AiDASH Evolve 2024 Speakers
These talented, leading experts will share their insights on harnessing satellite technology and AI to protect critical infrastructure, promote biodiversity, and advance sustainability. Join us to connect with the minds shaping a climate-resilient future.
John Bel Edwards
Former Governor of Louisiana and Special Counsel
John Bel Edwards
Former Governor, Louisiana and Special Counsel, Fishman Haygood
Former Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards serves as special counsel in Fishman Haygood. John Bel works with both the firm’s business and litigation teams with a focus on renewable energy matters.
Prior to his governorship, John Bel was a practicing attorney and managing member of Edwards and Associates Law Firm, LLC, in his hometown of Amite, La. John Bel successfully represented hundreds of clients in a variety of civil law matters, including contracts, personal injury, successions, wills, and more. Notably, John Bel served on the Plaintiffs Steering Committee of a class action resulting from the 2002 train derailment in Amite (In Re: Train Derailment Near Amite, La., on Oct. 12, 2002).
In 2008, John Bel was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives where he served on the Civil Law, Education, and Judiciary Committees; chaired the Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs (2009-11); and was the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus from 2010 through 2015. John Bel represented the people of Amite, Greensburg, Kentwood, and Hammond for eight years before being elected to the highest rank in state government in November 2015.
During his two terms as the 56th Governor of Louisiana, John Bel spearheaded legislative initiatives like Medicaid expansion, budget stabilization, and criminal justice reform. He also was at the state’s helm through the COVID pandemic, during which Louisiana suffered its two strongest hurricanes ever: Laura (2020) and Ida (2021).
Having led the response to—and recovery from—fifty state emergencies and twenty-three federal disaster declarations, which also included floods, wildfires, and tornadoes, John Bel took numerous steps to prioritize addressing climate change and expanding the clean energy sector in conjunction with the state’s long history of traditional energy.
In 2017, the Louisiana Legislature unanimously passed the Louisiana Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast. Under John Bel’s administration, the state invested $15.4 billion in coastal protection and restoration construction projects benefitting nearly 32,000 acres of wetlands and 359 miles of levees. The state is currently in engineering and design for another fifty-two projects that—when completed—will represent an additional total investment of nearly $8 billion and benefit just under 300,000 acres of wetlands.
Then, in January 2022, John Bel approved Louisiana’s first-ever Climate Action Plan, an innovative set of recommendations designed to limit the severity of climate change, while maintaining economic competitiveness with the goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. He achieved record economic development and diversification by embracing traditional fossil fuel exploration and production, refining and chemical manufacturing, as well as the transition to low and no carbon energy, with an all-of-the-above approach including hydrogen, solar, wind, biofuels, and carbon capture and sequestration. Louisiana formally began the process to develop offshore wind leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in 2022.
Another focus of his administration was budgetary management. After inheriting a state general fund deficit exceeding $2 billion, John Bel left office with a balanced budget; the largest ever investments in education, transportation, coastal restoration and protection, and healthcare; a $300 million surplus; and over $3.2 billion in state savings accounts (more than three times the highest amount ever before achieved).
Among his many accomplishments as governor, John Bel also achieved the lowest unemployment rate ever measured in Louisiana (3.3% in August 2023), as well as the highest per capita income and the largest gross domestic product. His administration made health insurance available to more than 500,000 working poor; reduced the uninsured rate to below the national average; created a healthier, more productive workforce; and strengthened healthcare provider reimbursements to prevent hospital closures.
Finally, John Bel reformed the Industrial Tax Exemption program (ITEP) by tying the exemption to job creation, requiring local governmental approval, and reducing the ad valorem exemption to 80%. The aggregate value of ITEP approved projects more than doubled, and local governments netted more than $750 million in additional revenue for education, law enforcement, fire protection, and infrastructure.
Among his many national and regional appointments, John Bel was appointed to the Council of Governors by President Obama (2016), President Trump (2017), and President Biden (2021). John Bel co-chaired the Council’s committee on cyber security from 2021 through 2023. During that time period, he also chaired the Outer Continental Shelf Governor’s Coalition, membership for which is comprised of the governors of Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
John Bel was elected to the Board of Directors of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) in 2016, going on to serve as vice-chairman (2018-2019) and as chairman (2019-2022). He also chaired the Southern Region Education Board (SREB) in 2017-2018.
