Meet Our 2025 Speakers
Keynote Addresses
Tom Steyer - Co-Executive Chair, Galvanize Climate Solutions
Tom is the founder and co-executive chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, a climate-focused global investment firm. Central to the firm’s thesis is the belief of an absolute, unequivocal need to win in the marketplace with clean products and services that are cheaper, faster, and better.
He is also a New York Times bestselling author, having released his first book Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War in May 2024. After earning his MBA from Stanford, in 1986 Steyer founded Farallon Capital Management, a San Francisco-based hedge fund that pioneered the strategy known as “absolute return investing,” and which grew to $36 billion in assets under management. In 2012, he left his firm to devote his time, money, and energy to climate issues.
He was a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate with a campaign centered on addressing climate change, and later that year he served as co-chair for California Governor Gavin Newsom's Business and Jobs Recovery Task Force. In addition, he co-chaired Vice President Biden’s Climate Engagement Advisory Council to help mobilize climate voters. Steyer played a key role in preserving California's Global Warming Solutions Act, while also working to pass clean energy initiatives and advocate for environmental justice across the country.
Jon Yoder - CEO, MN8 Energy
Jon Yoder is the Chief Executive Officer at MN8 Energy. He also serves as a director on MN8’s board of directors.
Jon was previously a Managing Director at Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he was Head of the Renewable Power Group of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a 100+ person team focused on investments in the renewable energy sector. During his career at Goldman Sachs, Jon was also Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Credit Alternatives investing team and Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (NYSE: GSBD).
Panel Sessions
Session 1: 11:00-11:50 am
Climate Financing in Emerging Markets
Atiyah Curmally is a Principal Environmental Specialist with the International Finance Corporation’s Environment & Social Policy and Risk Department. Atiyah is the Team Lead for IFC’s MALENA, artificial intelligence solution for ESG and climate due diligence. Atiyah’s previous responsibilities at IFC included overseeing ESG investment support to IFC’s capital markets, financial institutions, private equity funds, and short-term finance businesses. Her prior work experience includes positions with the private sector and non-profit institutions focused on infrastructure project finance and risk management for financial markets. Atiyah has a Masters in Environmental Studies from Brown University. In her free time, Atiyah is a Curatorial Volunteer at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.
Atiyah Curmally - Principal Environmental Specialist, International Finance Corporation
Liz is the lead portfolio manager of Boston Common’s Emerging Markets (EM) strategies. In this capacity, she works with analysts to create sustainability-focused EM portfolios, helps grow the firm’s EM research capabilities, oversees overall portfolio positioning, and communicates with clients and prospects. She also has research responsibilities focusing on the global consumer staples sector. With over 21 years of investment experience spanning EM and Global equities, fixed income, and quantitative research, Liz is passionate about investing in EM companies that can enable the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable future. Prior to joining Boston Common, Liz was an analyst and portfolio manager at Batterymarch Financial Management, where she most recently served as the head of Asia ex-Japan on the Emerging Market Equities team. She played an instrumental role in launching an Asia ex-Japan long-short fund and a Global Equity fund. She also gained asset allocation experience with Standish Mellon Asset Management. She began her career in economic and strategy consulting in 2000. Liz earned a BA in International Finance from Wuhan University (China), an MA in Economics from Tufts University, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is a CFA charterholder and a member of the Boston Security Analyst Society. Outside of investing, she volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader and enjoys tennis, yoga, and traditional Chinese dance.
Liz Su - Lead Portfolio Manager of Sustainable Emerging Market Equities, Boston Common
Joan has primary responsibilities of helping build the TriLinc brand and leading the Firm’s efforts to support the continued development of the impact investing industry. Joan is also a member of the Investment Committee and of the Sustainability and Impact Committee. Prior to joining TriLinc, Joan launched and was Executive Director of the International Association of Microfinance Investors (IAMFI) whose members managed an aggregate of $1.84 billion. Prior to IAMFI, Joan was Deputy Executive Director of The Resource Foundation, supporting community-building programs in 20 Latin American countries, benefiting annually 4.6 million underserved children, youths, women, and men. Previously, Joan spent 15 years in the financial services industry in positions at Bankers Trust and Citibank, with direct experience in the Spanish, Mexican and Argentine markets, overseeing a combined portfolio of $225 million in client assets. Joan is a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business Executive Level Nonprofit Management Certification Program. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. from Georgetown University. Joan serves as Board Director, Treasurer, and head of Governance for the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute. Joan is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on Impact Investing at conferences and leading business schools, including Columbia University, Georgetown University, New York University, UCLA, University of Michigan, and University of Virginia, among others.
