Dr. Fiato currently serves as Vice President, General Manager of Business Development & Planning, Accelergy Corporation, San Jose, California and Shanghai, China.
Dr. Fiato brings over 25 years of experience in strategic planning and intellectual property management from the Oil and Gas industries to Accelergy. Before joining Accelergy, Dr. Fiato held various senior positions at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company including Technical Advisor to ExxonMobil Law Department, Head of Competitive Assessment in Gas Process Division of Process Engineering Department at ExxonMobil, and was most recently the Intellectual Property Coordinator / IP Manager of the Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Technology Division. In his latest role, Dr. Fiato was a key architect in the development of IP strategy and licensing program with ExxonMobil’s 3500+ patent portfolio on GTL Technology.
Dr. Fiato served as 2005 - 2006 Chairman of Energy Frontier International (EFI) and is a member of the executive committee on the Natural Gas Conversion Board since 2004. He is also a member of American Chemical Society, a corresponding member of SAE and has been actively involved in programs for DOE, NSF and the National Research Council.
Dr. Fiato is a named inventor on more than 76 US and 265 foreign patents and has published over 42 industry publications on various aspects of synthesis gas chemistry and conversion to fuels and petrochemicals.
Dr. Fiato received his Ph.D. Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of Rochester and BS in Physical Organic Chemistry for Clarkson College.
Mike Ashburn is one of the founders of ClearWorld Energy and also serves as Non-Executive Chairman of Camco International in China. Camco is one of the world’s leading carbon asset developers and currently manages one of the world’s largest portfolios of carbon credits, with the majority arising from projects in China. Camco also has a thriving consultancy business, advising government and businesses on low carbon strategies and action plans.
Mike has lived in Asia since 1986 and in Beijing since 1999, focused throughout on the energy and infrastructure sectors. In 1996, he co-founded Peak Pacific Investment Company, one of the most successful foreign investors in China’s electric power sector, and served as COO of the company, developing and managing ten Chinese joint venture power companies. Prior to this he was VP of Business Development for the Ipco Group, Singapore’s leading developer, EPC contractor and investor in infrastructure. Within Asia and specifically China, his career has comprised: General management, Infrastructure project development, Electric power technology, M&A in China, Construction contracting, Fund raising.
In addition to his investment work, Jim spearheads Focus’ efforts in Asia, to which he brings to bear his 30 years experience in the region. Jim has initiated customer and partner relationships for numerous Focus portfolio companies including inCode Telecom, NetScaler, PixelWorks, PureDigital and Silicon Optix. Jim is frequently tapped to speak about his experiences at events hosted by organizations such as Asian Venture Capital Journal and International Business Forum.
Jim was a cofounder in 1986 and a Managing Director of the successful merchant banking boutique, Amsterdam Pacific Corportation, which was purchased by a large European bank in 1994. Prior to forming Amsterdam Pacific Corporation, he was Vice President in the Telecommunications Section of the Bank of America's Investment Banking Group where he led media and high technology assignments in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. Outside of his work at Focus, Jim has successful investments in companies such as ONI, Alteon, Prism Radio Partners, Deeptech, Hello Direct, US Filter and USA Waste (Waste Management Inc.).
Jim has an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin and MBA (as an Arjay Miller Scholar) and MA degrees from Stanford University. Prior to attending business school, he worked for four years as a telecommunications engineer in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in analog/digital voice systems and digital networking.
In addition to his consulting, Rich has also been a active member of China's CSR community. He established the charitable organizations Hands On Shanghai and Hands on Chengdu to promote, develop, and manage volunteerism in China. He was a founding member of Crossroads (www.china-crossroads.com), an organization devoted to developing CSR and civil society, and has recently launched Cleaner Greener China to highlight the environmental challenges that China faces and the people, products, and companies who are developing solutions.
Rich has a Masters in International Management from Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Finance and Economics, from the University of Missouri.
Bunschoten is founding director of CHORA. Founded in 1993, CHORA investigates and practises architectural and urban design. This includes the development of methods for emergent planning techniques as well as the formulation of policies pertaining to the growth of cities. In particular, CHORA has experience in urban environments that have undergone radical changes in political, economic, social or cultural conditions that have propelled them towards new forms of urbanity.
2004-2006, Vice President, Capgemini China, Head of Energy Utilities & Chemicals (EUC)
1998-2003, co-Founder, Bexcel
1995-1997, Research Coordinator, McKinsey&Company, Inc. China Education
MBA in Finance Track, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) Master of Science, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Bachelor of Science, National University of Defense Technology
In 2003, Mr. Corsell founded GridPoint to create a technology that would fuel the mass adoption of renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency. Today, GridPoint is working with electric utilities nationwide to create a clean and efficient 21st century grid. GridPoint applies information technology to the grid, enabling utilities with a single interface for managing a variety of distributed resources including electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and advanced storage technologies as well as residential and commercial devices such as thermostats and water heaters. With GridPoint's platform, utilities efficiently balance supply and demand in an economical, scaleable and environmentally beneficial manner. To date, GridPoint has raised over $220 million in equity capital, including a large investment by the Goldman Sachs Group. The World Economic Forum selected the company as a Technology Pioneer in 2008.
Mr. Corsell's commitment to protect the environment and benefit society is also evident in his background and work outside of GridPoint. He is Chairman of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Alternative Energies and a member of Newsweek's Global Environment and Leadership Advisory Committee. In addition, he serves on Xcel Energy's Smart Grid Advisory Board, the Environmental Media Association's Corporate Board and the board of directors of Standard Renewable Energy, a leading provider of integrated renewable energy solutions. Previously, Mr. Corsell served with the U.S. State Department in Cuba and as a political analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Corsell holds a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Mark is responsible for the development and execution of the Operations strategy throughout the region. The factory in Shanghai manufactures the core products of seating, workplace systems and storage, with the other regional factory in Pune, India manufacturing a range of seating.