John Bel was appointed a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School (IOP) for the Spring 2024 semester. He and his wife, Donna, are also recognized as 2024 Louisiana Legends by the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
John Bel received his law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. He clerked for Judge James L. Dennis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
John Bel received his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1988, and he accepted a commission to the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant upon graduation. In eight years of active duty, John Bel earned Airborne, Ranger, and Jumpmaster status, which culminated with the command of a rifle company in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Jason Chapman
SVP, Chief Technology and Business Services Officer
Jason Chapman
SVP, Chief Technology and Business Services Officer, Entergy
Jason is Chief Technology and Business Services Officer for Entergy, where he oversees the information technology, cybersecurity, procurement and supply chain, and shared services organizations. Before assuming his role in 2023, Chapman served as Vice President of Entergy Shared Services. In this role, he led the company’s finance and HR operations, real estate, facilities, aviation, and security services.
About Entergy: Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.He previously served as president of global business services at WestRock Company, a global packaging company. He also spent 10 years with IBM in successive leadership roles in Europe and the United States.
Chapman received an MBA from the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue University and has a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University.
About Entergy:
Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees.
Neil Chatterjee
Former Commissioner and Chairman, FERC, and Senior Advisor
Neil Chatterjee
Former Commissioner and Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Senior Advisor, Hogan Lovells
Neil is a former Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and has deep ties in Washington and across the industry, with extensive experience across the energy landscape both domestically and internationally. He is respected for his ability to strike compromise and work with a wide variety of stakeholders.
In his time on the Hill and at FERC, Neil built a reputation as a bipartisan operator who builds alliances and cuts through red tape with an eye on always promoting innovation. Neil’s significant knowledge and experience is derived from operating at the highest levels of government and as such, is able to provide clients valuable insights and counsel when navigating the highly regulated energy industry.
While at FERC, Neil championed several strategic initiatives, including streamlining and improving FERC’s liquified natural gas application review and approval process, bolstering power grid reliability and resilience, and boosting renewable resources’ ability to compete in regional power markets and reduce carbon emissions.
Neil is a policy reformer who broke down market barriers for the entrance of new technologies, particularly for low-carbon technologies. He has been an advocate for harnessing technology to mitigate physical and cyber threats to critical energy infrastructure.
Prior to his time at the Commission, Neil served as an advisor to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), where he aided in the passage of major energy, highway, and agriculture legislation. Neil also has experience working as a principal in government relations for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He began his career as a staff member on the House Committee on Ways and Means.
De'Keither Stamps
Central District Commissioner, Mississippi Public Service Commission De’Keither Stamps
Central District Commissioner, Mississippi Public Service Commission
De’Keither is a figure whose life reads like a testament to service, resilience, and leadership. As a learned, Mississippi native, his roots run deep through the community’s schools, from McLeod to Timberlawn, Siwell to Forest Hill, where his early life in public education set the foundation for his formidable character.
Following high school, De’Keither sought to serve his country and joined the United States Marine Corps, a decision that would lead him on an extraordinary journey, including three years in the esteemed role of Presidential Security for Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush. His dedication to service didn’t stop there; De’Keither then took his commitment overseas, working with the State Department in various capacities across Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
With a relentless spirit, he re-enlisted, this time with the Army in 2005, driven by a desire to be on the ground in Iraq. There, he joined the ranks of the 82nd Airborne Division, enduring back-to-back deployments, a testament to his endurance and commitment to the cause of freedom.
De’Keither’s world experience is vast—not just geographically, but in the breadth of humanity he has encountered. He has engaged in global dialogue, trained with fellow servicemen and women, fought on battlefields, and faced life’s toughest challenges head-on.
Back home in Jackson, De’Keither transitioned his service from global to local. He served as City Councilman for Ward 4, where he advocated for the community that raised him. As the Mississippi State Representative for District 66, he continued to champion the needs and aspirations of his constituents.
Now, with his role of Public Service Commissioner for the Central Mississippi District, De’Keither aims to leverage his depth of experience in public service to ensure a brighter, more efficient future for his home state.
Family is the cornerstone of De’Keither’s life. He is a devoted son to Mr. & Mrs. Delmar Stamps of Jackson and Debra Sturgis of Crystal Springs. His greatest pride, however, is his family who inspires him every day to build a legacy of service and integrity.
This is De’Keither Stamps: a man shaped by service, tested by conflict, and driven by a profound love for his family and community. Join him in his journey as he seeks to bring his lifetime of service to the people of Mississippi through the office of Public Service Commissioner.
Erik M. Helland
Commission Chair, <br>Iowa Utilities Commission
Erik M. Helland
Commission Chair, Iowa Utilities Commission
Erik began his service on May 1, 2023, for a term that runs through April 30, 2029. Gov. Kim Reynolds also appointed Helland as Commission Chair through April 30, 2025.
