In 2016, Katie Theoharides joined the Baker-Polito Administration as Director of Climate and Global Warming Solutions in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. As Director and later Assistant Secretary, Theoharides guided the development and implementation of the Administration’s efforts to safeguard Massachusetts from the impacts of climate change, support cities and towns, and coordinate efforts across state government to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. She worked to implement Executive Order 569, led the development of the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan and created the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, working to grow the program to reach 50 percent of cities and towns in the Commonwealth in less than 3 years. Theoharides was promoted to Undersecretary in 2019, and continued to lead the Commonwealth’s efforts on climate change, including working to strengthen regional and national coalitions focused on bipartisan state climate leadership including the United States Climate Alliance and the Transportation Climate Initiative.

Trained as a field biologist, Theoharides began her policy career working in Washington, D.C. at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Defenders of Wildlife. During her time in DC, Theoharides worked on the federal farm bill and conservation policy, and helped establish a national program that partnered with federal and state agencies to incorporate climate change adaptation into policy, budgets, and planning. After returning to Massachusetts, Theoharides served as the Executive Director of the Hilltown Land Trust, and founded Theoharides Consulting which provided climate and environmental policy analysis, strategic planning, and facilitation to universities, government agencies and non-profits.

Theoharides received a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Dartmouth College and Masters of Science in Ecology and Environmental Biology from University of Massachusetts-Boston. Originally from western Massachusetts, Theoharides lives with her husband, three young children, and dog in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Tracy Babbidge currently serves as the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Air Management. The Bureau is responsible for implementing a variety of programs to achieve clean air and assure radiation safety across Connecticut. Previously, Tracy served as the Bureau Chief for Energy and Technology Policy where she worked on comprehensive energy and climate change planning, integrated resource planning, advancing the deployment of both grid-scale and distributed resources. She is now working on issues at the intersection of clean air and clean energy policies working to advance the Department’s efforts in both of these areas as part of an integrated approach.

Tracy has also served in several environmental positions within the former Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Prior to state service Tracy worked on the federal level for the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. She received her law degree from Quinnipiac College School of Law and her B.A. from Providence College. She is a member of the Connecticut Bar.

Abby Watson leads government and institutional relations for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in North America, covering federal and state policy and regulatory issues. For nearly 15 years, Abby has worked with almost every type of renewable energy from several angles – development, construction, risk management, project management, manufacturing, sales, and policy. In her nine years’ experience with Siemens Gamesa, she moved from managing landowner relationships during development, to the sale of spare parts in support of its non-warranty fleet, and finally took a role leading government relations. As Head of Government Affairs, Abby manages strategic planning for government and institutional relationships, maintaining a close dialogue with the business development function for both the onshore and offshore business units, while also taking a hands-on role with state policy issues and new market entry planning.

Abby is proud to be the founder and Advisor to the Board of the Philadelphia chapter of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and is an enthusiastic mentor and advocate for women in the renewable energy industry. Abby studied Geology with dual concentrations in Environmental Studies and Geoarchaeology at Bryn Mawr College, received a BA in Energy and Sustainability Policy from Penn State University, and is currently enrolled in the Villanova Executive MBA program.