Mark has implemented and led Lean Manufacturing in a number of factories since the early 1990’s to deliver continuous improvement in customer service, quality and delivery. This focus on best practice has now expanded to include
Sustainability and has helped Haworth become a leader in this area throughout the region.
Lean practices such as elimination of waste and non-value added activities, have an overlap with Sustainability and the demonstrated benefits in cost reduction will ensure that this remains a core focus for Haworth. Mark believes that stakeholder engagement throughout Haworth and across the supply chain is key to driving change.
Previously Mark worked with Avery Dennison, a global leader in self adhesive materials and office products, in Operations and Supply Chain management roles based in the U.K. and Australia from 1989 to 2003. Prior to joining Haworth, Mark was Managing Director of Gerhardt Australia Pty Ltd with responsibility for the AP region.
Brian is an Entrepreneur in Residence with Qiming Ventures in Shanghai and its sister fund Ignition Partners in Seattle, focusing on clean energy. He also acts as an industry adviser to the US Department of Energy and an independent consultant to energy, environment and resource related start-ups.
Previously, Brian was on the founding team of several technology companies including environmental/chemical companies in China and an IT company in California. Brian began his career as an alternative fuels plant design engineer for Chevron.
Brian holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and currently sits on the board of the MIT $100K Business Plan Competition and the Executive Judging Committee for the MIT Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Prize. Brian holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA.
Mr. Ding mainly devotes to services of business optimization, performance management and change management for power companies, including investment environment evaluation, management diagnosis and business process reengineering, etc.
Prior to Accenture, Mr. Ding used to work for a famous electric power group company. He has rich operational and managerial experience in power generation, power grid and power market. He also served as the power industry lead in a famous international consulting firm.
In 2001, Mr. Ding got his MBA from Antai School of Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
David has been traveling to China since 1989, and has been leading environmental technology programs in China for ICF since 1994. He has a Masters degree in Public Policy from London School of Economics and Political Science, and graduated from the Hopkins Nanjing Program (Class of 1992). He is currently based in Beijing, China and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Ira Ehrenpreis is a General Partner with Technology Partners. He has been with the firm since 1996. Ira leads Technology Partners’ Cleantech investment practice, investing in Energy Technology, Water Technology, and Materials Science opportunities. Ira is a recognized leader in both the venture capital industry and the Cleantech sector, and in 2007, was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Men Under 45” by Details Magazine. In the venture community, Ira serves on the Board of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and on the Board of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC). He is also the Co-Chairman of both the VCNetwork and the YVCA, two non-profit organizations comprising more than 1,000 venture capitalists. In the Cleantech sector, Ira has served on several industry Boards, including the Clean-Tech Investor Summit (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Conference Chairman), Cleantech Venture Network (Past Chairman), Energy Investors Forum (2004 Conference Chairman), Energy Venture Fair, and California Climate Change Advisory Board. Recently, Ira was featured as the Keynote speaker at both the Cleantech Venture Forum VI and the Cleantech Venture Forum V. He has also served on the Advisory Boards of the Southern California Tech Coast Alliance, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE), and the Comerica Venture Capital Advisory Board. Ira is also an active leader at Stanford University, where his contributions have included teaching the course on Venture Capital and serving on the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School. Ira is also a Contributor to Nimmer on Copyright, the leading copyright treatise. Ira received his JD/MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of Stanford Law Review. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude.
Technology Partners is a 24 year venture capital firm that has managed more than $750 million of investment capital with current investments being made from Technology Partners Fund VIII. Technology Partners has invested in more than 100 companies in a variety of industries serving principally as a lead investor. The majority of investments are in early stage companies. The firm invests approximately half of its capital into Cleantech (Energy Technology, Water Technology and Advanced Materials) companies and the other half into companies focused on the Life Sciences. For more information on Technology Partners, go to www.technologypartners.com.
Ira Ehrenpreis can be reached at: ira@technologypartners.com
2001 to present, Executive Director, Shanghai Jahwa Real Estate Co., Ltd
2001 to 2005, Managing Director, Shanghai International Automobile City Real Estate Co., Ltd
1999 to 2001, Visiting Scholar, University of California, San Diego, U.S.A.
Tutor to doctors, Economics & Management School of Tsinghua Universtiy
Professor, Sichuan University
Director & Economist, Chinese Medicine Association
Mr. Gao established Trina Solar in December 1997. His success in developing Trina Solar over the past ten years originated from his experience with his prior two companies. Prior to founding Trina Solar, Mr. Gao established and managed Wujin Xiehe Fine Chemical Factory for five years. Earlier, Mr. Gao spent four years establishing and managing his first company, Guangdong Shunde Fuyou Detergent Plant. Mr. Gao currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the China Renewable Energy Society Solar Power Construction Committee and the standing Vice Chairman of New Energy Chamber of Commerce of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. He graduated from Jilin University with a MS degree in Physical Chemistry in 1988. He received his BS in Chemistry from Nanjing University in 1985.
Mr. Mark Ginsberg was appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to serve on the EERE Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2002. In that capacity, Mr. Ginsberg and the Board direct EERE policy, strategies, and budgets and serve as "ambassadors" for the organization. He has great expertise in Asia Pacific energy futures and policy.
From July 1997 through June 2002, Mark Ginsberg served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for EERE's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs (BTS). In that position, Mr. Ginsberg oversaw a comprehensive set of programs to make buildings, equipment, and appliances more energy efficient; support state, community and low income energy programs; and pave the way for a healthy and prosperous future through high efficiency research and development, building codes, and appliance standards.
From December 1991 until July 1997, Mark directed the Federal Energy Management Program and, prior to joining DOE in 1991, Mr. Ginsberg served as Director of the Arizona Energy Office.
