Speakers
Speakers
Todd Abrajano
President & CEO
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council
Todd Abrajano is the President & CEO of the United States Nuclear Industry Council where he serves as USNIC's chief advocate in its mission to advance the development and implementation of new nuclear technology and services to secure the U.S. economic supply chain in America and abroad.
Additionally, he leads the promotion of USNIC’s vision to advance nuclear energy to be established, recognized, and accepted world-wide as an essential baseload, emissions-free, reliable, and clean energy source, as well as promoting the expansion of the use of nuclear for space, medical, propulsion and other advanced applications.
Previously, Mr. Abrajano was the Founder and President of Turning Point Public Affairs. For nearly 13 years, the firm assisted corporate, non-profit, and political clients with international markets and business development, government affairs, strategic communications, political strategy, and legislative and regulatory grassroots advocacy.
From 2017- 2021, Mr. Abrajano served as a senior-level presidential appointee in the U.S. Federal Government. He began his federal service at the U.S. Department of Commerce as the Department's White House Liaison and a top advisor to former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
In 2018, he transitioned to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency where he ultimately served as the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Agency, leading the Agency’s global export promotion efforts supporting U.S. jobs and businesses in priority development projects within emerging markets in the energy, transportation, ICT, healthcare and agribusiness sectors.
Mr. Jarret Adams
Founder & CEO
Full On Communications
Full On Communications' Founder and CEO Jarret Adams is an MBA-educated corporate communications executive with more than 20 years of international experience in communications.
At AREVA, he served as Vice President of Communications and Director of Media Relations and Online Communications.
He also worked as Senior Communications Consultant/Senior Writer for the U.S.-based Nuclear Energy Institute.
Prior to creating Full On Communications, he was a Director of Communications based in the United Arab Emirates, focusing on the clean energy sector for APCO Worldwide, a leading international public relations agency.
Jarret also has extensive experience as a freelance writer, editor, correspondent, and government/industry analyst, covering a wide range of topics including business, technology, travel, and international affairs.
His work has been published in the Red Herring (London), Chemical Week magazine (New York), and Forecast International’s World Aerospace & Defense Intelligence newsletter (Newtown, Conn.), among others.
Jarret has studied at Harvard Business School (Cambridge, Mass.; business management); George Washington University (Washington, D.C.; Master of Business Administration); Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.; Graduate Certificate in International Business Management); Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme (Lille, France; graduate school of journalism); and University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pa.; Bachelor of Arts in English).
He currently serves on the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC), which advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on nuclear trade issues. He is an experienced public affairs strategist, corporate spokesperson, and speechwriter. He is fluent in English and French and has knowledge of other European languages.
Mr. Roland Backhaus
Senior Counsel – Nuclear
Vistra Corp.
Mr. Backhaus’ practice focuses on transactional and dispute resolution matters in a wide range of technical disciplines. He draws from his technical training and professional experience to counsel clients regarding a wide variety of matters, primarily related to the international nuclear industry. Mr. Backhaus has extensive experience working with engineers and technical experts to provide guidance in areas related to nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, thermal hydraulics, materials, computer modeling, fluid dynamics, cybersecurity, and statistics.
Mr. Backhaus has advised foreign governments on various aspects of developing domestic nuclear power programs and related infrastructure, including vendor procurement, agreements for the construction, operation, and fueling of nuclear power units, and the protection of sensitive technical and corporate information. He has represented materials licensees in responding to NRC enforcement actions and has provided legal advice in connection with administrative and appellate litigation.
Mr. Backhaus has represented clients before the International Court of Arbitration, has worked extensively in Asia, and has lived and worked in the Middle East.
Before attending law school, Mr. Backhaus served as an officer on the USS FLORIDA, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine as the Reactor Control Assistant and the Assistant Chief Engineer. As the Assistant Chief Engineer, he oversaw a $400 M refueling of an S8G nuclear reactor and the training and management of more than 60 nuclear-trained personnel. Mr. Backhaus’ military experience provides him with a unique ability to identify and manage risk in order to successfully and efficiently complete complex undertakings.
