Moderator:
Dayna Johnson — Emerging Technology Programs and Operations Leader, GE Gas Power
Panelists:
Kirsty Salmon, VP advanced bio and physical sciences for low carbon energy, BP
Kristin Siemen — Vice President, Sustainable Workplaces and Chief Sustainability Officer
Elizabeth O’Neill-Harris — VP of Supply Chain & Operations
Thursday, October 21, 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. EDT
Indiana Convention Center, Exhibit Hall “H”
Offers 0.10 CEUs / 1.0 PDH
What role do you want to play in a net-zero future? As society continues to work towards our climate goals, it is imperative that we don’t lose sight of the need for sustainability. By minimizing waste, using natural regenerative systems, and keeping as much material inside the value chain as possible, we can lower our carbon emissions while building a more sustainable and profitable world for future generations. These are the key concepts of a circular economy, which our panel members will discuss as they address the technology challenges we face today and the reskilling required to solve them. No matter what field you’re interested in or how many years of experience you have, there is room for all of us to play a part in reaching a low-carbon future.
During this session, you will learn:
• how sustainability plays a key role in planning for the future and lowering our carbon footprint
• the top technology challenges that need to be addressed to reach climate goals
• how reskilling can help us to solve these challenges by applying legacy engineering knowledge/experience towards new problems.
About the Panelists
Kirsty Salmon, Ph.D., VP advanced bio and physical sciences for low carbon energy, BP. She has a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from McGill University, completed postdoctoral work at UCLA, and joined BP in late 2011 as head of research for its GEN2 biofuels program. In 2015 she became the director of the newly formed Biosciences Centre in San Diego and is currently responsible for a new team in bp that is focused on sustainable, early-stage low carbon technology development and fundamental scientific research for the company.
Kristin Siemen, Vice President, Sustainable Workplaces and Chief Sustainability Officer, GM was appointed in February 2021 to lead General Motors to a future with zero emissions as the company continues to take bold actions against climate change, including GM’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral in its products and operations by 2040. In her most recent role as executive director, Global Energy Strategy, Certification, Compliance, and Test Labs, Siemen led a cross-functional leadership team responsible for setting corporate energy strategies, including the introduction of fuel economy improvement technologies as well as initiatives aligned with GM’s vision of a zero-emissions future.
Elizabeth O’Neill-Harris, VP of Supply Chain & Operations was the Director of Supply Chain Management at Ontic, which provides Extended Life Solutions for legacy and maturing aircrafts. She was also the Global Supplier Manager at aerospace and industrial manufacturer Woodward Inc., where she solicited and managed a variety of long-term supplier agreements, and has held positions at Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and GKN. In addition to her work at Universal Hydrogen, she is an ambassador for One Young World, a global forum for young leaders that promotes creating a better world with more responsible and effective leadership.
About the Moderator
Dayna Johnson is the Emerging Technology Programs and Operations Leader with GE Gas Power. Prior to that role, Johnson completed GE’s Accelerated Leadership Program and held a variety of roles in GE Renewable Energy. She is also the FY22 SWE president-elect. She has her BSCE degree and Master of Engineering Management from Valparaiso University.