CURRENT is a leader in enabling electric utilities worldwide to deploy and manage a Smart Grid benefiting utilities, consumers and the environment. CURRENT provides sensing technology, high speed communications and analytic software and related services in integrated Smart Grid solutions. CURRENT is operating several of the world's largest Smart Grids including for Oncor Electric Delivery Company in Dallas, Texas which presently passes 125,000 homes and for Xcel Energy in its Smart Grid City project in Boulder, Colorado. CURRENT is also an active participant with some of the world's largest utilities in a series of European Commission funded Smart Grid projects. CURRENT, a private company, was founded in 2000 and has been recognized by several awards including being one of the 10 most innovative Clean Tech companies in Europe in 2008 by Dow Jones, the 2006 Platts' "Global Energy Commercial Technology of the Year" for its technology in relation to emissions reduction, practicality, reliability and overall commercial success, and Red Herring's 2006 "Top 100 North America."
Dr. Thomas Houlihan has been with Eco-Energy Solutions (EES) since it was incorporated in 2005. He started his career as a Professor of Engineering at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. After 10 years, he left a tenured post in academia to enter industry and serve as the Senior Vice-President of Propulsion Dynamics Incorporated (PDI). At PDI he developed shipboard monitoring and control systems for US Navy gas turbine ships. At his next station, Dr. Houlihan served as Chief Engineer of the Jonathan Corporation in the US Navy Phased Maintenance (PM) Program in Norfolk, VA. Over his 12-year career in the PM Program, he was responsible for the timely delivery of design engineering services for over 15 ship modernizations valued cumulatively at $100M. Dr. Houlihan next served as an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Fellow in the Environmental Directorate of the White House Science Office in Washington, DC. He left this post to become Vice-President of Engineering at Clean Fuels Technology (CFT) in 1998. CFT assets were acquired by EES in July 2005. Dr. Houlihan presently serves as a Senior Research Engineer at Eco-Energy Solutions (EES) Incorporated.
Most recently, O was General Manager of GE's Lamps Asia Pacific, where he had direct P&L responsibility. He was instrumental in restructuring the organization, and drove profitable growth, for the first time in 10 years. Previously, O was the Six Sigma Quality Leader for GE's Asia Pacific Industrial System, driving Six Sigma and Lean strategies across five industrial manufacturing operations, on key initiatives to support operating targets, manufacturing productivity, and global fulfillment. O's career at GE started in GE's Information Management Leadership Program, and then joined GE's Corporate Audit Staff; performing audits across various GE's Industrial and Capital businesses worldwide. O's other work experience includes Merrill Lynch. Originally from Shanghai, China, O has also lived in South America, Europe and the USA. O obtained a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Louisville.
Steffen’s expertise is in sustainable cities and ‘Green Urbanism’. Since 1991, he has presented his work at more than 180 conferences in 12 countries. He has researched, built and taught on informal urban design, urban renewal and energy-efficient cities since the early 1990s. He is the editor of the US based Journal of Green Building (2006 – to date) and an advisor to government, city councils and industry in Europe, Asia and Australia. He holds three post-graduate degrees; after graduating from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London (1989) he worked with James Stirling in London and with Arata Isozaki in Tokyo. Before being appointed to a Professorial Chair in December 2002 in Australia, he ran his own ideas-driven practice in Berlin, for more than 10 years, where he designed numerous award-winning buildings.
During the 1990s, he was instrumental in the urban re-development of Berlin’s city centre and has built large-scale buildings in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, Hackescher Markt and Pariser Platz. In recognition of the international significance of his work, he has been invited as Visiting Professor to lead design studios at leading universities in six countries.
in 2008, Steffen received a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Lieberthal holds several positions at the University of Michigan: William Davidson Professor of Business Administration at the Ross School of Business, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Political Science, Distinguished Fellow and Director for China at the William Davidson Institute, and Research Associate of the Center for Chinese Studies. He has been on the Michigan faculty since 1983. He earlier taught at Swarthmore College for 1972-83. He has a B.A. from Dartmouth College, and two M.A.'s and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University.
Dr. Lieberthal is also Nonresident Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies of the Brookings Institution, where he was a Visiting Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies for November-December 2000 and again for the 2004-2005 academic year.
Dr. Lieberthal served as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Asia on the National Security Council from August 1998 to October 2000. His government responsibilities encompassed American policy toward all issues involving Northeast, East, and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Lieberthal has written and edited nearly a dozen books and authored more than five dozen published articles. His books include: Governing China: From Revolution Through Reform (W.W. Norton, second revised edition 2004); Policy Making in China: Leaders, Structures, and Processes (Princeton University Press, 1988) and Policy Making in China's Energy Sector (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1986), both co-authored with Michel Oksenberg; Bureaucracy, Politics, and Decision Making in Post‑Mao China (U.C. Berkeley Press. 1991), co-editor with David Lampton; Revolution and Tradition in Tientsin (Stanford University Press, 1980); Paths to Sino‑US Cooperation in the Automotive Sector (US Trade Development Program, 1989), with Michael Flynn and others; and Central Documents and Politburo Politics in China (University of Michigan, 1978). His recent articles include: “Scorched Earth: Will Environmental Risks in China Overwhelm its Opportunities?” (with Elizabeth Economy) Harvard Business Review (June 2007), pp. 88-96; “Smooth Sailing: The Myths and Realities of Sea Lane Security” (with Dennis Blair) Foreign Affairs (May/June 2007), pp. 1-6; "China's Strategies and Goals toward Northeast Asia," Asia Policy 3 (January 2007), pp. 65-70; “Completing WTO Reforms,” China Business Review (September – October 2006), pp. 50-56; (with Mikkal Herberg) China's Search for Energy Security: Implications for US Policy (NBR Analysis: Seattle, April 2006); “Bridging the Gap,” Asia Policy (January 2006), pp. 7-15; “Why the US Malaise Over China?” YaleGlobal Online (January 19, 2006); “US-China Relations”(in Chinese), Caijing (December 2005); “Preventing a War Over Taiwan,” Foreign Affairs (March-April 2005); “The Coming Crisis Over Intellectual Property Rights,” Harvard Business Review (February 2005); “China Tomorrow: The Great Transition,” Harvard Business Review (October 2003), “China in 2033,” China Business Review (March-April 2003), along with several book chapters and also articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, South China Morning Post and other newspapers.