Mr. John Barnwell
Natural Resource Officer
Embassy of Canada
John Barnwell joined the Energy and Environment Section at the Embassy of Canada in 2019. Prior to joining the Embassy team, he was director of Government and External Affairs at the Society of American Foresters representing 12,000 professional foresters working in the United States and abroad. John holds a BS in Forest Resource Management and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. When not working to advance Canada’s bilateral natural resource priorities, John enjoys exploring new music, beaches, and challenging hikes in and around DC.
Ms. Laetitia Cash
Host, Safer Cleaner Planet Series;
Director, Transition2Zero
Laetitia is the producer and host of The Safer Cleaner Planet Series, a videocast dedicated to educating new energy focused investors, stakeholders and policy decision-makers with in-person interviews discussing transitional, new technologies and regulatory stewardship across the globe. She also works with nuclear experts in a consulting role.
Drawing on her legal background (Oxford University LLB/LLM Commercial Law and International Energy Litigation), she regularly contributes to Nuclear Future Magazine, examining state aid programs, innovative financial models, and new regulations initiating and supervising the emerging SMR/new nuclear FOAK projects, Great British Nuclear (GBN) and other PPP development companies with their global supply chain and trade requirements.
In addition to producing short documentaries, Laetitia curates bespoke climate and security events convening large scale conservation philanthropists and investors focused on the new nuclear renaissance
Dr. Kirsten Cutler
Senior Strategist for Nuclear Innovation - Bureau of International Security & Nonproliferation
U.S. Department of State
Dr. Kirsten Cutler is a Senior Strategist for Nuclear Energy Innovation at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and is a State Department Senior Executive. She has 25 years of experience on nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation and leads the Department’s efforts supporting energy security, emerging technologies, and industrial growth through the use of U.S. advanced nuclear energy technologies and supply chains. She received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota for research in radioisotope geochemistry and geochronology.
Ms. Aleshia Duncan
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation - Office of Nuclear Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Aleshia Duncan currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation in the Office of Nuclear Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of International Cooperation spearheads the Department’s global engagement on civil nuclear energy. She also currently serves as Chair of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC). Ms. Duncan has worked in various capacities in the international nuclear energy policy arena, managing bilateral and multilateral relationships on several continents.
Ms. Duncan has completed two overseas posts. In 2016, she joined the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in France, as the policy adviser to IFNEC, where she coordinated the policies and programs of its 65 member countries and four international organizations with the common goal of the safe, reliable use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. She continued in that role in 2017 in addition to serving as the Director General’s Senior Advisor for Multilateral Coordination and Secretary of the NEA Steering Committee until her departure at the end of 2018.
From October 2010 to December 2013, Ms. Duncan was posted at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, as the Director for Nuclear Operations and served as a diplomat in the capacity of Energy. Ms. Duncan had the opportunity to liaise with the government of Japan regularly before, during and after its change in nuclear policies and was awarded the Secretary’s Honor Award for her efforts in supporting the coordination of the United States crisis response to Fukushima. Ms. Duncan's focus on developing regional country leaders has advanced our respective energy and national security priorities. She has also been a trailblazer on numerous mentorship and youth empowerment initiatives, including but not limited to: serving as co-founder and frequent instructor for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Lise Meitner Programme, teaching at IAEA's Nuclear Energy Management School (NEMS) and at numerous NEA's mentoring workshops.
Ms. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Trinity University in Washington, DC. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation at New York University.
Mr. Chad Eaton
Director of Government Affairs
Nucor Corporation
Chad Eaton is the Director of Government Affairs at Nucor Corporation headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Nucor is the largest steel producer in the United States and is North America’s largest recycler. Eaton’s career has spanned the private and public sector having worked as federal government affairs political strategy manager for Duke Energy and having served as director of public affairs for former US Congressman Heath Shuler. He is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and currently resides in Waxhaw, NC.
