As federal priorities shift with each new administration, the region’s climate roadmap faces headwinds. Still, New England states stand resilient. Regional collaborations, legal checks and balances, and grassroots organizing are all part of the playbook for progress.

This year’s Women Shaping the Agenda (WSTA) event, to be held on August 13, 2025, at the Rhode Island School of Design, arrives at a pivotal moment. Under the theme “Holding the Line: How States Are Driving Energy Innovation and Policy Resilience,” it will bring together some of the region’s most influential voices to explore how state-level leadership is navigating shifting federal priorities to deliver bold climate action.

Keynote speaker Senator Meghan Kallman brings powerful credibility to the discussion. Representing Rhode Island’s 15th District, Kallman is a seasoned legislator, trained sociologist, university professor, author, and nonprofit founder whose focus on climate change and organizational structures bridges policy and academia. Her dual perspective highlights the need for intersectional solutions grounded in both research and community-driven change.

Guiding the panel is Sue AnderBois, an accomplished public servant and strategist. As the Northeast Climate & Energy Director at The Nature Conservancy and a Providence City Councilor, Sue embodies the intersection of local governance and regional environmental stewardship. Her ability to translate complex climate strategies into community-driven policies has earned her a reputation as a bridge-builder and innovator.

The panelists themselves are a dynamic cross-section of regional leadership:

• Natalie Treat, Director of Public Policy at the Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT), brings years of experience in shaping state energy policy and advocating for equitable climate solutions. Her work ensures that economic transformation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand—a critical focus as states navigate decarbonization.
• Sarah Huang, Ph.D., leads the Office of Equity and Environmental Justice at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). Her deep expertise in environmental health and justice, coupled with her policy fluency, positions her as a leading voice in ensuring that state-led climate action is inclusive and just.
• Heather Hunt, Executive Director of the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), brings a regional systems perspective with unmatched insight. Her work ensures that state policies align with the evolving needs of the electric grid, balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability across the six-state region.
• Celina Cunningham, Deputy Director at the Governor’s Energy Office, offers key insights from Maine’s forward-leaning climate efforts. With deep roots in both policy development and community advocacy, Celina helps to shape one of the nation’s boldest state-level energy transitions—anchored in offshore wind and climate equity.

As NEWIEE celebrates its 15th anniversary, we continue to honor our founding mission with programming that elevates women’s leadership in the energy and environmental sectors and aims to create a more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic future.

Together, these leaders represent a diverse and powerful front in the push for sustainable progress. They bring decades of experience in regulatory innovation, environmental justice, clean energy transition, and regional collaboration—just what’s needed to “hold the line” in turbulent times.