1998 to 2001: Be named the outstanding director of Changshu.
1999: Elected as one of the 10 young leaders of Jiangsu Province, one of the 100 greatest individuals of the Communist Youth League, vice president of the Suzhou Township Entrepreneurs Association.
2001: Model worker of Jiangsu Province, one of the 10 greatest young entrepreneurs of Changshu.
2002: Elected as the deputy member to the 12th NPC of Changshu.
2003: Elected as the deputy member of Suzhou.
2004: Named as excellent private entrepreneurs in science and technology in China.
2005: Named as one of the 10 greatest figures in the news.
2006: Entitled as the outstanding innovation talent during the "Five-Year Plan" period.
Ms. Ma is the California State Assembly Majority Whip and a San Francisco politician, and a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing district four, the Sunset District from 2002 to 2006, when she took her seat in the Assembly. Prior to her election to this position, she was a part-time district representative to a state senator. Her campaign for this position focused on improving services for her constituents. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Ma is a CPA. She received an MBA from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology. During her time in Sacramento, her major pieces of legislation have primarily focused on banning toxic chemicals in products for babies and small children, the creation of a state-wide high-speed rail bullet train, and giving equal rights to men and women to change their last names when they are married or become domestic partners. She is also a co-author of SB 840, a bill that creates a single payer universal health care system throughout California.
Roger Martella is a partner in the Environmental Practice Group at Sidley Austin LLP. He recently rejoined Sidley Austin after serving as the General Counsel of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, concluding 10 years of handling complex environmental matters at the Department of Justice and EPA. Roger’s practice focuses on three primary areas. First, Roger advises companies on developing strategic approaches to achieve their goals in light of rapidly developing demands to promote sustainability, address climate change, and utilize clean energy. Second, Roger advises multinational companies on compliance with environmental laws in the United States, China, the European Union, and other nations. Third, Roger handles a broad range of environmental and natural resource litigation and mediation.
As EPA General Counsel, Roger served as the chief legal advisor supervising an office of 350 attorneys in staff in Washington and 10 regional offices. In particular, Roger served as the chief advisor on legal options and frameworks for climate change regulation in response to the landmark Supreme Court decision Massachusetts v. EPA. Further, recognizing deficiencies in the China environmental law framework and the challenges for multinational organizations in understanding the laws on the books, Roger created the China Environmental Law Initiative in 2007. As part of the initiative, Roger created the only known website devoted to China environmental laws and organized with the State Environmental Protection Agency (now the Ministry of Environmental Protection) two separate symposia in China. A respected expert on the China framework in the United States and China, Roger has testified as an expert on this issue before the United States Congress, worked with numerous government officials at the national and provincial level in China, and has lectured with academics and students at leading universities and think tanks in both nations. Prior to joining EPA, Roger most recently served as the Principal Counsel for Complex Litigation at the Justice Department’s Natural Resources Section, where he focused on defending federal decisions relating to public lands, national forests, minerals, and Native American reservations.
Roger graduated from Vanderbilt Law School, where he was Editor in Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and Cornell University, where he studied environmental science. Following law school, he clerked for the Hon. David M. Ebel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Before joining OC, Tom worked in the steel industry for six years with Qualitech Steel and Nucor Steel (Trinidad Iron Carbide Operations), and started his career spending six years in the Nuclear Industry with both Westinghouse and General Electric.
Tom graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. Chemical Engineering and spent six years in the US Army Reserve.
David Mohler is vice president and chief technology officer for Duke Energy. Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 3.9 million customers in the Carolinas and the Midwest. Mohler is responsible for the development and application of technologies in support of Duke Energy’s strategic objectives. He was named to his current position in October 2006.
Most recently, Mohler served as vice president of strategic planning for Duke Energy. Prior to the merger between Duke Energy and Cinergy, he served in the same role for Cinergy. Mohler has operational experience in both nuclear and fossil power generation, as well as experience in corporate marketing, human resources and business development. While at Cinergy, he led the assessment and redesign of capital allocation and processes. Prior to that, he served as general manager of human resources and established the MBA rotational program. Before joining Cinergy, Mohler was employed by Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G). He served on the executive team that developed PSE&G’s first deregulated retail subsidiary.
Mohler earned a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University, a bachelor of science degree from the University of the State of New York, a master of arts degree from Xavier University of Cincinnati, and a master of science degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed the Columbia University Marketing Management Program and Penn State University Executive Development Program.
John has worked on the design and construction of critical environments for several financial and internet related organizations including:
- -MCIWorldCom
- -Level(3) Communications
- -Concert
- -Pihana (Equinix)
- -Global Crossing
- -Merrill Lynch
2005 – Current: Regional Director China, North Asia, Jones Lang La Salle
2003 – 2005: National Director, Jones Lang LaSalle
1995 – 2003: Director of SL&A International Architectural and Interior Design Practice
Stefano Negri joined McKinsey & Company’s Italian office in 2001 and is currently an Engagement Manager in McKinsey’s Shanghai office. He relocated there in June 2007 after becoming a McKinsey Global Institute Fellow. In this capacity, he has led a study to understand urbanization in China over the next 20 years and its implications for both businesses and policy makers. He is currently working with McKinsey’s India office to study the future evolution of urbanization in India.
During his career at McKinsey, Stefano has worked mainly with European clients in the public sector, the airline industry, and the telecom industry. In 2007, Stefano worked in Africa as a volunteer for Technoserve, an international NGO, to help them set up an entrepreneurship development plan for Tanzania.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Stefano worked as a Land Planning Engineer on the northern coast of Colombia for Ricerca e Cooperazione, an Italian NGO, and as an environmental consultant for city councils in Italy.
Stefano holds a Master of Science in Environmental and Land Planning Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano, where he was awarded an Erasmus scholarship to spend a year at the National University of Ireland. He also holds a MBA from INSEAD (France and Singapore).
Stefano’s mother tongue is Italian and he speaks fluent Spanish and English.