Dr. Sunil Félix
Nuclear Counsellor
Embassy of France
Dr. Félix has been the Nuclear Counsellor at the French Embassy in Washington, DC since 2020, having previously served in the same position at the French Embassies in South Korea, India, and Japan. Following a PhD and post-doctoral studies in Mathematics, he joined the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA – France) in 1990. Since then, he has been working as a research engineer in the Structural Analysis field. He was also the Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), from 2006 to 2010 during the French Presidency of the Forum. Dr. Félix was awarded the National Order of Merit by the French National Authorities in 2015.
Mr. William Fork
Partner - Energy
Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw Pittman, LLC
Will Fork represents electric utilities and companies on international energy transaction, export control, nuclear liability and domestic regulatory issues.
Will assists clients regarding the regulation of international nuclear power plants, nuclear vendor procurement, and agreements for the construction, operation and fueling of nuclear power units. He has served as the general counsel of a civil nuclear power program and attended the International School of Nuclear Law in Montpellier, France.
Mr. Martin Fott
Economic and Energy Counselor
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Since December 2020, Martin has served as the Economic and Energy Counselor at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C. His responsibilities include fostering U.S.-Czech energy and economic relations, supporting Czech businesses in the U.S., and advancing cooperation in key sectors such as energy, trade, finance, environmental protection, climate, and healthcare. Key areas of his work include market analysis & project management, energy cooperation (LNG and oil supplies, nuclear cooperation, strategic issues), sanctions or US involvement in the Three Seas Initiative.
Between 2018-2020, prior to his current posting, he was a case handler (rapporteur) at the European Commission, DG Competition, in Brussels, in the area of State aid control, dealing with legal, economic and procedural aspects, in the State aid unit responsible for research & development & innovation, the environment and the Important projects of Common European Interest. He worked on important and high-priority policy files and cases especially in relation to Energy and Environmental State aid Guidelines (EEAG) and block-exemption regulations. He was also a Unit's contact point for Green Deal coordination and provided feedback on Recovery and Resilience Plans of Member States.
He spent most years (2013-2018) at the Czech Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels as a competition, state aid and public procurement attaché. He was the main Czech expert contact point and negotiator in this field, which included proceedings before the European Commission, mostly legally complex ones in the area of state aid, in almost all sectors of economy including energy, environment, industry, transport, but also sport.
Martin is married and has three daughters. Martin is a graduate of the Faculty of Law of the Charles University in Prague and received LLM with distinction in European Law at the University of Kent at Canterbury (United Kingdom). Before joining public administration, he worked for a leading Czech law firm in Prague.
Mr. Matt Fransted
Director, Nuclear Energy
Worley
Matthew “Matt” Fransted is the Director of Nuclear Energy at Worley Consulting, a part of Worley, the global engineering and projectdelivery firm. He leads Worley’s initiative to help refineries, electric utilities, datacenter operators, and government agencies across the world evaluate and deploy advanced reactors for decarbonization, energy security, and cost stability. Matt has delivered multimilliondollar consulting engagements that underpin capital programs of more than $1 billion. Prior to consulting, he served as a U.S. Navy Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer overseeing reactor operations aboard aircraft carriers. He holds a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M and an MBA from the Wharton School.
Mr. Chuck Goodnight
Vice President, Business Development
NuScale Power
Charles Goodnight, Vice President of Business Development at NuScale Power, is a nuclear industry expert with more than 30 years of experience supporting the global nuclear energy industry, including nuclear plant design companies, public and investor-owned nuclear operating organizations, EPC firms, and institutional organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, EPRI, U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory complex, and international Ministries of Energy.
Prior to NuScale, Mr. Goodnight served as a Partner in the Energy & Utilities practice at Arthur D. Little (ADL), a leading global management consultancy, where he led the firm’s global Nuclear Competence Center. Prior to ADL, he founded and led Goodnight Consulting (GCI) for almost twenty years, serving the global electric power industry, with a focus on nuclear power generation. Mr. Goodnight also supported an analysis of plans for revising the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Integrated Organization.
Prior to his work in the nuclear power industry, Mr. Goodnight worked as an analyst and simulation developer. In this arena, he worked with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons laboratories, Defense Nuclear Agency, Intelligence Community, and the White House Communications Agency.