Helland serves on several committees for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), including the Committee on Critical Infrastructure, NARUC’s Washington Action Program, the Committee on Electricity and the Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative.
He previously worked at the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board and served four years in the Iowa Legislature. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a law degree, both from Drake University.
He and his wife live in Des Moines with their three children.
Ashley Harrigan
Deputy Director of Resilience Policy<br> Ashley Harrigan
Deputy Director of Resilience Policy, Department of Homeland Security
Ashley Harrigan is the Deputy Director of Resilience Policy in the Office of Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience within DHS Policy. She is responsible for implementing policy and guidance for the Department on matters of national resilience such as supply chain vulnerability, natural disasters and climate change. In 2021 she led the coordination of the DHS Strategic Framework to address Climate Change, which was included in the White House Announcement for Prioritizing Climate in Foreign Policy and National Security. Her decade of federal service includes experience in emergency management, national continuity, critical infrastructure and operations which has helped bring a unique approach to policy implementation. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from Spelman College, an all-women’s institution and the nation’s top historically black college, as well as an M.A. in Communications. Additionally, she is certified in Risk Management for Business Continuity from the Disaster Recovery Institute International and holds an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard University.
Alfred Bender
Deputy Director for Risk Policy <br> Alfred Bender
Deputy Director for Risk Policy, Department of Homeland Security Alfred Bender is the Deputy Director for Risk Policy within the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY). In that role, he is responsible for leading PLCY’s emerging risk and domestic incident management work. In his time at PLCY, he has focused on updating DHS’s domestic incident management policy to account for diverse, overlapping, and serious future risks, including those with potential for cyber and physical consequences and coordinated whole of nation response. He also recently led an effort with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to develop an international Framework for Managing Emerging Critical Risks that was adopted in June of this year.
Prior to joining DHS in 2021, Alfred led FEMA’s risk and capability assessment work and the annual National Preparedness Report. Alfred joined FEMA in 2013 as a Presidential Management Fellow and holds a J.D. from George Mason University’s School of Law.
Davante Lewis
Commissioner, <br>Louisiana Public Service Commission
Davante Lewis
Commissioner, Louisiana Public Service Commission
Davante, born and raised in Lake Charles, LA, is a social justice activist who has dedicated his life to building people power throughout civic participation.
Davante graduated from McNeese State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Communications. While at McNeese, Davante served as a two-term Student Body President, chair of the Louisiana Council of Student Body Presidents and a member of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. After graduation, Davante continued to be a champion for young people as a public school teacher who led programs to enhance positive behavior systems and promote positive relationships between teachers and students.
Taking his advocacy beyond the classroom, Davante joined the Louisiana Budget Project as Director of Public Affairs and Outreach, where he focuses on higher education policy, consumer protection policies, monitoring legislative developments and working with advocacy groups and coalition partners to forge a common agenda and action plan for advancing policies that benefit Louisianans with low and moderate incomes. At LBP, Davante has become a leading voice in Louisiana for economic and racial justice, consumer protections, equity in education, and financial aid and student loans reforms for students. Davante’s policy advocacy has been recognized at the national level. Davante served as the Co-Chair of the Outreach and Campaigns Advisory committee for the State Priorities Partnership — a network of state advocacy organizations advancing policies that benefit people with low-income — and was elected the Chair of the SPP’s Steering Committee. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant on policy advocacy and community engagement.
Nick White
Principal Advisor, Net Gain <br>
Nick White
Principal Advisor – Net Gain, Natural England – Gov.UK
Nick works across Government (national and local), and with developers, NGOs, and academia to advance policy, practice, and standards around net gain (biodiversity, natural capital and environmental). As a non-ecologist, Nick is interested in how biodiversity and the natural environment can contribute towards wider social and economic benefits. He also has a strong interest in green infrastructure, especially in relation to urban areas, and its ability to enhance wider (grey) infrastructure resilience.
Angus McPherson
Global Solution Architect <br> Power & Grid
Angus McPherson
Global Solution Architect – Power & Grid, Schneider Electric
Angus is the Global Solution Architect for the Power & Grid segment at Schneider Electric. His role entails working with all stakeholders in the energy value chain and coordinating Schneider Electric’s development and investment in the new technologies and companies required to accelerate the energy transition.