Anne Arquit Neiderberger has been working in the field of climate change and energy research, policy, capacity building, and consulting since 1989, shifting her focus from science to government policy and, since 2001, to strategic consulting. An expert on carbon markets, Anne was recently quoted in The Economist on the subject and conceived the innovative Swiss Climate Cent fund (www.stiftungklimarappen.ch), under which oil importers voluntarily contribute 1.5 Swiss cents to a climate mitigation fund for each liter of gasoline/diesel sold, thereby ensuring Swiss compliance with its Kyoto Protocol commitments and saving the Swiss economy hundreds of millions of dollars in lost motor fuel tax revenues annually. A dual Swiss-American citizen, Anne represented the Government of Switzerland in the UN climate negotiations from 1991-2000, serving as lead negotiator on the Kyoto Protocol market mechanisms, and has consulted on a number of energy efficiency and climate projects in China. She holds an A.B. degree with High Honors in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Hawaii. She was a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs in 2003-04 and has published extensively on sustainable development, climate change and clean energy issues.
David Nieh serves as General Manager of Planning and Development for Shui On Land. He formerly directed the studio for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill's Shanghai office. He is a registered architect and certified planner, as well as a Leadership in Energy Efficient Design Accredited Professional. He was chief architect for the City of San Jose and Redevelopment Agency, and has taught architecture, urban design and urban studies at Stanford University. Mr. Nieh has served on boards ranging from strategic economics, creative communities, campus development, education, social innovation, biotech and public art. This past year, he was Co-Chair of the Global Leadership Forum for Economic and Cultural Development in Silicon Valley, hosting 15 international city-regions in conjunction with the ISEA 2006 Biennale (International Society for the Electronic Arts) and Pacific Rim New Media Summit (PRNMS).
His work has won numerous awards and he has been a guest speaker in Asia, North America and Europe. With social consciousness and energy sustainability as key principles, his projects are large-scale and urban in nature, focusing on the translation of strategic planning initiatives into the implementation of infrastructure, architecture and built form.
Mr. Nieh holds a Masters of Architecture in Urban Design degree from Harvard University and a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of California Berkeley.
Prior to moving to China, he served VP, OC Automotive and Global Marketing. In that role, he was responsible for the global growth and profitability of OC’s Automotive business, and for OC’s Composite Solutions Business Product Management and Market Development activities.
He has extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region, having previously served as Managing Director of Owens Corning (India) Ltd. and as Executive VP of OC Korea.
With Owens Corning since 1977, Nieman has also held a variety of positions in manufacturing, sales and sales management, product management, and supply chain. Nieman earned a degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a leading global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems. A Fortune 500 company for 54 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $5 billion in 2007 and 18,000 employees in 26 countries on five continents.
A true Dutchman, Arjan started trading early on, selling promotional premiums to fast movers. Realizing his heart lay in marketing, he joined Sara Lee to work on some of their European brands. Three years later he joined Philips where he developed new electric shavers for Asia. His bi-monthly Asian visits did little to slake his thirst for all things China related, so he moved in with a Shanghainese family for six months. Feeling like he’d finally learned something about Chinese consumers, he joined ?What If! Shanghai as an inventor. Arjan is crazy about historic novels, cooking, photography and generally has too much energy.
Chairman Dr. Porat is founder and Chairman of Quiet Solution, a world-class soundproofing building materials company for residential and commercial construction. He works closely with strategic accounts in the construction, transportation, manufacturing and public sectors. Marc graduated from Columbia in 1972, earned a double Masters (economics and communication) from Stanford, and a Ph.D. (awarded with distinction) in 1976.
Marc joined the Department of Commerce as a senior staff economist and was nominated for a Silver Star by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce. He was recruited to the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies as Director. While there, he wrote, hosted and produced a 60-minute PBS documentary, "The Information Society", featuring luminaries such as Walter Wriston, Henry Kissinger, J. Kenneth Galbraith and Dan Yankelovich. In 1983, Dr. Porat founded Private Satellite Network, building and operating business television networks for Fortune 500 companies such as GM, Ford, AT&T and for DoD (U.S. Army). In 1988, Marc went to Apple Computer Advanced Technology Group and spun out in 1991 with key members of the Macintosh team to co-found General Magic, a communication and software company, serving as its Chairman & CEO.
Marc also founded Perfect Commerce, Inc, a leading enterprise supply management company providing e-sourcing and e-procurement software, consulting and expertise to G2500 companies. Marc established Quiet Solution in March 2002.
2004 to present: Senior Writer TIME Magazine/Shanghai
2002-2004: Chief International Correspondent FORTUNE Magazine/New York
2000-2002: Asia Editor FORTUNE Magazine/Beijing
1996-2000: Moscow Bureau Chief Newsweek Magazine
1994-1996: Berlin Bureau Chief Newsweek Magazine
1989-1994: Tokyo Bureau Chief Newsweek Magazine
1985-1989: Senior Writer Newsweek Magazine New York
1979-1985: staff writer Business Week Magazine
Awards: Overseas Press Club award for Best Foreign reporting (twice). Gerald Loeb award for best magazine piece. Various others.
Graduate, 1979, Northwestern University, BA history Lives in Shanghai with wife Junling Cui and daughter Abby.
Jonathan Woetzel is a Director in McKinsey & Company's Shanghai Office and the leader of its Energy and Materials practice in Asia. Dr. Woetzel has extensive experience in corporate finance and strategy, particularly for industrial and consumer companies in China. He has also worked in the Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, and Zurich offices. Dr. Woetzel holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Southern California, where his work focused on China's political economy. He has published three books on China: China's Economic Opening to the Outside World (Praeger, 1989), Capitalist China: Strategies for a Revolutionized Economy (John Wiley, 2003), and Operation China: From Strategy to Execution (Harvard Business, 2008). Dr. Woetzel, a U.S. citizen, is proficient in Mandarin, Spanish, and German.
