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NEWIEE’s 11th Annual Awards Gala

April 28, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Join us for NEWIEE’s 11th Annual Awards Gala celebrating the accomplishments of women in the energy and environment fields! The Gala draws professionals (women and men) from across New England for an inspirational evening celebrating four awardees, distinguished women from New England who have driven change. The evening includes networking opportunities both before and after a seated dinner and the Gala program. This is an evening not to be missed!

Ticket holders will need to demonstrate full vaccination and provide proof of a negative COVID test to attend this in person event. Please see important information concerning COVID-19 safety protocols below.

The NEWIEE Awards Gala honors and celebrates the achievements of women leaders in the energy and environment industry.

Read a recap of this year’s Gala below!

We are thrilled to announce that our 10th Awards Gala Keynote will be the newly appointed United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo!

The night will continue with NEWIEE’s Founder and Undersecretary of Energy, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Judy Chang, in an inspiring conversation with former Rising Star Awardees, including Abby Krich from Boreas Renewables (2016 Rising Star), Kate Epsen from ISO New England (2018 Rising Star), and Emily Luksha from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (2019 Rising Star). The group will discuss women’s leadership and how to support the development of other women leaders in our field.

We will top off the evening with a celebration of five distinguished awardees, who will discuss their journeys in the fields of energy and environment and share the secrets to their success. Please join us!

2022 Gala Honorees

Keynote Address:

Elin Swanson Katz
Director, Office of Public Participation
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

“As a long-time NEWIEE member, I enjoy the consistently interesting NEWIEE programs. They are always relevant, innovative, and timely. Even more, I value the camaraderie and friendship with my fellow members, which is even more important in these challenging times. The Gala is a great event and I’m honored to serve as the keynote.”

Read Elin's Bio

Elin Swanson Katz serves as the inaugural Director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s newly formed Office of Public Participation (OPP), which was established in 2021 to assist the public with Commission proceedings. As Director, Elin leads a growing OPP team that provides direct outreach and education to the public to facilitate greater understanding of Commission processes and support broader participation in matters before the Commission. OPP serves as a liaison for environmental justice communities, Tribal members, landowners, consumer advocates, and other historically underrepresented stakeholders, and responds to inquiries and requests for administrative and technical assistance from members of the public.

Elin previously served as Consumer Counsel for the State of Connecticut, as well as President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. She was also the VP of Utilities for Tilson, a technology company that builds telecommunications infrastructure, including broadband and 5G technology. Elin is also a longtime member of NEWIEE.

Leadership Awardee:

Rachel Kyte
Dean of The Fletcher School

“I stand on the shoulders of remarkable women here and abroad who have challenged, innovated, given voice to the voiceless and have invested and built solutions for clean, affordable and reliable energy. For all of them, I am honored to accept this award.”

Read Rachel's Bio

Rachel Kyte is the 14th dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Kyte is the first woman to lead the United States’ oldest graduate-only school of international affairs, which attracts students from all corners of the world and at all stages of their careers.

Prior to joining Fletcher, Kyte served as special representative of the UN secretary-general and chief executive officer of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). She previously was the World Bank Group vice president and special envoy for climate change, leading the run-up to the Paris Agreement. She was also vice president at the International Finance Corporation responsible for ESG risk and business advisory services.

In her UN role and as CEO of SEforAll, a public-private platform created by the UN and World Bank, Kyte led efforts to promote and finance clean, reliable and affordable energy as part of the U.N .Sustainable Development Goals. She served as co-chair of UN Energy.

In the 2020 UK New Year Honours, Rachel was appointed as CMG for her services to sustainable energy and combating climate change.

Kyte is a member of the U.N. secretary-general’s high-level advisory group on climate action and an advisor to the UK presidency of the UN climate talks. Kyte is co-chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), and chair of the FONERWA, the Rwanda Green Fund. She serves on the boards of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the Climate Policy Institute and CDP. She advises investors, governments, and not-for-profits on climate, energy, and finance for sustainable development.

A British citizen, Kyte earned degrees from University of London and the Fletcher School. She is a regular contributor on global media. Kyte has received numerous awards for leadership in climate and sustainable development and was named by Time magazine as one of the 15 women that were leading climate action.

Achievement Awardees:

Meg Lusardi
Executive Vice-President
PowerOptions Inc.

“It is an honor to receive this award and to be included in the company of the talented, creative, and intentional honorees past and present. NEWIEE is an important resource for the committed women of the energy and environmental sector at every level of their careers, bringing us together in our drive and passion for growth and continued development towards a cleaner, sustainable energy future. I stand on the shoulders of the trailblazers that came before me and likewise, I strive to provide solid support for those just starting out. Girl Power!”