Angela Navarro
President<br>
Angela Navarro
President, ALN Policy and Law, LLC
Angela is the President of ALN Policy and Law, where she counsels energy companies, tech companies, non-profits, and foundations on complex regulatory and policy issues in markets across the country. Previously, she served as the Head of State Regulatory Affairs at Arcadia, where she led the energy technology company’s policy and regulatory program in two dozen state markets across the country.
She spent nearly 8 years in public service, including as a Commissioner on the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the body that regulates the investor-owned utilities in Virginia. In that role, she was responsible for issuing decisions implementing grid modernization, renewable energy development, energy efficiency portfolios, ratemaking, and a variety of other subject matters. Prior to her time as a Commissioner, Angela served as a senior advisor across two Governor’s offices in Virginia. She served as Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources under Governor Terry McAuliffe, where she advised on energy and environmental policies. She then served as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Governor Ralph Northam, where she led the Governor’s energy policy portfolio and also worked on housing, small business, and economic development policies.
Before entering government service, Angela practiced law with the Southern Environmental Law Center. While at SELC, she led the organization’s energy efficiency practice across a six-state southeastern region, and she was the organization’s lead attorney on energy matters in Virginia. Angela holds degrees in Business and English from the University of Florida and a law degree from Georgetown Law.
Kristen Bridges
Vegetation Management and Contract Services Manager Kristen Bridges
Vegetation Management and Contract Services Manager, Alabama Power
Kristen is responsible for strategic leadership of Alabama Power Company’s vegetation management and power delivery contract services operations across its service territory. She applies over 23 years of experience with the company in roles that include leading teams for distribution and transmission asset maintenance, developing and implementing plans to continually improve levels of customer service and reliability, and managing capital improvement and O&M budgets.
Carl de Haan
Engineering Reliability Manager<br>
Carl de Haan
Engineering Reliability Manager, Powerco, New Zealand
As Engineering Reliability Manager for Powerco, the second-largest gas and largest electricity distributor in New Zealand, Carl leads the team responsible for ensuring the network can operate reliably as designed. Carl has a passion for strategic planning, reliability, and operational support for power systems.
His current certifications include International Professional Engineer, Chartered Member (CMEngNZ), and Chartered Professional Engineer ( CPEng), Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau. He achieved his BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand.
OJ Johnson
Construction and Right of Way Supervisor<br> OJ Johnson
Construction and Right of Way Supervisor, Mitchell EMC
OJ is responsible for construction and maintenance for Mitchell EMC’s Camilla District and vegetation management, systemwide. As a Lineman with 40 years of operational experience and an ISA Certified Arborist since 2016, he understands what a comprehensive vegetation management program means to safety, reliability, restoration, and customer satisfaction. Managing budgets and contracts is a small part of the daily operations, but building relationships is what it is all about.
August Ridder
Operations Manager, <br>Vegetation Management
August Ridder
Operations Manager – Vegetation Management, Xcel Energy
August brings 13 years of experience to his role as Operations Manager, Vegetation Management for Xcel Energy. As a leader, he was previously Program Manager for Xcel and a Project Supervisor for the Davey Resource Group. His forestry experience includes time with the Keweenaw Land Association, Compass Land Consultants Inc., and the U.S. Forest Service. He received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree from Michigan Technological University in 2011.
Robert “Don” Adcock
Sr. Manager, PD, Veg Mgmt Operations Field Services
Robert “Don” Adcock
Senior Manager, Power Delivery, Vegetation Management Operations Field Services, Entergy
Don’s career at Entergy reflects a steady rise through leadership roles, underpinned by his expertise in forestry and vegetation management. Starting in 1991 with ACRT, Don transitioned to Entergy in 1993 as Operations Coordinator in Arkansas. As his operational influence expanded, he ultimately oversaw vegetation management across all four of Entergy’s service areas — Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Drawing on his forestry background from Louisiana Tech, Don has played a crucial role in ensuring safety and reliability through innovative vegetation management strategies, throughout more than 30 years in the industry.
Jacob Barlow
Vice President of Engineering and Operations Jacob Barlow
Vice President of Engineering and Operations, Randolph EMC
Jacob holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from N.C. State University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years as an officer on board the Destroyer USS Mitscher and the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise. He has worked as a Power Plant Engineer at a Combined Cycle Natural Gas Power Plant, a Transmission and Distribution Operations Support Engineer for Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric, and a Distribution Engineer for Delmarva Power.
Jacob joined Randolph EMC in 2018 as the Senior Project Engineer. He designed and executed the first self-healing schemes at Randolph EMC. He has taken an active role in data analytics and has supported Operations and Engineering in various capacities. He became a Professional Engineer in North Carolina in 2020. 
