed internationally. Prior to founding his own firm, Tradesman Advisors, Inc., Jon built and managed a climate change regulatory practice for a diverse portfolio of clients at a national law firm. He also was the lead legislative analyst at ARB, where he focused on energy and transportation fuels, after a decade working as an Air Quality Engineer at one of California’s local air quality districts. During his diverse career, Jon gained in-depth insights about the complexities as well as specific issues affecting California's diverse set of industries, including: agriculture, construction, energy production and distribution, transportation and goods movement, consumer products and transportation fuels. With an insider’s perspective, and decades of technical experience, he has become a sought-after source of information and opinion by both mainstream and industry-specific media as a recognized authority on the development and implementation of climate change regulation and policy. His approach to solving problems includes working with agencies crafting solution-oriented policy and regulatory positions, and conveying them to industry through clear communications, while using real world experiences and relationships established by being on the ground and in the mix. He also currently sits on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board as a governor's appointee, where he works closely with agricultural and domestic water users, and industries discharging waste, to protect and ensure water quality, within the Central Valley region. Read less

Scott Berhang is an energy industry veteran who has been in the downstream road fuels industry since 1981, working as a market expert in the Price Reporting Agency (PRA) world. Over the last twenty years, Scott has taught fuel buying classes that have been attended by more than 2,000 industry executives. In addition, Scott has been engaged in house by such leading companies as Shell and FedEx to educate their employees on how downstream fuel pricing and fuel purchasing work. Scott’s ease in breaking down and explaining complex fuel pricing strategies is widely accepted as being the best in the business. Read less

Jessica has been with Argus since October 2011. She started in the company’s London office and is currently the US west coast bureau chief, based in San Francisco. She has reported on west coast refined products, biofuels and biomass, low-carbon fuel standard programs and emissions markets. Jessica holds degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of California, Berkeley. 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

Louise Burke leads the development of the aviation fuels business at Argus Media. She has worked closely on a global level supporting airline and supplier initiatives, and has specialized in providing key support on value integration in the supply chain. As Global Head of the aviation business development team, she works across all regional teams in Asia, Europe and the Americas to support the needs of the market. Louise began her professional career in the energy industry, working for major oil corporations — Mobil Oil Canada, and Alberta Energy Company, in Canada; and Petroleos De Venezuela in New York. She performed both short and long-term analyses of energy prices and market trends. She then worked in the financial energy futures and options industry as Vice-President for the New York Mercantile Exchange (now CME group) during its rapid growth in the 1990s. She supervised major energy and metals futures and options contract launches and supported the efforts of the World Bank and the US Agency for International Development to develop free markets and hedging programs in commodity-sensitive countries. Louise has a degree in economics from the University of Alberta and an MBA from New York University. She is President of the Board of Directors of The Energy Forum, a non-profit organization designed to increase understanding of energy issues, and is a member of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE). She is also affiliated with the SIPA energy program at Columbia University, New York as an instructor in the area of petroleum markets trading. Argus Media is a leading provider of data on prices and fundamentals, news, analysis, consultancy services and conferences for the global crude, oil products, natural gas, electricity, coal, emissions, bioenergy, fertilizer, petrochemical and transportation industries. Data provided by Argus are widely used for indexation of physical trade. Read less