Frank Rexach is Vice President and General Manager of Haworth Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Latin America. Based in the company’s regional headquarters in Shanghai, China, Frank oversees operations for Haworth throughout the Asia Pacific, Middle East & Latin America region, including China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Australia & Dubai. Frank is responsible for the development of Haworth Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Latin America’s overall strategy, including product portfolio development, global and regional sourcing strategies, manufacturing and supply chain initiatives, new business development, global account management and brand marketing.
Since joining Haworth in 2002, Frank has directed and achieved several key objectives to support Haworth’s business expansion in Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Latin America including: relocating the regional headquarters from Hong Kong to Shanghai, growing sales over fifty percent each year, establishing the company’s first new product development center in Shanghai, and more.
Previously, Frank worked with Avery Dennison, a global leader in self adhesive materials and office products, in senior management regional roles based in France, Hong Kong and Australia.
Frank has an M.B.A. from The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) and B.A. from the University of Southern California. He speaks German, Mandarin, French and Spanish.
Gary Rieschel has over 25 years of operating and investing experience in the information technology industry. Most recently, Gary was the founder of SOFTBANK Venture Capital/Mobius Venture Capital in the U.S. (1996), a firm with nearly $2 billion USD under management. In this role, Gary invested in over 50 technology companies leading to successful IPO exits at UTStarcom, Concentric Networks, Verisign, USWeb, Net2Phone, Puma Technology (through acquisitions), Digimarc, Intertrust, and Critical Path, and successful M&A transactions for GeoCities (Yahoo!), Art.com (Getty Images), and Datapower (IBM). Gary has led investments in Chinese companies TopSec, Accelergy, Bokee (Blog China), and Yeelion. Gary has also sponsored the creation of several other top venture firms, including Ignition Partners (partners in Qiming), Grandbanks Capital, and Arrowpath in the U.S., and SOFTBANK Asia Infrastructure Fund I/II (SAIF Partners) in China. Prior to his 10 years as a venture capitalist, Gary held senior executive positions at nCUBE (Sr. VP), Cisco Systems (Director, Worldwide Channels/Programs), Sequent Computer Systems (General Manager Asia Pacific), and Intel Corporation (Quality Assurance Manager). Gary holds a B.A. from Reed College where he serves on the board of trustees, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Gary is also known for his love of wine and sports of all kinds. He and his family moved to Shanghai in January, 2005.
Mr. Schoettle's current leadership role at Optimal is supported by his background in technology and engineering along with over 35 years of business development experience. Prior to launching Optimal Technologies, he founded and successfully led several technology-based companies -- one of which received the prestigious position of Canada's number one re-seller of Sun workstations, and one for which he received an entrepreneurial award. An accomplished speaker and industry recognized expert, Mr. Schoettle's past engagements include guest lecturing at the University of Calgary and California Maritime University along with presenting at such distinguished venues as the Commonwealth Club of California, National Academy of Sciences, the Center for Smart Energy, CleanTech Venture Forums, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
Sha Sha graduated from Peking University with a Bachelor’s degree in international economics. She also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Jigar Shah, a renowned visionary committed to renewable energy, launched the company in 2003 based upon a business plan originally developed in 1999 for a university class. This plan became the basis for the SunEdison business model: to simplify solar as a service at long-term predictable pricing, rather than leaving it to organizations to incur significant capital costs through ownership and operation of solar energy systems. Under his guidance, SunEdison was the first to pioneer a solar power services agreement (SPSA), which served as the foundation for much of the growth of the solar industry in the past five years.
Warren Smith is the Director of Cotai Facilities for Venetian Macau Ltd and is responsible for the management of facilities for all the development in Cotai Strip and consults for Venetian Macau Ltds other interests. He provides the technical expertise for the energy management program to continuously improve efficiencies and develop green initiatives
Throughout his engineering career he has been passionate about educating major corporations on clean energy alternatives and reduction of wasteful practices. In 1995 he was a founding committee member of Environmental Hotels of Auckland and in 1997 he received a Green Ribbon Award from the New Zealand Minister for the Environment.
His experience in the geothermal fields of the Philippines led to several technical publications on various subjects in the field of Geothermal Energy. In the last several years he has lived in South East Asia and China where he has provided expertise to major hotel companies.
He is a Professional Engineer and has a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auckland University.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Sun was the General Manager of a strategic semiconductor account in China for Applied Materials. He was instrumental in establishing an account team and achieved several key accomplishments in this role, including a record year of revenue in 2004. He was also a Board Director and Auditing Board member of AFOP since 2001, a NASDAQ listed fiber optical component company based in Sunnyvale, CA.
Prior to joining Applied Materials, Mr. Sun was a Managing Partner and Representative of North America for Global Investment Management Co. LTD. (GIM), a Venture Capital firm from Taiwan. Before joining GIM, he ran his own consulting partnership since 1998 for raising capital and helping the development of start-up companies. From 1996 to 1998, he was a founding member, Board Director and VP of Business Development at Storm Technology Inc at Silicon Valley. Prior to that, he served as one of the early founding members of Primax, a listed company at Taiwan, as VP of Computer Business Group, later as the US subsidiary President and a Board Director.
Mr. Sun received his Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University at Taiwan and his Masters in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University at Manhattan, Kansas.
Matthew is the Asia Pacific Technology Director for INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated chemicals and polymers businesses with a global presence.
Matthew has 11 years business experience in China.
He is based in Shanghai and has led a variety of growth initiatives in the region, including set-up of new research & development, technical marketing, technology transfers and successful set-up of manufacturing technology organizations supporting investments in excess of $750 million.
A focus continues to be one of innovation in areas of quality, new breakthrough technology platforms, project execution, intellectual property protection, government approval processes, external technology origination and strategic planning.
Matthew currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and has served as the Chair of the Science & Innovation Committee.
Matthew has designed a number of high tech manufacturing symposia in collaboration with industry experts covering China’s evolving National Innovation policy, intellectual property risk assessments and developing technology talent in China.
Matthew has championed efforts within the Chamber to develop position papers on the topics of innovation, energy and the environment.