Ryan Moe
Lead Specialist <br>Vegetation Strategy
Ryan Moe
Lead Specialist – Vegetation Strategy, National Grid
Ryan is the Lead Specialist for National Grid’s Vegetation Strategy team. He is responsible for the long-term planning and strategy supporting National Grid’s distribution assets in Massachusetts, which includes developing annual budgets, work plans, and representing National Grid during regulatory proceedings. Ryan has also worked in National Grid USA’s Real Estate department, where he began mapping the company’s property records along transmission lines and analyzing vegetation management rights. Ryan graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Design in 2006 and is an ISA Certified Arborist.
Don Bowman
VP of Engineering and Operations,<br>Assistant General Manager
Don Bowman
VP of Engineering and Operations, Assistant General Manager, Wake Electric
Don is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations and Assistant General Manager at Wake Electric Membership Corporation. He joined Wake EMC in 2010 and strives to integrate innovative technologies with traditional engineering and operation efficiencies for a better overall experience for the members.
He previously worked for NRTC, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, where he held the position of Vice President of Utility Solutions.
Don earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from American University.
Don and his family reside in Wake Forest, NC.
Carolyn Cadman
Director of Natural Resources<br> Carolyn Cadman
Director of Natural Resources, South West Water
Carolyn joined South West Water as Director of Natural Resources in May 2022. She leads the company’s biodiversity strategy, peatland restoration, and nature recovery programme.
In collaboration with local delivery partners, Carolyn’s team supports farmers and landowners through the “Upstream Thinking” programme to manage land in ways which improve water quality and supply, as well as benefitting wildlife and the businesses’ bottom line.
Prior to joining South West Water, Carolyn was Chief Executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and also worked in national roles for Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation, and in the South West region for Cornwall Council.
Sally Hayns
Chief Executive Officer <br>
Sally Hayns
CEO, The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
Sally has been an ecologist for over 30 years and is both a Chartered Ecologist and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Sally has been the CEO of CIEEM, the professional body for ecologists and environmental managers across the UK, Ireland and beyond, for more than 10 years. In that time, she has helped the organisation grow its membership and influence, raising the profile of the ecology profession.
Sally has been involved in developing overarching principles, guidance and standards for the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in England for a number of years and has been instrumental in developing the Institute’s training programme to help upskill practitioners. Developing competence and ensuring that there are enough new ecologists and environmental managers with the right skills and access to the best tools to deliver quality outcomes for biodiversity and stakeholders has been central to her work as part of the previous UK Government’s Green Jobs Delivery Group.
Sally is passionate about highlighting the vital role the ecology and environmental management profession plays in addressing the environmental challenges we all face and about ensuring that practitioners develop the knowledge and skills to save the planet. She has appeared in the Environmental News Digest (ENDS) Top 100 Environmental Power List every year since the List’s inception in 2022 and in 2024 was named as one of the top 10 professional influencers driving change.
Kathleen Fillier
Environment Analyst<br> Kathleen Fillier
Environment Analyst, Newfoundland Power
Kathleen is an Environmental Analyst at Newfoundland Power, where she has been a vital member of the Environment and Sustainability department since 2021. In this role, Kathleen has built a robust portfolio encompassing environmental stewardship, species at risk, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, ISO 14001 system management, and GIS technology.
She leads the Environmental Assessment process for capital projects and operations across Newfoundland’s island portion, demonstrating her expertise in navigating the complex and evolving environmental regulatory landscape. Kathleen has played a key role in developing guidelines and industry best practices and has provided consulting on Species at Risk Management and the Canadian Fisheries Act.
In just three years, Kathleen has successfully integrated climate change resilience and risk assessment into project planning, driving innovation and fostering collaborative learning. Her efforts to blend technology with environmental stewardship were recently recognized when her team received the Energy Newfoundland & Labrador Innovation in Environmental Sustainability award.
Jack Lomas
Emerging Technology Lead, Capital Design and Delivery
Jack Lomas
Emerging Technology Lead, Capital Design and Delivery, Severn Trent
Jack is proud to lead Emerging Technology at Severn Trent, where he is “on the search” for evolutionary capabilities to revolutionise Severn Trent’s £6bn AMP8 capital programme. Outside of Severn Trent, Jack hosts Future Engineering Club Podcast, a weekly industry series with listeners across 37 countries, shining a spotlight on those building the future of our planet.