Mr. Goodnight holds a Bachelor of Science in government and politics and a Master of Science in computer systems management (combined Master of Business Administration & Computer Science degree), both from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Jeremy Harrell
Chief Executive Officer
ClearPath
Jeremy is the Chief Executive Officer of ClearPath and ClearPath Action, DC-based conservative clean energy organizations advancing policies that accelerate innovations to reduce global energy emissions.
As CEO, Jeremy leads the ClearPath team by synchronizing the organization’s core functions to drive results – aligning public policy development, philanthropic activities, advocacy and government affairs, organizational coalition-building, strategic communications, and political initiatives, among other aspects.
He has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles across the energy sector and is a frequent commentator in the press on energy innovation, export financing, and regulatory modernization. He has testified before the U.S. Congress, State Governments, and Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) and is frequently featured in national publications including The Washington Post, Politico, Bloomberg, The Hill, Axios, POWER Magazine, GreenBiz, and S&P Global, among others.
Prior to being named CEO in 2024, Jeremy served as Chief Strategy Officer and held other policy and advocacy roles in the organization since joining the organization in 2017. Under his leadership, ClearPath expanded its policy portfolio from strictly clean 24/7 power (e.g. nuclear, carbon capture, natural gas, hydropower and geothermal) to now include clean industry and manufacturing, carbon management, agriculture innovation, and international clean energy deployment. Jeremy has also led ClearPath’s drive to reform outdated permitting requirements holding back new affordable and reliable clean energy.
Before joining ClearPath, Jeremy advised Republican Congressional leaders on energy, environmental, national security, tax, and transportation policy for more than a decade on Capitol Hill. In addition to his role at ClearPath, Jeremy has served in a handful of leadership roles within the energy sector.
Hon. Laura Holgate (Ret.)
Former U.S. Ambassador
International Atomic Energy Agency
As the U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ambassador Holgate helped advance multilateral cooperation in nuclear nonproliferation; nuclear security, safety, and safeguards; the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, science, and technology; nuclear testing; counterterrorism; anti-corruption; drug policy; cybercrime; and export control. She previously held the position from July 2016 to January 2017.
From 2018 to 2021, Ambassador Holgate was vice president for materials risk management at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). In this capacity, she designed and executed activities to prevent nuclear terrorism, enhancing global nuclear and radiological materials security. Ambassador Holgate also co‐led the establishment of Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy in 2018, promoting women's presence and impact in related fields. Her career includes serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism and Threat Reduction on the U.S. National Security Council from 2009 to 2016, where she played a key role in shaping national policies to address global threats. Holgate has a B.A. in politics from Princeton University and a M.S. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Dr. Yongsoo Hwang
Professor for Special Affairs
KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS)
Yongsoo Hwang is a Professor for special affairs in KINGS KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School. He is now working for establishing an international entity dedicated for nuclear nonproliferation in KINGS. He is also President of Korean Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (KNMM) . He is former President of Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control (KINAC) and Senior Vice President of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). He has served more than thirty years in the field of nuclear nonproliferation, spent nuclear fuel disposal and other options for the nuclear fuel cycle as well as international cooperation in the nuclear sectors. He served as a Member for Advisory Committee for the Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Commission(NSSC) and the 1st Public and Stakeholder Engagement Task Force Team to solve the spent nuclear fuel management issues in the ROK.
Hwang also served as an Advisory Member for the IAEA Director General for Multi-lateral Nuclear Agreement (MNA) to solve the Iranian Issues between 2004 and 2005. He worked as a Visiting Fellow at CSIS at DC between 2010 and 2012.
Hwang received his MS and PhD from University of California Berkeley, at Department of Nuclear Engineering and the BS from Seoul National University.