Read Meg's Bio

Meg Lusardi is Executive Vice President of PowerOptions, a nonprofit energy consortium dedicated to providing solutions to the energy needs of nonprofits and the public sector. She is responsible for overseeing all general operations including the electricity and natural gas programs, human resources, finance, and administration, as well as leading the new product area of sustainability advisory. Meg is entrusted with the relationships of PowerOptions’ largest non-profit, municipality, and state agency Members who depend on her for their overall energy planning and procurement. She is also responsible for PowerOptions significant expansion into Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Prior to joining PowerOptions, Meg served as Acting Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), overseeing the development and implementation of state energy policies and programs related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy markets. During her tenure as Commissioner, she served as the Administration’s lead on a study addressing the natural gas pipeline capacity serving Massachusetts. Prior to becoming the Commissioner, Meg was the initial architect, implementer, and eventual leader of DOER’s Green Communities Division, a first-in-the-nation program serving Massachusetts municipalities on all their energy issues, helping them to save energy and reduce costs. Her efforts included developing and launching the landmark Green Communities Designation and Grant program. In addition, as Division Director, she oversaw the deployment of more than $60M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to more than 300 clean energy projects across Massachusetts.

Meg’s 30-plus-year career has been built on a vision of what is possible and an understanding of how to make it happen. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, she worked for nearly a decade as a project manager at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and at the consulting firm Booz-Allen and Hamilton. Meg also served as Chief Operating Officer of Project Hope in Dorchester, Massachusetts, a nonprofit serving homeless and low-income families.

Meg lives in Jamaica Plain with her rescue dog, Chickee. When she is not apologizing to neighbors for the barking, she likes to tackle home improvement projects (sometimes successfully), connect with her six godchildren, and avoid cooking by eating out with friends as much as possible, but often challenging in the COVID environment.

Marissa Paslick Gillett
Chairman
CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

“I am so appreciative of this opportunity from NEWIEE to be recognized by my peers and colleagues in the energy industry. Each day I am fortunate to work with a number of passionate, dedicated individuals, and I am deeply cognizant that any achievements of mine are reflective of their achievements and contributions as well. Leading CT PURA these past few years has been the privilege and highlight of my career, and I am very grateful for this recognition.”

Read Marissa's Bio

Marissa Paslick Gillett is Chairman of Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). Governor Ned Lamont nominated Gillett to begin serving on the three member regulatory authority on April 26, 2019, and her appointment was confirmed by both the House of Representatives and State Senate in the 2019 session of the Connecticut General Assembly.

Gillett serves as one of Connecticut’s representatives on the Board of Directors of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. (RGGI).

Prior to her appointment, Gillett was the Vice President of External Relations for the Energy Storage Association – the national trade association representing the energy storage industry. In that role, Gillett served on the association’s executive team, contributing to the organization’s overall strategic vision and direction, as well as providing leadership of the research, educational programming and events, marketing, and communications teams.

From 2011 to 2018, Gillett worked at the Maryland Public Service Commission, an independent agency within the Maryland state government that regulates public utilities, where she most recently served as the senior advisor to the chairman. Her duties included a number of matters on energy issues in the state, such as advising the agency’s chairman and other commissioners on technical, legal and policy matters related to offshore wind procurement, statewide energy efficiency programs, advanced metering infrastructure, grid reliability issues and electric vehicles. Additionally, she represented the commission on these topics by testifying before the Maryland General Assembly and by leading stakeholder engagement initiatives as part of the state’s grid modernization proceeding.
Gillett received a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law in Baltimore, Maryland.

Rising Star Awardee:

Keirstan Field
Project Manager
Petersen Engineering

“It is an honor and privilege to be recognized for my work in mentorship, process improvement, technical contributions and big picture thinking as a woman in the energy and environment industry. I am beyond grateful that this recognition comes from the organization, NEWIEE, that connected me to my mentor and to Petersen Engineering, without whom this would not be possible.”

Read Keirstan's Bio

Keirstan Field is a Project Manager, Team Leader, and mechanical engineer at Petersen Engineering, a rapidly-growing MEP/FP firm that focuses on the smart, sustainable design of high-performance buildings. In her current role, she serves as a project manager and manages the eight mechanical and electrical engineers within her team. Keirstan worked as an engineer and project manager for a utility company before coming to Petersen. Since joining Petersen, she has worked on a wide variety of projects, including assisted living, multifamily, mixed-use commercial/residential (including commercial kitchen work), institutional projects, and tenant fit-outs. She has also worked with senior management to standardize business processes associated with onboarding and professional development, among other things, to position Petersen for additional growth. She has a BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is an Engineer-in-Training, working toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer. Keirstan is a proud member of the Portsmouth Rotary, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), and NEWIEE.