He is an experienced business leader, having spent over a decade focused on the intersection between technology and the built environment. Jack specialises in applying an entrepreneurial lens to asset-intensive industry challenges to improve and accelerate decision-making through data and the adoption of evolutionary technology.
His background in consultancy leadership roles includes UK Digital Director at WSP, Head of Product at Mott MacDonald Digital Ventures, and Strategy and Transformation at IBM, as well as entrepreneurial co-founder roles in two high-growth built-environment startups. Jack delivered major digital transformation programmes in asset-intensive industries, designed innovation programmes with city mayors around the world, raised over £7m in venture capital, hired 50+ and facilitated a further $1.2bn in debt/equity startup financing in market-leading startups.
Orlando McKoy
Director of T&D Asset Optimization <br>and PMO
Orlando McKoy
Director of T&D Asset Optimization and PMO, Jamaica Public Service Company
Orlando is the Director of T&D Asset Optimization and PMO at Jamaica Public Service Company.
A trained and accomplished Utility Professional, Orlando has transitioned from a Power Engineer to a leader in Grid Modernizing strategies. He has over 23 years of utility experience, covering Grid Operations, Engineering, Asset and Project Management. And he has led several large utility construction projects and modernizing initiatives to improve operational efficiency and system reliability.
Orlando is a certified Project Manager and Professional Engineer and a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Society. He has used his knowledge and experience of power system operations to modernize existing processes and systems. In this way, he has successfully transformed the utility’s operations using technology, resulting in significant improvements in reliability and operational efficiency
Shubham Kumar
Managing Director and Partner<br> Shubham Kumar
Managing Director and Partner, BCG
Shubham is a lead member of the Energy and Technology Advantage practices at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He has supported clients in the US, Europe, India, and the Middle East since joining the firm.
Shubham works with energy clients on such topics as grid modernization systems and architecture, decarbonization and portfolio transition, operational excellence (particularly in transmission and distribution operations), capital plan development, next-generation vegetation management, digital transformation, and customer operations.
As a leader in the Technology Advantage practice, Shubham also advises technology services clients on such topics as operational excellence, offering-portfolio redesign, revenue acceleration, delivery model redesign, and cost reduction. Shubham is the digital node for Houston, responsible for facilitating digital topic development and affiliation.
Prior to joining BCG, Shubham worked at Merrill Lynch and Barclays Capital, based in London. He has also worked as a researcher in the field of data mining and natural language processing, and has several journal and conference publications to his credit. Shubham has completed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program.
Sachin Gupta
VP of Sales for <br>Digital Grid Solutions
Sachin Gupta
VP of Sales for Digital Grid Solutions, TRC Companies
As the VP of Sales for Digital Grid Solutions, TRC, Sachin is responsible for helping build the TRC portfolio that comprises IT/OT Integration, DERMS, Operational Technology, AMI/MDM, Geospatial Services, and delivering best-of-breed 3rd-party software solutions. Sachin’s career has been dedicated to various facets of demand-side management and sales.
Prior to joining TRC, Sachin worked for OMNETRIC Group, where he was responsible for North American sales, and, more importantly, for Siemens, where he was tasked with the creation of the Siemens commercial demand response management software. Sachin also worked at EnerNOC, Grantek, and Johnson Controls — all within the energy and efficiency marketplace.
Lawrence J. Kahn
Director, Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) Institute Lawrence J. Kahn
Director, Utility Vegetation Management Institute, and Adjunct Professor, Tulane University
Lawrence is an attorney, entrepreneur, and educator who has provided advisory services in the environmental and maritime “trees and seas” space for over 25 years. He is a Distinguished Research Fellow with the Tulane Center for Environmental Law.
Previously, Lawrence worked for the U.S. Army, where he was certified as a Contracting Officer’s Representative and negotiated and enforced government contracts. He also had oversight of the hazard tree removal program, management of Army timber, flora and fauna resources, protection of Army air, water and land resources, and development of environmental remediation projects and hazard tree programs for the (then) Division of Land Management.
Following law school, Lawrence served as Staff Attorney for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Seafarers’ Rights before going into private practice, joining the New York-based Freehill Hogan & Mahar, where he became partner in 2007. In 2013, he left the firm to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, including both a tree company and a recycling company. Lawrence served as an officer, director, and general counsel for the recycling company and brought it international renown when he led the successful effort to have it become the first non-EU company qualified under the EU’s Ship Recycling Regulations.