Ms. Irena Jager
Economic Counsellor
Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia
Ms Jager graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Ljubljana; she graduated with a Master of Diplomatic Studies degree from the Diplomatic Academy, University of Malta in 1995, received Advanced Studies diploma from the European Institute at the University of Geneva, and passed the Bar exam at the Higher Court of Ljubljana in 2002. Ms Jager has over 20 years of experiences as a Legal advisor at the International Law department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia; she served for 4 years as a Counsellor at the Permanent representation of Slovenia to the European Union and chaired the ACP Working party of the Council of the European Union in 2021. Ms Jager has worked as the Economic Counsellor of Slovenia to the Russian Federation in 2020, and is currently the Economic Counsellor of Slovenia to the United States.
Amb. Radovan Javorčík
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to the United States of America
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to the United States of America Radovan Javorčík has assumed his duties as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to the United States of America in January 2021.
After graduating from the Slovak Technical University (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) and Institute of International Relations at the Comenius University in Bratislava, he joined the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic in Press and later Foreign Policy Department. Since 1995 he is loyal to the Slovak Foreign Service.
At the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs he held a position of Deputy Director of the Policy Planning Department. After posting at the Slovak Permanent Mission to NATO (1998 - 2002), he continued to work on NATO files as a team leader and later Deputy Director for Security Policy. He was part of a team preparing Slovakia’s accession to NATO, mainly in capacity of the Head of PRENAME (Preparation for NATO Membership Programme).
His next posting at the Slovak Embassy in London (2005 - 2009) included duties of a Charge d‘Affaires a.i. (2005-2007). He then served as Director of Department for North America and Wider Middle East and again as Director for Security Policy. Later he assumed duties as the Slovak Ambassador in Israel (2011 - 2015). After serving as the Head of the Cabinet of two Deputy Foreign Ministers, he returned to Brussels in 2017 as Ambassador and Permanente Representative of the Slovak Republic on the North Atlantic Council (NATO).
Mr. Javorčík is married to a fellow Slovak diplomat Michelle Joanne Javorčíková with whom they have two sons. He speaks fluent English, Czech, Russian and understands French and colloquial German and Spanish.
Ms. Sydney McNiff Johnson
President
Galena Strategies, LLC
Sydney McNiff Johnson is President of Galena Strategies LLC, an energy consulting firm. She has over 30 years of experience as a thought leader and change agent in energy and natural resources. Johnson advises on energy projects around the globe and has a keen interest in clean energy and the environment. She has recently been serving as a nuclear technical advisor to teams for the United States Trade Development Agency in South Central and Eastern Europe, working to decarbonize the electric sector. Johnson was a member of the Dentons Global Energy practice from 2010-2023, serving as a Principal and Senior Advisor. She now serves as Co-Chair of the Dentons Smart Cities Global Think Tank. Johnson is also an active member of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, where she is Vice Chair of the International and Finance Working Group.
Johnson serves on the board of The US Ski and Snowboard Foundation, where she is co-chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and on the Sustainability Task Force. She also serves on the Board of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center. She formerly served on the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the Nature Conservancy of Idaho, and the Wild Salmon Center. Johnson came to Washington, DC from the San Francisco Bay area to serve as Legislative Assistant for Energy and the Environment to Congressman Paul N. “Pete” McCloskey, Jr.
She received a BA in Political Science and Economics from Colorado College where she wrote her thesis, “A Cost Comparison of Nuclear versus Coal for Electrical Generation 1985-2000.”
Mr. Yutaka Kadoya
First Secretary, Nuclear Attache
Embassy of Japan
rently Yutaka Kadoya is First Secretary, Nuclear Attache at the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC. Previously Yutaka Kadoya held positions as Safety Reviewer for Nuclear Power Plants, Deputy Director in the Nuclear Regulation Authority and as Assistant Director at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo.
Yutaka Kadoya holds a Masters degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Nuclear Professional School at the University of Tokyo and studied in the Special Scholars Program at the Center for U.S. – Japan Studies and Cooperation at the Institute for Public Policy Studies at Vanderbilt University.
Mr. Scott Kopple
Senior Director Government Relations
BWX Technologies, Inc.
Scott Kopple is the senior director of government relations at BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT). Kopple represents the Company’s interests on Capitol Hill and within the administration with a focus on the Department of Energy’s national security programs and contracts, fuel cycle programs and commercial nuclear energy issues. He is also deeply engaged in BWXT’s Naval Reactors business and the Department of Defense’s shipbuilding programs.
