
The Energy Innovation Conference is brought to you by UCLA Anderson's Energy Management Group. This student-run event will host over 200 participants, including students, academics and industry professionals. Through keynote speakers and panelists, we will highlight companies and technologies that have the potential to reinvent the energy industry.
Panel topics this year will cover decarbonization, grid modernization, and equity in energy.

Time | Name |
---|---|
9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Remarks: Antonio Bernardo, Dean, UCLA Anderson |
9:10 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. | Morning Keynote Address: Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund |
9:50 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. | Break |
9:55 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. | Panel #1: The Decade of Decarbonization Moderator: Brad Cornell, Emeritus Professor of Finance, UCLA Anderson Steve Renter, COO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems Vanessa Miler-Fels, Director of Energy Innovation and Impact, Microsoft Susan Blevins, Manager of Product Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs, ExxonMobil Stephen Lamm, Director of Sustainability, Bloom Energy |
10:40 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | Morning Coffee Break |
10:50 a.m. - 11:35 a.m. | Panel #2: A Grid For Tomorrow Moderator: Julian Spector, Staff Writer, Greentech Media Stephen Lassiter, Sr. Public Policy Manager, Sunrun John Vernacchia, Energy Transition Director, Eaton Katie Sloan, Director of Customer Service, Southern California Edison Karen Zelmar, SVP Network Planning, Volta Charging |
11:35 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. | Break |
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. | Market Update: Building and Electrification Transportation Fei Wang, Grid Edge Research Manager, Wood Mackenzie Kelly McCoy, Research Associate, Wood Mackenzie |
12:20 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. | Networking and Lunch |
1:20 p.m. - 2:05 p.m. | Panel #3: Future of Equity in Energy Moderator: Jean Su, Director of Energy Justice Program and Attorney at Center for Biological Diversity Martha Guzman Aceves, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission Phyllis Curie (B.A. ’68, ’97), Board Chair, Midcontinent Independent System Operator Kate Henningsen, COO, Arcadia Power |
2:05 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Closing and Networking |

This past Conference was held on February 28th, 2020 at UCLA Anderson's newest state-of-the-art, LEED Platinum facility, Marion Anderson Hall.
Under the threat of wild fires, power shortages, increasing energy costs, and carbon emissions, California's energy infrastructure is in dire need of modernization. Our 2020 conference focused on the innovation currently underway to combat the challenges facing California's grid and modernize the infrastructure for a more sustainable future. We brought in speakers from major grid controllers, boutique energy providers, energy project financing firms, and more!