Lawrence developed (and currently serves as Director of) the Tulane Utility Vegetation Management Initiative, a joint project of Tulane Law School’s Center for Environmental Law and Tulane Law School’s Center for Energy Law. Through that initiative, he is involved in training a select group of Tulane Law School students in utility vegetation management law, practice, and procedure, and developed with those students the first comprehensive study of all UVM laws throughout North America.
A graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in ancient studies, Lawrence received his J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1995.
He has advised numerous companies and appeared as an expert on CNN World News, NBC’s Dateline, and other television news programs, as well as in a variety of trade publications, including Tradewinds, Lloyd’s List, and The Journal of Commerce. He was a featured speaker on recycling at the Tradewinds Conference held in Singapore in January 2017 and was a featured speaker on safe and green recycling at Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Summit in 2018. He was a member of the faculty of the Admiralty Law Institute, and the paper he delivered at its biennial meeting in March 2020 has been published in the Tulane Maritime Law Journal.
Arun Mani
Principal, Deal Advisory <br>and Strategy
Arun Mani
Principal, Deal Advisory and Strategy, KPMG LLC
Arun, a Principal with KPMG, is an Energy and Water sector strategist who operates at the intersection of regulation, operations, and technology to advise clients worldwide on a variety of energy and water-related topics, including decarbonized supply, sustainable demand, intelligent infrastructure, and foundational technologies. With ~30 years of consulting work advising utility and energy companies’ management and boards on various infrastructure decisions, Arun has a broad understanding of the electric, gas, and water sectors and relevant issues. Working with company leaders, Arun has helped clients shape strategy, drive growth, and lead operational transformations.
Sean Wiid
Chief Executive Officer<br>
Sean Wild
Chief Executive Officer, UP42
Sean is the CEO of UP42 and brings more than 20 years of experience in geospatial technology and digital mapping businesses. Prior to UP42, he was SVP of Platform and Content at Navico, and worked on strategy, business planning and product management at HERE Technologies and Nokia.
Josh Winer
Director of Enterprise Sales<br>
Josh Winer
Senior Director of Enterprise Sales, Maxar Intelligence
Josh is Maxar Intelligence’s Senior Director of Enterprise Sales. He’s worked with commercial partners over the past 14 years to bring their maps to life with Maxar’s industry-leading satellite imagery. Josh has an MBA from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business and an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University.
Abhishek Vinod Singh
Chief Executive Officer, <br>Co-Founder Abhishek Vinod Singh
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, AiDASH
A serial entrepreneur with almost two decades of experience in building innovation-led products, Abhishek is the CEO and co-founder of AiDASH. An IIT Kanpur alumnus, he was formerly the COO, USA, and Head of Digital Transformation at Kellton Tech. Abhishek brings with him robust industry experience, astute domain knowledge, and innovative business and marketing strategies.
Bryan Smith
Director of Platform <br>and 2D products
Bryan Smith
Director of Platform and 2D products, Maxar Technologies
Bryan is the Director of Platform and 2D products at Maxar Technologies. During more than 10 years at Maxar, Bryan has been responsible for building products that support a variety of customers, ranging from maritime defense and intelligence organizations to oil and gas companies to leading enterprise mapmakers. Bryan earned an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.
Rahul Saxena
Chief Product and Technology Officer, <br>Co-Founder Rahul Saxena
Chief Product & Technology Officer, Co-Founder, AiDASH
As the CPTO and co-founder of AiDASH, Rahul works closely with product management, engineering, and design teams to guide our core products from conception to production. An IIT Delhi alumnus and a serial entrepreneur, Rahul brings with him deep-domain expertise in technology, product development, and engineering. He is passionate about AI and machine learning and is driven by a zeal for problem solving and maximizing efficiency through technology-led innovations.
John Alford
Senior Manager - Transmission & Distribution (T&D) practice
John Alford
Senior Manager – Transmission & Distribution (T&D) practice, Accenture
John is a Senior Manager in the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) practice at Accenture. John is a seasoned management consultant and project manager with extensive expertise in grid operations, reliability, and resilience. With a strong background in asset, risk, and investment management and vegetation management, John is skilled at working with electric and gas utilities to solve their most complex challenges.
At Accenture, John has taken on pivotal leadership roles in major projects, including serving as the Program Director for an Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) program at a Midwest utility. In this capacity, he provided oversight for a complex program, managed program-level governance, and identified to streamline technical risks, all while maintaining clear communication with executive management. He also led the development of governance frameworks and collaborated with project managers on related projects processes and enhance operational efficiency.
