Speaker #1 Title: Managing Director of the Natural Gas Initiative

Speaker #1 Company:  Stanford University

Speaker #1 Bio: Dr. Naomi Boness is the Managing Director of the Natural Gas Initiative at Stanford University, Co-Managing Director of the Stanford Hydrogen Focus Group and a co-instructor of a graduate seminar class on the Hydrogen Economy. She is an experienced practitioner in the energy sector with a focus on natural gas, hydrogen and decarbonization in both the developed and the developing world. Prior to Stanford, she held a variety of technical and management positions at Chevron. Naomi is also a Director for a renewable fuels company and an advisor for a hydrogen startup.  As an advocate for women and gender equality, she is a member of the organizing committee for the Women in Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative. Naomi holds a Ph.D. in geophysics from Stanford University, a M.Sc. from Indiana University and a B.Sc. from the University of Leeds.

Speaker #1 Abstract: Natural Gas in the Era of Decarbonization

We are at a crucial and exciting time, designing and investing in the energy systems of the future that will provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy. As investment in renewable energy continues to accelerate, wind and solar are becoming the dominant source of new power capacity in many regions. At the same time, the harmful effects of coal combustion, on both the environment and humans, are becoming increasingly clear. Natural gas is a critical component of the evolving clean energy landscape to enable renewables and replace coal.

In the short- and mid-term, it is likely that the shift to cleaner energy systems will require more natural gas, not less, to ensure reliability and resiliency of the power sector, until such time that the cost of energy storage is significantly reduced.

In the longer term, projections show that natural gas demand will increase to replace coal and to meet the growing energy demand, particularly in the developing world. In addition to the power sector, natural gas offers a clean solution to replace heating and cooking fuels currently being used in Asia and Africa. Gas is not going anywhere anytime soon, and will continue to serve a multitude of human needs for decades.

For this reason, it is absolutely crucial that future gas demand be satisfied in the cleanest way possible. The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative has a strategic research portfolio that includes: reducing gas leakage; improving access and markets to speed the transition from coal to gas + renewables in Asia; reducing flaring through development of methane conversion processes to higher value products; the role of gas in supplying hydrogen without carbon emissions; gas distribution system transitions; blending of biogas, H2 or synthetic renewable-derived gas products; and gas systems as long-term energy storage in a high-renewable future.

Speaker #2 Title:   ESG/Sustainability Director

Speaker #2 Company: New Tech Global Environmental

Speaker #2 Bio: Trina Engels serves as the ESG/Sustainability Director for New Tech Global Environmental. She has over 20 years of oil and gas experience working for ExxonMobil, Anadarko, and Occidental. Trina’s previous roles include Project Advancement and Planning Director, International Commercial Advisor, Regulatory Engineering Manager, Production Manager, Strategic Planner. Trina has a BS in Civil Engineering from University of South Florida, a Masters in Environmental Engineering from University of Texas, and attended Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.

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Speaker #2 Abstract: Exploring Your Fit in an ESG Career

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability are hot topics that make them perfect for those looking for new opportunities in the workforce. Many jobs are available that deal with assessing performance, investing, engineering design, ethics, governance, strategy, and risk related to the environment and social realm.  Before you start looking for jobs in ESG, think about your personal interest and current skills set, ground yourself with some hard realities, do your research, engross yourself in material, and network.