Joan Trant - Managing Partner, TriLinc Global
Climate Tech: Funding the Future of Sustainability
Vikram Aggarwal is a successful entrepreneur and renewable energy advocate. As the founder and former CEO of EnergySage, he has helped revolutionize the way consumers and businesses shop for solar, batteries, heat pumps, and other renewable energy products and services. Under his leadership, EnergySage has become the go-to platform for comparing quotes and making informed decisions about renewable energy investments. In addition to his work at EnergySage, Vikram is also highly regarded in the renewable energy industry for his expertise and vision. He has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including being named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in the New England region. He has also been featured in leading media outlets, including the NY Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Bloomberg, Money, CNBC, etc., and is frequently invited to speak at industry events and conferences. EnergySage was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2021. He founded EnergySage after more than 15 years of experience with Fidelity Investments, where he specialized in growth equity investing, growth strategy consulting, marketing and new business and corporate development. Vikram holds an MBA from Northeastern University and is a CFA charterholder.
Vikraam Aggarwal - CEO and Founder, EnergySage
Sophie Purdom invests in and supports early-stage climate tech founders and their companies from Planeteer Capital's $55M fund. Planeteer leads investments at the Pre-Seed and Seed stage into hardware-enabled software for climate. Sophie has backed breakout companies like Remora, WeaveGrid, Amogy and Patch - often as the earliest, climate-first investor. Planeteer is anchored by an Ivy League endowment and Meta's former CTO (who also supports the portfolio as an Advisor). Sophie also writes CTVC, a newsletter & strategic data platform with 70,000+ subscribers featured in Financial Times, NY Times, Bloomberg and other major outlets as climate tech's source of record. Prior, Sophie launched an ESG fund at a major endowment, published a book on sustainable investing, worked at Bain & Co., and helped found and raise $65M at Kula Bio to develop carbon-negative fertilizer. Sophie lives in New York, where she and her partner host dinner parties, play NYC handball, and foster many happy pups.
Sophie Purdom - Managing Partner, Planeteer Capital
Susan Schofer is a Partner at SOSV global venture capital firm and serves as Chief Science Officer at HAX, the world’s premier venture program accelerating early stage hard tech startups. She works with new startups via early stage investment, defining key milestones and go-to-market strategies, and is responsible for scientific oversight and building capabilities to support portfolio companies. Prior to joining HAX, Susan served as SVP Business Development for Modern Meadow and a member of the executive leadership team for over 7 years, developing new sustainable materials inspired by leather without any animals, where she led product, partnership, and go-to-market strategy and execution from early ideation through to commercialization. Before that, Susan spent 10 years in Silicon Valley working in roles spanning R&D, product development, product management, and business development for Amyris, a pioneer in synthetic biology, and Symyx Technologies, utilizing proprietary high-throughput robotic workflows to accelerate polymer and material discovery and development. Susan also worked as an analyst for management consulting company Mitchell Madison Group. Her passion is working closely with scientific and technical innovation to craft product and business strategy and partnering with founders and the broader ecosystem to implement and commercialize solutions to make a positive impact on people and planet. Susan was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Stockholm and Uppsala Universities, where she worked to develop catalyst systems for artificial photosynthesis. She holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Caltech and an Sc.B. in chemistry from Brown.