John has also played a significant role in designing and implementing an asset investment planning process for distribution investments across multiple business units. His leadership also extends to working with Accenture’s Vegetation Management campaign across North America. He currently serves as the T&D Lead for the South region.
Before joining Accenture, John served as a Senior Analyst at the Homeland Security Studies & Analysis Institute (HSSAI), a federally funded research and development center for the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, he led the development of a strategic plan for the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS), managed a cross-functional team of analysts, and facilitated sessions with multiple government agencies, including DHS, HHS, DoD, DOT, and FCC. He also contributed to reorganizing FEMA’s workforce for disaster response and played a key role in validating and verifying the TSA Pre Check Program.
John holds a Master of Public Service and Administration (M.P.S.A.) from Texas A&M University, where he was a Board of Regents Fellow. He also earned a Master of Arts in History from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Spanish, summa cum laude, from East Texas Baptist University.
Residing in Leesburg, Virginia, John continues to leverage his diverse skill set and experience to drive strategic initiatives and operational excellence in the utility industry.
Marco Masciola
Partner Solutions Architect and Technical Lead, Global Sustainability Segment
Marco Masciola
Partner Solutions Architect and Technical Lead, Global Sustainability Segment, Amazon Web Services
Marco is a Partner Solutions Architect and technical lead for the Global Sustainability Segment at Amazon Web Services. He is an industry specialist helping partners build future sustainability and energy solutions on AWS.
Prior to joining AWS, Marco was an advisory engineer and solutions architect at Siemens Gamesa developing applications for designing offshore wind turbines. He holds several patents applied today to improve power production and performance of wind turbines. Prior to Siemens, Marco worked at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a postdoctoral researcher helping to develop design standards for the offshore wind energy industry.
David Wolpa
Chief Revenue Officer<br>
David Wolpa
Chief Revenue Officer, AiDASH
David is drawn to solving problems that impact society in a big way. This passion began with his first job as an engineer at NASA, and has continued throughout his 15-year career in climate tech. As CRO, David leads our global expansion initiatives, leveraging his extensive experience in utilities and other critical infrastructure companies, including PG&E, Uplight, and Gecko Robotics.
Shashin Mishra
Vice President of EMEA<br> Shashin Mishra
Vice President of EMEA, AiDASH
A senior technology leader and author, Shashin Mishra is the VP of AiDASH in EMEA. He has built transformational AI products across industry verticals and co-authored a book on how to build responsible AI. An IIT Kanpur alumnus, Shashin previously led data science practices for a global digital business transformation company and co-founded an IoT startup that performed real-time power distribution grid monitoring. He brings with him experience of enterprise product strategy, scaling teams, and delivering award-winning products.
Azum Ali
VP of Customer Success <br> and Transformation
Azum Ali
VP of Customer Success and Transformation, AiDASH
Azum is passionate about tackling global challenges, one tangible step at a time. As VP of Customer Success and Transformation, he leads a team that creates strategic outcomes for our customers. He brings over 15 years of experience spanning electrical engineering, and public policy, and most recently led corporate transformations as a senior leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He is an alumnus of Harvard, where he conducted research on energy innovation and national security policy as a Belfer Fellow and is currently a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Gary Huntley
Retired VP of Distribution Services <br> Gary Huntley
Retired Vice President of Distribution Services,
Gary is a retired executive with over 32 years in the energy sector, mostly in electric and gas utility operations. He retired as Vice President of Distribution Services in October 2021. During his time at his former employment, he led an organization of approximately 400 employees across Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Gary holds a BS in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Tulane University.
Isabella Espinel
Product Consultant and Customer Success<br>
Isabella Espinel
Product Consultant and Customer Success, AiDASH
Isabella is a Product Consultant at AiDASH, where she partners with IOU clients to develop tailored solutions using the Intelligent Vegetation Management System and advanced analytics. Prior to joining AiDASH, Isabella worked as a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she tackled complex problems, from COVID strategy in retail to personalization engine strategies for major corporations. Throughout her career, she has contributed to renowned organizations such as formula D_, Scale Venture Partners, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. With her experience in market research, data analytics, and customer success, Isabella is dedicated to leveraging AI and technology to enhance the reliability of utilities and improve lives globally.
And many more ...
Speaker Policy
To support participation at Evolve 2024, AiDASH offers event speakers waived registration fees for themselves and up to three colleagues, plus coverage of the speaker’s travel expenses, subject to their organization’s compliance policies. If not permitted, the speaker may decline the offer. Travel compensation applies only to the speaker, not accompanying colleagues.
If you’re interested in speaking, please contact us at: evolve@aidash.com