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Walter McLeodManaging Director, Eco Capital, LLC - Mason Energy Founder
Mr. Walter L. McLeod has more than 25 years of executive experience in business development and government relations in the energy and environment sectors. He has been actively engaged in advanced energy development and finance in the US and internationally for seven years.
Walter is the Founder and Managing Director of Eco Capitol Companies, where he has served as a senior advisor to energy companies, investors, trade associations, and think tanks. Walter has been an active leader in shaping clean energy policy in the United States for many years. He was appointed to serve on the original “Utility 2.0” project steering committee commissioned by the United Nations Foundation. Walter was also appointed to the “Value of Solar” stakeholder committee commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly.
Walter is a Managing Director with VSF Solar, a Virginia-based solar project development and finance company with a pipeline of over 80 MW (ac) in the Commonwealth. He is a co-founder and Managing Partner with Clean Power Group Africa, a San Francisco-based independent power producer, developing more than 50 MW (ac) of utility-scale solar projects in sub-Sahara Africa. Walter is also co-founder of the recently established Global Energy and Innovation Institute.
Walter has served on several boards and advisory committees, including the George Mason University Alumni Association, American Council on Renewable Energy, Chemical Angels Network, and SURGE Ventures Accelerator, to name a few. He currently serves on the George Mason University Board of Visitors. Walter earned an M.S. in chemistry from the College of Science at George Mason University, and a B.A. in chemistry from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Sarah FittsArentFox Schiff, Partner
Sarah advises clients on private mergers and acquisitions, development projects, joint ventures, financings, sustainable investing, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and restructurings, with a focus on the energy and infrastructure industries. She represents US and global clients, including Japanese companies doing business in the United States and around the world.
Her clients include power developers, investors, and private equity across a broad range of industries, such as power generation, publishing, biotech and medical devices, and automotive. Enjoying both business and the practice of law, she often acts as outside general counsel for clients without legal departments, in addition to advising on transactions.
A recognized leader in her field, Sarah has received numerous industry accolades from her peers and clients. In the words of clients according to the 2020 Chambers USA guide, “She is a brilliant attorney who’s insightful, responsive, and creative. She has an easy way of dealing with situations: she just fixes things.”
Greg Gershuny
Bill Hederman
Sarah HuntDirector, Arizona State University Rob & Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service and President, Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy
Sarah E. Hunt is a leader in conservative energy policy and a social entrepreneur. As President of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, she leads public policy research and leadership development programs by and for women, minorities, and mavericks. She concurrently serves as Director, Policy & Strategy at the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at Arizona State University.
Prior to the Rainey Center, Hunt launched a clean energy program at the American Legislative Exchange Council and a climate change program at the Niskanen Center.
She holds a JD from Willamette University College of Law, an LLM from Georgetown University, and an MPS from George Washington University. She is admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C., Oregon, and the 9th Circuit.
Elizabeth KaigaChief Commercial Officer for Energy Systems, DNV, North America
Elizabeth Kaiga is a transformational leader in the energy industry who has, for over two decades, developed and implemented innovative growth and client development strategies for national and global professional service firms.
Elizabeth is currently Chief Commercial Officer for Energy Systems at DNV, North America. In this role, she leads commercial activities and manages customer relationships & quality assurance. Her work focuses on providing strategies and solutions to support an equitable global transition to safer, reliable, and sustainable energy. She also chairs DNV’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Board.
Prior to joining DNV, Elizabeth led business development efforts for the Renewable Energy Practice at CohnReznick LLP. Elizabeth held similar positions within the Energy & Utilities Practice at Marsh & McLennan, Arthur Andersen LLP, and ICF Consulting.
Elizabeth serves on the Board of Directors for Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE), a national nonprofit that promotes the education, professional development, and advancement of women in the renewable energy sector. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Solar Sister, an organization that delivers clean energy solutions to off-grid rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, by leveraging a network of women entrepreneurs. Elizabeth is a strong supporter of diversity, equity & inclusion, and has received recognition in that capacity from the YMCA of Greater New York, the Houston Business Journal, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Elizabeth holds a Master of Arts Degree in Global Marketing from Emerson College.
Donald Murray
David OwensPresident/Energy Consultant, Da'Vision and Strategies
David K. Owens, the Howard University Alumni, is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in public policies surrounding utility operations, strategic planning, technology development, rate making, and regulation. Throughout his more than 30-year career at the Edison Electric Institute, he oversaw public policies for investment in technologies to address climate change and enhance energy efficiency. In addition, he had responsibility over EEI's business continuity issues which included mutual assistance and cyber security.
Mr. Owens served on Xcel Energy’s board of directors. He was Vice Chairman of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority from 2019 – 2022 where his major concentration was to assist the rebuilding of the Puerto Rico electric system so that it is more reliable, resilient, cleaner, modernized, and more customer-focused. He is also an active member of a number of professional and community-based organizations.