Kopple has extensive experience on Capitol Hill and within the nation’s nuclear weapons complex. Prior to joining BWXT in 2012, he served as a congressional liaison for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), representing the laboratory’s interests before Congress. He was also responsible for facilitating meetings and briefings between members of Congress and LLNL leadership on issues including stockpile stewardship, conventional munitions, greenhouse gas verification and fusion energy. Before joining LLNL, Kopple was appointed by President George W. Bush as director of congressional affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from 2006 until he joined LLNL in 2009. In this role, he served as the senior advisor to the organization’s executive leadership on legislative and political strategy to meet the agency’s goals. He served as NNSA’s primary liaison to the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees.
Kopple also brings congressional experience to BWXT. He served as a professional staff member and as deputy communications director for the U.S. House Government Reform Committee. He also served in the office of U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) as a legislative assistant.
Kopple also served as the Iowa executive director for President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign. He successfully led the Iowa campaign to a victory, which had not been accomplished by the Republican nominee since 1984.
Kopple earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from George Mason University. In 2019, the Governor of Virginia appointed Kopple to serve on the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority. He also serves on the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council board of directors.
Mr. Carl B. Kress
Regional Director & Energy Industry Worldwide Co-Lead
U.S. Trade & Development Agency
As Regional Director he leads USTDA’s programs in the region that support U.S. company participation in critical infrastructure development projects, including in energy, transportation, digital infrastructure and healthcare. He is also the Leader of USTDA’s Worldwide Energy Industry Team, which has a particular focus on nuclear power and natural gas infrastructure development around the globe.
Before joining the agency in 2001, Mr. Kress held legal and legislative positions in government and the private sector. His previous experience includes serving as counsel to Commissioner Thelma J. Askey at the U.S. International Trade Commission, as an attorney with an international law firm where he focused on international trade matters, and on the staffs of members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Mr. Kress holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley and his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also holds an LL.M. degree in German law from the University of Hamburg, Germany.
Ms. Ashley Lund
Adviser, Climate & Energy
Embassy of Finland
Before joining the Embassy of Finland in Washington, DC as the advisor for Energy, Climate, & Congressional Affairs, Ashley “Aili” Lund worked in the U.S. House of Representatives. Aili is from Duluth, Minnesota and grew up attending Salolampi, playing in a youth kantele ensemble and taking part in Finnish American community events. After graduating from college, she spent a year teaching English and studying Finnish in Finland. Aili serves on the Salolampi Foundation Board of Directors and is honored to join the Finlandia Foundation Young Leaders Board to help strengthen ties among the younger Finnish American generations.
Mr. Paweł Luzak
First Secretary & Energy Counselor
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
Paweł Luzak is a Polish diplomat currently serving as an economic officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C., where he has been actively engaged in this role since 2022. As the energy and climate counselor, he establishes and develops relations with the U.S. administration, Congress, and business representatives, facilitating U.S.-Polish cooperation and strategic partnerships in the field of energy. He also supports U.S.-Polish relations in civil nuclear projects, including Poland’s first nuclear power plant being developed by PEJ in collaboration with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium. Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paweł developed a strong academic background in international relations, earning his PhD from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań, focusing on geopolitical and geoeconomic rivalry in the IndoPacific region. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Łazarski University (a special program tailored to energy sector stakeholders) and has completed postgraduate studies (The Energy Academy) at the Warsaw School of Economics. Paweł’s expertise lies in energy policy, U.S.-Polish energy cooperation, and international affairs, making him a valuable contributor to discussions on energy security and policy. His academic background and diplomatic experience enable him to foster cooperation between Poland and key international partners.