Special NEWIEE Board Recognition Award:

Shalanda Baker
Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Energy

Read Shalanda's Bio

Shalanda H. Baker was mostly recently a professor of law, public policy, and urban affairs at Northeastern University. She was the co-founder and co-director of the Initiative for Energy Justice, which provides technical law and policy support to communities on the front lines of climate change. Baker served as an Air Force officer prior to her honorable discharge pursuant to the then existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and became a vocal advocate for repeal of the policy. She earned a B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a J.D. from Northeastern University, and L.L.M. from the University of Wisconsin.

About the NEWIEE Awards

The NEWIEE Awards are presented at the annual NEWIEE Gala to honor and celebrate the achievements of women leaders in the energy and environment industry.

  • The Leadership Award honors women who have promoted opportunities for women in the energy and environmental fields, and have continued to nurture and encourage women in these areas throughout their careers.
  • The Achievement Award honors women who have achieved professional excellence within their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for other women in similar or related professional areas. These women demonstrate excellence in a variety of professional settings, including leadership on the national, regional, or local level.
  • The Rising Star Award, in honor of Allison Smith was created in 2016 to honor a woman with less than ten years of industry experience who has demonstrated a commitment to, and positive impact on, her field; both professionally and in her personal endeavors.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

NEWIEE is committed to holding a safe event and will continuously monitor public health trends to ensure all measures are taken to ensure a safe event. We have updated the COVID protocol for attendance to reflect the current (low) risk level. Please make sure that your guests are aware of the following COVID vaccination and testing requirements.

Ticket holders will need to demonstrate BOTH of the following:

  • Proof of vaccination. Per the CDC, a person is fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving all recommended doses in the primary series of their COVID-19 vaccination. A booster(s) is not required but recommended. Vaccination status will be checked upon registration by showing either electronic or paper proof of vaccination.
  • Proof of a negative COVID test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 48 hours of the event (test taken after 6 pm on Tuesday, April 26th). Demonstration of a negative COVID test can be provided in the form of either (1) a photo of the rapid test with the name of attendee and date written on test strip, or (2) a copy (electronic, photo or paper) of PCR results with name and date of test clearly visible. Photos or electronic documents can be simply shown on your phone upon registration.

We encourage guests to test at home. Here is a link to government provided test kits.  A limited number of rapid antigen tests will be available on site. If you or your guests will want to test on site, please complete this quick form so we have an estimate and availability on Gala night. Please arrive 15 minutes early if you need to take a test on-site. Attendees requiring an onsite test will be directed to a separate testing area where they will self-administer a rapid test and show results to a volunteer before proceeding to registration table if test reads negative.

Mask wearing is based on personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk. Please stay home if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. NEWIEE reserves the right to require additional safety protocols based on public health outlooks and conditions.

Transfer policy: Given the uncertainty of COVID, guest registration/tickets are transferable at any time, including the evening of the event. If you are making a transfer before April 28th, please email us with the name and title of the attendee. No new registrations will be accepted on event night (ticket sales will be closed).

Refund policy: We have revised our refund policy so that any individual ticket holders who show proof of a positive COVID test within five days of the event can either transfer their ticket or get a full refund (less transaction fees) at any time.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We Need Your Support for This Memorable Event. Gain visibility for your company while helping NEWIEE provide educational opportunities and highlight the contributions of women in the energy and environmental sectors. Follow the links below to learn more. Don’t miss out!

Reception Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Details

Date:
April 28, 2022
Time:
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Event Tags:
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Organizer

NEWIEE
Email
NEWIEE@NEWIEE.org
View Organizer Website

Venue

Westin Copley Place
10 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02116 United States

NEWIEE may on occasion take photographs and/or video of event attendees for use in print materials or by electronic methods. Your attendance at any NEWIEE event grants permission for NEWIEE to use these photographs and/or video in its marketing and public relations efforts. Would you like to volunteer to host, speak, sponsor, give a tour, or suggest a NEWIEE event idea? Email Programming Co-Chairs and NEWIEE Directors, Sarah Adams and/or Vivian Kimball. Have an event you would like to cross-promote? Send a short description and related link to Jennifer MacNeil at least 6 weeks prior to your event to ensure that it will be posted in our monthly Friends-of-NEWIEE blast.

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