Susan Schofer - Partner, SOSV
Session 2: 12:00-12:50 pm
Environmental Markets: Nature-Based Solutions
Emmie Oliver is the Knowledge Lead for Carbon Markets, Nature-based Solutions, and Biodiversity at Boston Consulting Group. Based in New York, she works with BCG clients across private, public, and social sectors to navigate the evolving landscape of environmental markets and advance nature-positive strategies. Before BCG, Emmie was at the Natural Infrastructure Initiative at the World Resources Institute, where she worked primarily with multilateral development banks on mainstreaming nature and biodiversity into infrastructure project portfolios. She started her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay focused on agroforestry. She holds a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South.
Emmie Oliver - Climate and Sustainability Manager, BCG
Adam works in Conservation International’s Nature Finance Division (NFD). In his current role Adam works with leading companies to secure investment and support for CI’s Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) work, with a focus on transactions of carbon credits from CI’s portfolio of projects. Over the past several years, Adam has spearheaded more than 100 transactions with leading businesses helping to secure more than $250 million for natural climate solutions. Before joining NFD, Adam worked across CI’s portfolio of business partners to develop strategic partnerships in the area of environmental sustainability. Adam is a graduate of the George Washington University and lives in the Washington, DC area.
Adam Schoenberg - Senior Director, Carbon Markets and Transactions, Conservation International
Energy Transition and Grid Modernization
Udayan has over two decades of experience in the utilities industry having worked with 3 system operators, a vertically integrated utility, and a leading transmitter. This encompasses all three verticals of the power industry that spans transmission, generation and system operations. In his current role, Udayan is responsible for advancing key initiatives to prepare the NYISO-controlled grid for the significant increases in demand due to electrification while concurrently integrating a new portfolio of generation resource. Previously, Udayan has held roles of increasing responsibility in a number of diverse functional domains such as power systems engineering, energy trading and system operations. His responsibilities have included leading teams that operate a diverse array of generation resources, develop frameworks for energy markets and provide round-the-clock engineering support to real-time power system operations. Udayan’s professional experience is complemented by a Masters in Engineering (M.Eng.) and Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.).
Udayan Nair - Director of Grid Transition, NYISO
Greg Silverberg serves as SVP, Strategy at REV Renewables where he leads REV's corporate strategy, business operations, and government / regulatory affairs functions. Prior to joining REV, Greg worked at LS Power, REV's parent company, with the private equity team. Previously, Greg spent four years at McKinsey advising clients in electric power, natural gas, metals & mining, and industrials on strategy and commercial growth topics, with a focus on decarbonization and energy strategy. Prior to McKinsey, Greg received a PhD at Harvard University studying graphene as an electrode material for energy storage devices. Greg holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brown University, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Harvard University.
Greg Silverberg - SVP Strategy, REV Renewables
Ms. Wright has over 25 years of senior management experience in private equity, investment banking and at energy companies. Ms. Wright joined Goldman Sachs in 1998 and helped to launch Goldman Sachs Power, the firm’s initial entry into electricity commodity markets, including the successful development of Constellation Power Source, a joint venture with Constellation Energy Group. In 2001, she became part of the senior management team at Constellation, where she held various roles within its commodity trading, investing and risk management unit, leading the development and execution of a wide range of investments. In 2005, Ms. Wright became a co-founding Partner at Energy Capital Partners, where she helped to establish and served as a Director of FirstLight Power Holdings. In 2014, Ms. Wright went on to establish Hull Street Energy to deploy capital into the North American power sector as it transitions to a more sustainable footprint. Hull Street Energy is differentiated by its deep industry expertise and proprietary analytical approach to energy focused investment management. Ms. Wright also serves as a trustee of the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. She received a B.A. from Smith College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Sarah Wright - Founder and Managing Partner, Hull Street Energy
Session 3: 2:00-2:50 pm
Green Banks: Public Lending for Clean Energy
James is Director of Commercial Clean Energy Services for the RI Infrastruture Bank (RIIB). A quasi public entity RIIB’s mission is to serve RI’s 39 cities & towns for funding improvements to their municipal projects. I am responsible for the Admistration of RI’s public benefit Commercial Property Assessment Clean Energy (C-PACE) progam. Unlike our municpal programs (loans & grants) C-Pace is a public private partnership which provides an alternative source of capital from the private sector for energy efficiency upgrades to the commercial & industrial real estate community creating jobs, adding value and improving the environment by reducing carbon emissions of the subject property. It allows private capital to offer funding for “green” improvements to cover 100% of the costs related to energy efficiency for retrofits, new construction, repurposing of blighted factory buildings and more as well as water efficiency and other resiliency projects. C-PACE can also be used for retroactive financing of”green” projects completed within a 3 year span. The details of C-PACE are complicated, differing by jurisdiction which can make it a challenging landscape to navigate. It is established by state law, which determines broad categories of improvements qualify, once a adopted by state’s legistlature it assigns a single program Adminstrator to monitor that the adopted statute is followed. Within that state, local ordinances must be passed within each city & town for it to particpate in the C-Pace program. To date, there are 75 active programs in the country, in 40 states and Washington DC. Of the 39 Cities & Towns in RI, 30 of them have passed C-Pace resolutions to participate in the program.