Ms. Mary Neumayr
Director, Government Affairs
Urenco USA
Mary Neumayr is Director of Government Affairs for Urenco USA Inc. Before joining Urenco, she served in a variety of positions in the Federal government, including as Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Deputy Chief Counsel, Energy and Environment and other counsel roles with the Energy and Commerce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives; Deputy General Counsel for Environment and Nuclear Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy; and as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prior to her government service, she was in private commercial litigation and regulatory practice in New York and San Francisco. She received her B.A. from Thomas Aquinas College and J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Mr. Dave O’Keefe
VP, Business Development & Project Management
Terrestrial Energy
David O'Keefe is a proactive, energetic, and bilingual (English, French) business development professional bringing 15+ years’ experience providing leadership and driving business growth. Expertise in building and maintaining strong, positive stakeholder relationships at all levels. Curious individual who loves the challenge of a new market, new products, and new approaches to close new business.
Ms. Eva Hunnius Ohlin
Senior Advisor for Energy & Environment, Department for Trade & Economic Affairs
Embassy of Sweden
Eva Hunnius Ohlin works in the Trade and Economic Affairs section at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington DC since 2011. In her role as advisor for energy and environment, she reports on US energy, climate, and environment policy as well as transportation policy and promotes Swedish environmental technologies.
Prior to this position, she worked as an analyst at the Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis, where she focused on entrepreneurship and innovation systems. Prior to joining the agency, she managed the local Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.
Ms Hunnius Ohlin has a Master of Science in Business Administration from the School of Business, Economics and Law in Gothenburg, Sweden. Prior to these studies she worked as a physical therapist in Sweden after graduating from Uppsala University in 1997. She has lived in the U.S since 2002.
Dr. Ana-Maria Petrescu
Political Affairs Officer
Embassy Of Romania
Dr. Ana-Maria Petrescu serves as a Political Affairs Officer at the Embassy of Romania to the United States, where she covers energy and climate, technology and transatlantic cooperation. Her previous work focused on European Union Affairs and international finance. She has a MSc in International Business and Politics and a PhD in International Law and Economics.
Hon. Daniel Poneman
Co-Chair, Nuclear Energy & National Security Coalition;
Former CEO, Centrus Energy (2015-2023);
Former Deputy Secretary of Energy (2009-2014)
Daniel Poneman served as President and CEO of Centrus Energy Corp. (2015-2023), restoring the company to profitability and deploying the first U.S.-technology uranium enrichment facility to begin production since 1954. Currently he co-chairs the Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition. Prior to joining Centrus, Mr. Poneman served as Deputy Secretary of Energy from 2009 through 2014, including a brief stint as Acting Secretary. As Chief Operating Officer of the Department, Mr. Poneman’s responsibilities spanned all energy technology and nuclear security issues. He led 2009 international negotiations to address Iran’s nuclear program, chaired the Credit Review Board approval process for $30 billion in projects that accelerated the widespread deployment of electric vehicles and renewable power, played an instrumental role in the Department’s response to crises ranging from Fukushima to the Libyan civil war to Superstorm Sandy, and led efforts to strengthen emergency response and cybersecurity across the energy sector. He served for six years at the National Security Council under Presidents Bush and Clinton, including three as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Nonproliferation and Export Controls. Between tours in government, Mr. Poneman advised on corporate transactions as a principal of The Scowcroft Group and practiced law at Covington & Burling and later as a partner at Hogan & Hartson. Mr. Poneman received A.B. and J.D. degrees with honors from Harvard and an M.Litt. from Oxford. He is the author of Double Jeopardy: Combating Nuclear Terror and Climate Change, Argentina: Democracy on Trial, and Nuclear Power in the Developing World. His third book, Going Critical: The First North Korean Nuclear Crisis (co-authored with Joel Wit and Robert Gallucci), received the 2005 Douglas Dillon Award for Distinguished Writing on American Diplomacy. He has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Government of Japan and the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit Award from the Republic of Korea.
Ms. Patricia Schouker
Energy Security & Energy Transition
British Embassy
Patricia Schouker is an energy analyst based in Washington, D.C. and an associate member of New College at Oxford University. She is the founder and CEO of Energy Bridge Consulting, an independent strategic energy consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.