Matthew also serves as a strategic advisor for the Joint US China Cooperation on Clean Energy with a focus on renewables, especially emerging second generation non-food routes to renewable energy and materials.
Matthew is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D. in chemical engineering). He began his career at DuPont Central Research, in chemical reaction engineering.He has held a variety of R&D and manufacturing technology leadership positions for DuPont in Delaware, Texas, Singapore, North Carolina and China.
Frits is working with KEMA since 2001 as Product Group Manager Wind Energy. In 2006 he has been appointed as Managing Principal Future Energy Systems. He is one of the authors of the White Paper “Smart Grids of the Future”, has been advisor of utilities and governments on renewable energy strategies, and is Project Manager of the study on the Energy Island, an innovative concept for large-scale energy storage. Besides, he is Programme Manager of We@Sea, a research programme for offshore wind energy.
Frits has been a member of several Committees and Advisory Boards amongst others for the Energy Research Centre in The Netherlands and Delft Technical University.
Before joining McKinsey, Arthur worked for P&G. He received a Master’s degree from Tsinghua University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Science & Technology of China. He is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, is fluent in English and speaks conversational Cantonese.
Robert Watson is a global leader in the green building movement, having founded the LEED Green Building Rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council where he is a Director. Rob launched the EcoTech International Group in 2007 to deliver integrated green building solutions to China, India and the U.S.
Rob is the only foreigner honored with a Green Building Innovation Award from the Chinese Ministry of Construction and received the 2006 International Association of Energy Engineers Professional Development award. Rob’s work has been featured in The World is Flat 3.0 and several columns by Thomas Friedman, Pulitzer prize-winning author and New York Times columnist. Rob appeared in the PBS Special “Design e2” and the Sundance Channel’s “Big Ideas for a Small Planet”. Rob received his MBA from Columbia University in 2006. He also has an M.S. degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. from Dartmouth College where he was a Senior Fellow. He is married to architect Margaret Howard Watson and has a 9-year-old teacher and raison d’etre, Max.
Alex is considered to be a leading expert on the Clean Development Mechanism in China. Alex was integral to the development of China’s first CDM project – the Huitengxile Windfarm Project, which is also the first wind project to be registered globally and has developed new CDM methodologies for energy efficiency and coal bed methane utilisation.
As part of ClearWorld Energy’s role in co-founding Camco, Alex served as Director and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Managing Director of the China business unit. Alex was a member of the management team which achieved a public listing for Camco in 2006.
Julian Wong is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing where he is writing extensively on China’s renewable energy sector. Mr. Wong is the author of two blogs, The Green Leap Forward (http://greenleapforward.com), which focuses on sustainability efforts in China, and The Solar Coaster dedicated to solar energy policy and technology. Until recently, Mr. Wong was a private equity mergers & acquisitions attorney at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York and Hong Kong and a member of the New York City Bar Association Energy Committee. He has also previously worked in Singapore as a equities research analyst at Phillip Securities. Mr. Wong holds a B.A in Biology from Pomona College, a M.A. in Environmental & Energy Policy from Duke Nicholas School of the Environment, and a J.D. from Duke Law School.
Originally from China, in 2002 she obtained her MBA from Mills College which crossed with UC Haas Berkeley. Her interests remain in China regional development, marathons, and hosting cleantech dinners. Yimei frequently uses her multi-lingual abilities (Chinese, French, Spanish, German) in the 40+ countries visited. Most notably this year: volunteer in the Sichuan earthquake, and summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Xiao Rong is the China Program Director at China office of Give2Asia, a U.S. based, not-for-profit organization promoting philanthropy to Asia. Xiao Rong plays crucial leadership role in G2A China Office. Her conscientious and well-organized approach ensures that G2A’s China team provide excellent and individualized service to G2A grantees and donors by running successful programs in China.
Prior to joining Give2Asia, Rong served as the Research Fellow and Assistant to Director of Institute of American Studies, China Academy of Social Sciences, she conduced academic and policy-oriented research on Sino-US relations, as well she managed external/international exchange and cooperation programs of that institute. She also severed as Assistant to China Program Director of the Asia Foundation Beijing Office, assisting China Program Director on programming and in charge of office daily program and administration work; she also served as journalist, magazine editor, and translator on a part-time basis.
Rong received her master’s degree in law and bachelor’s degree in law from Peking University; and she received the training of management of public affairs from George Washington University as Ford Fellow.
Mr. Calvin Xu was appointed Senior Industrial Specialist for Energy and Climate Change in May of 2008. Based in Hong Kong but traveling extensively in the East Asia & Pacific Region, Calvin leads the business development and implementation of IFC’s financing mobilization programs in the region for climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean production. Previously, he served as the head of the innovative China Energy Efficiency Finance Program in Beijing, under which he led the team to successfully build up an energy efficiency loan portfolio of more than $450 million with three Chinese commercial banks. Projects financed with the loan portfolio directly contribute to the total emissions reduction of more than 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxides per annum.
Calvin brings to IFC more than fifteen years of unique experience in the energy and financing businesses. He has worked on projects that cover the whole value chain of energy production, transportation, distribution, trading and consumption, and in the capacity of a business developer, financial adviser or consultant. While Calvin has worked extensively on projects of conventional energy such as coal, oil and gas, his most recent involvements have been in coal liquefaction & gasification, renewable energy and energy efficiency in residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Calvin has a bachelor degree of economics from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and an MBA from Georgetown University. His former employers include Pace Global Energy Services, Enron Corporation, BHP Billiton, and the Chinese Government.
Ellis Yan’s journey to becoming a successful innovator, founder and CEO of the world’s leading energy efficient lighting manufacturer has been filled with obstacles that have challenged his determination and fortitude, but also fueled his entrepreneurial spirit.
At 20 years old, he came to America from China to study at Cleveland State University, where he earned a degree in Accounting. His foray into lighting began in 1986, when he bought used equipment, exported it to China and began manufacturing halogen lighting products. In 1993, Technical Consumer Products, Inc. (TCP) was founded.