James Braz - Director of Commercial Clean Energy Services, Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
As an Associate Director on the Green Bank's Clean Energy Investment team, Larry provides debt and equity financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) and commercial solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) programs.
Prior to joining the Green Bank, Larry led Thermaxx, a Connecticut-based energy technology company. Additionally, he has held senior-level positions at Shawmut Design & Construction and Invest Hospitality. Larry volunteers as the Board Chairperson at a Connecticut non-profit nursery school.
Larry has an M.B.A. from Boston College, a B.S. in Finance from Miami University, and has completed the Financing and Deploying Clean Energy Certificate Program at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
Larry Campana - Associate Director, Investment Programs, Conneticut Green Bank
Sustainable Urban Planning
Kate England, GIP, ENV SP, is the Director of Green Infrastructure for the City of Boston. She has a background in engineering, landscape architecture, planning and policy and has worked in the public sector in and around Boston for most of her career. Kate was appointed by Mayor Wu in July 2022 to facilitate widespread implementation of green infrastructure (GI) and help pursue the resilience goals outlined in Boston’s Green New Deal. Prior to joining the City, Kate worked for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) where she served as the Regional Engineer for the Boston Region, then became a Regional Planner and chaired one of DCR’s Climate Action Teams. Kate also previously worked for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission where she initiated and managed the Commission’s green infrastructure projects. Kate holds two Bachelor’s degrees from Northeastern University, as well as a Master’s degree from Brown University.
Kate England - Director of Green Infrastructure, The City of Boston
Jon Ford, PE, NCI, Senior Associate – Community Design: Jon has 25 years of experience as a civil engineer and neighborhood planning innovator and is a Registered Professional Engineer in multiple states. Jon is a recognized leader in the area of New Urbanist civil engineering and urban design. Jon is a Knight Fellow in Community Building at the University of Miami’s School of Architecture and a co-founder of the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism. His project designs have won local and national awards, including multiple CNU Charter Awards, the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, and the Boston Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Seekonk River Alliance, the Blackstone Parks Conservancy, and CNU New England.
John Ford - Senior Associate, Community Design, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.
Climate careers workshop: 4:00-5:30 pm
Viraj is a second-time climate entrepreneur. He received an environmental studies degree from Brown University, where he also co-founded Kulisha, a startup that created sustainable protein from food waste. He later worked at Optoro, a company that has raised $300M to accelerate circular economies. Viraj enrolled in a joint program at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School before co-founding EarthAcre, a technology startup that powers direct payments to indigenous communities for nature stewardship.
Viraj Sikand - Co-Founder and CEO, EarthAcre
Mark Tracy is professor of the practice of sustainable finance at the Institute at Brown for the Environment and Society (IBES). Professor Tracy has spent the majority of his career in the private sector working at the intersection of food, finance, climate, and technology. Tracy has served in a variety of leadership roles at venture backed and private companies including Cargill, Indigo Ag, and Perennial (formerly Cloud Agronomics). He is a named inventor of two United States patents, and a board member of two nonprofits - the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and Hope Health. Professor Tracy is also the co-founder and board chair of EarthAcre, which works with indigenous communities on new financial models for nature stewardship.
Mark Tracy - Professor of Sustainable Finance and Investing, Brown University