She has extensive experience in global energy market studies, energy security and political risk with a special focus on Europe, the U.S. and Russia. Schouker was recently selected as one of the top 40 most influential individuals in the energy sector by Right Relevance Inc., in San Francisco and a top 50 female influencer in blockchain and cyber security by Onalytica in London.
Schouker worked at Le Figaro Newspaper in Paris and was a parliamentary assistant and attaché at The French National Assembly. While working for a petrochemical company, she wrote her thesis on U.S Foreign Policy towards Terrorism after 9/11 focusing on the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a member of Chatham House, she has led several research projects in the areas of energy security and emerging threats in critical energy infrastructure as well as policy and risk assessments of European and Russian oil and gas systems.
She has collaborated with various academic institutions, think tanks, embassies and the European institutions on European energy market, the geopolitics of energy and investment patterns.
She has published for the National Interest, Pipeline Oil and Gas Magazine in Dubai, Oxford Politics and International Relations Departments as well as the Foreign Policy Association in New York. She is a frequent contributor to international media on energy security and international economic issues.
Schouker studied law, international relations and security in Paris, London, Geneva and Washington D.C. She completed a course certificate on sustainability and environmental management at Harvard University.
Mr. Maxim Serezhin
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Cybernetic Intelligence
Maxim is a real estate development principal with over 14 years of experience in commercial real estate development focusing on New York, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. As managing principal Maxim oversaw the critical financial, legal, and strategic decisions within the general partnerships of noteworthy projects that include 150 Wooster, 111 W 57th, 39 East 72nd Street, 9 DeKalb in New York City and Monad Terrace in Miami with combined budgets over $2 billion.
In 2018 Maxim founded Standard Power and is presently its CEO. Standard Power is an industrial development company that focuses on developing retired industrial facilities on brownfields across the United States into advanced data center campuses. The projects create local jobs and economic welfare in areas that would otherwise struggle to attract investment and include the redevelopment of a retired paper mill in Coshocton, Ohio, a retired coal fired power plant in Conesville, Ohio, and a behind-the-meter partnership with Energy Harbor to develop a data center campus within the grounds of their Beaver Valley nuclear generation facility. Standard Power is in the process of developing over 2,700 megawatts of data center infrastructure across its sites.
Leveraging the success of Standard Power Maxim has founded Cybernetic Intelligence, a company focusing on vertically integrated compute systems for Classified level data centers. Cybernetic Intelligence is developing sites in Maryland, Virginia, and Bahrain totaling more than 5 GWs in planned power capacity.
Maxim graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and has received his Master of Arts in Economics from American University in Washington D.C.
Mr. Jaap Slothouwer
Executive Director for the Americas
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA)
Jaap Slothouwer has a diverse background in business transformation, financial consulting, and international business studies. With experience at companies like Vesting Finance, Accenture, and Xerox, Jaap has held various leadership roles in management consulting, operational excellence, and business development. Currently serving as the Executive Director for the Americas at the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, Jaap is focused on assisting companies in scaling impact solutions for Dutch, European, and global markets. Jaap's educational background includes a Master's degree in International Business Studies from Maastricht University and a European Baccalaureate from the European School of Brussels
Mr. Pangeran Ibrani Situmorang
Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs
Embassy of Indonesia
Over two decades of professional experience in the private and public sectors, with key focus on political and security issues as well as recent exposure to economic affairs, provides me multidiscipline understanding of current affairs. Exposure to the working of international organization, international economic cooperation, and involvement in administrative management (HR and procurement) provides comprehensive insight into how different issues at different levels interact with one another. The two valuable years spent in the private sector (banking, and IT sectors) serve as reminder how much the public sector can benefit form adapting corporate good practices.
Ms. Katie Strangis
Vice President of Government & International Affairs
Westinghouse
Katie Strangis joined Westinghouse as the Vice President of Government & International Affairs in April 2024. Katie brings to this role nearly two decades of strategy, engagement, leadership, and legal experience with the Department of Energy, with particular focus on civil nuclear cooperation and export controls. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Director for Nonproliferation Policy for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Previously, Katie served as Program Director for Nuclear Technology Export Control Regulations and also in the office of the General Counsel for DOE and NNSA.