As the business grew, Ellis turned his focus to energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). While the major lighting manufacturers decided to abandon energy efficient lighting technology, Ellis persevered, believing that TCP could create a better light source to rival the incandescent light bulb. In 1996, TCP was the first company to introduce the “SpringLamp Inside”, rather than a straight tube in a CFL, revolutionizing the residential lighting industry for the first time since Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb.
Under Ellis’ leadership, TCP now controls a majority of the U.S. CFL market through a variety of name brand, private label and other lighting manufacturers. The company has more than tripled its sales since 2002, reaching $319 million in 2007 while doubling employees at its global headquarters to more than 200 people in just one year. In addition, Ellis is credited with tripling the company's manufacturing capacity within the same year, producing 1.4 million CFLs every day. This translates into an annual reduction of more than 118 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Education is a passion for Ellis that extends into the company’s business philosophy. He has been instrumental in establishing consumer and school education programs to share the energy efficient and environmental benefits of using compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). He is also dedicated to health and wellness and has developed incentive programs encouraging employees to make decisions that are good for their health and the environment.
Ellis has built relationships with a variety of industry partners and associations including ENERGY STAR, the American National Standards Institute, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Lighting Association, among others. His commitments extend beyond the lighting industry, including several local and national organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the National Make-A-Difference Day Campaign, The City Mission, NASA Lewis Research Center, the Inventors Hall of Fame, the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, and the National Arbor Foundation. Ellis has received numerous awards for his business leadership and contributions to energy efficient lighting. He was named the 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Science and Technology and received Cascade Capital Business Growth Awards in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Fuqiang Yang has been involved in energy and environmental issues for near 3 decades. Fuqiang Yang had worked with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on China's energy and environmental issues, and published a number of reports in this field. In 1984, Fuqiang Yang worked on regional energy planning at the Cornell University as a fellow of the World Bank. Before he moved to the United States in 1984, Fuqiang Yang worked with Energy Research institute, State Development Planning Commission, on renewable and rural energy policy, energy modeling and forecasting, project evaluation and long term planning after he graduated from Jilin University. Fuqiang Yang got his Ph. D in Industrial Engineering at West Virginia University in the United States in 1991 and his B. S in Physics at Jilin University in China in 1977.
Dr. Qi lead numerous research projects with awards in research grants from NSF, NASA, DOE, NOAA, USDA, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Ministry of Education of China. His public services include those in academic community through societies and associations such as American Association for Advancement of Science, Ecological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, and through academic journals. He also serves as consultant and adviser to governments, NGO’s and international organizations. He provided services to NSF as panelist, USDA, USDOE, California Energy Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, National Development and Reform Commission of China, the World Bank, European Union 6th and 7th Framework, Winrock International, and the Nature Conservancy.
Stanley Yip is an experienced urban planner, land economist and urban designer with extensive professional expertise in economic planning, travel & tourism, urban planning and urban design. With more than 25 years of professional and senior management experience around the world, he has led, studied and implemented many major tourism, urban development and infrastructure projects for public and private clients.
Mr. Yip is currently the Director, Planning & Development with ARUP China and is responsible for the development and implementation of the planning practices in Mainland China. He has recently led a number of pioneering planning projects driven by sustainable development principles in China, and undertaken studies into the economics, design and implementation issues related to the planning of eco-communities.
He is past President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners, and has been appointed as the Planning Advisor to the Department of Construction of Jiangsu Province, Senior Advisor to the Planning Committee of the City of Harbin, Senior Advisor to the City of Zhuzhou, and also Special Honorary Professor of the Zhejiang Tourism College. Stanley receives interviews by press and regular invitations to speak on major conferences on sustainable development, tourism planning and development issues in China.
Before 1998, Henry’s career held roles and capacities as Sales Vice President – Northern China, AREVA T&D as his last work position; and Vice President - Nuclear Business, Key Account, Global Power Sales, ALSTOM China Ltd. New Projects Manager - Asia, Waste Management NZ Ltd (WAM); ALSTOM Regional Director - South China; Project Manager of Three Gorges Project, Beijing ALSTOM Engineering Consultancy Services Co. Ltd.
Between Jan. 1982 and Nov. 1998: Henry was Senior Engineer and Deputy Manager of Equipment Dept., Guangdong Storage Power JVC, British Chevening Scholar, Coordinator and Site Manager of French Consortium, and a principal designer/team leader of task force at Mid-South Design Institute under Ministry of Electric Power and Water Resource.
Ruiying Zhang received her bachelor in Energy and Power Engineering, and Master in Economics. She was a senior engineer in electric power sector and has more than 20 years working experience in energy technology, energy and energy efficiency policy, and foreign investment policy. Before joining the Energy Foundation, Ruiying Zhang had been working at Power Economic Research Institute of former Ministry of Electric Power Industry, the former State Planning Commission and China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation.
Tori Zwisler, the founding Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute – Shanghai (JGI-S), first met Jane Goodall at an international teachers’ conference in Shanghai in 1998. Upon short acquaintance, Dr. Goodall asked Ms. Zwisler to start JGI-S, and the organization was formed in 1999. JGI-S focuses primarily on the Roots & Shoots program, promoting environmental concern, care for animals and care for people among Shanghai’s youth. Formed as a foreign-affiliated NPO (Not-for-Profit Organization), JGI-S is the first such organization to be registered in China. Ms. Zwisler is currently the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of JGI-S. Under Ms. Zwisler’s leadership, JGI-S’s Roots & Shoots program works with 170 schools in Shanghai, using a curriculum approach to project management and creative problem-solving in after-school activity groups that are directed to “save the world” – one successful project at a time. The Roots & Shoots organization is committed to planting one million trees in Inner Mongolia to fight desertification, works with offices to reduce carbon footprints, promotes poverty alleviation through education in Anhui province, has coordinated the largest recycling program in Shanghai with Shanghai Yellow Pages, has renovated the primate area of the Shanghai Zoo and works with migrant schools.
