Board of Directors

 
 

Alecia Ward

Leader of Program and Business Development, LBNL

As Leader of Program and Business Development at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Alecia Ward is responsible for development of Energy Technologies Area (ETA) research portfolio. The work supported by sustained funding of nearly $110 million spans research and deployment in buildings and urban systems; batteries and sustainable transportation; energy analysis and environmental impacts; and interoperability, grid modernization and demand response.  

Ms. Ward is an expert on energy efficiency, sustainability and climate policy and adds valuable insight into the process of designing, deploying, managing, and evaluating energy efficiency, demand-side management, demand response, and renewable energy programs and policies. Working collaboratively, as a consultant and as a stakeholder advocate, Ms. Ward has advised investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and municipal utilities and their associations for more than 17 years. She has tracked energy and climate policy at an international, national, regional and local level for more than 20 years.  

Over her career, Ms. Ward has served at the pleasure of two members of Congress and one President. Coordinating with federal agencies and maintaining active relationships with more than 70 state agencies, departments, bureaus, boards and commissions, Ms. Ward creates successful collaborative partnerships that bring solutions to scale.

 
 

Larissa Paredes Muse

strategic relationships manager, upciti

As an architect and urban planner specializing in city digitalization and smart street lighting, Larissa's areas of expertise include Energy Efficiency, Street Lighting, Urban Planning & Management, and Policy Design for Smart Cities. She is currently consulting for Quanta Technology in the energy sector to define smart street lighting standards and procedures for a utility company in North America. As a member of IEEE, Larissa is involved in various leadership roles and technical activities, currently serving as the Chair of the IEEE Smart Cities Marketing Committee, and is a member of the IEEE Smart Lighting Steering Committee.

 
 

Carlos Nouel

managing director, ey

Carlos Nouel is the Leader of National Grid’s New Energy Solutions (NES) team. NES is an agile team focused on developing and launching innovative solutions and technologies that unlock value for National Grid’s customers and communities and accelerate progress towards a sustainable future.

Before becoming its leader, Carlos was the Director of Partnerships for the NES team. In that role, he was responsible for identifying customer’s energy needs and determining the most comprehensive, cost effective and sustainable strategies to fulfill those needs through the creation of innovative partnerships and alliances with key industry players. In addition, he also leads the development and execution of strategies and tactics for our smart grid programs. Before coming to New Energy Solutions, Carlos developed sourcing strategies to support all the requirements for National Grid’s energy efficiency portfolio valued at $400m per year.

Prior to joining National Grid, Carlos worked for companies such as Pfizer, British American Tobacco, IBM and AES in the supply chain area.  Carlos holds an M.B.A. from Hult International Business School, and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela.  He is also a Certified Energy Manager.

 
 

Scott Johnstone

General Manager, Morrisville Water & Light

Scott brings a depth of experience in leading complex organizations in the private and public sectors. With a commitment to public service and good governance, Scott has made significant contributions to improving the quality and effectiveness of the organizations he has led. His past positions include Executive Director of the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and the Director of Public Works for the City of Burlington, VT. Scott joined VEIC in 2008, and since that time has led the organization through a period of strategic growth with a focus on results, measured in increased energy savings. Under his leadership, VEIC launched two new energy efficiency utilities in Washington D.C. and Ohio, expanded its scope of services to include transportation and biomass, and gained statewide recognition as an employer of choice. In addition to setting the strategic direction and leading business development at VEIC, Scott serves on several boards of directors, including the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership,  ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, and the Greater Burlington YMCA. He also served on the Vermont Governor’s Commission on Energy Siting until May 2013, and participated on the Commission on Climate Change. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Maine and also holds a Professional Engineer certification.

 
 

Pat Lo

pOWER AND UTILITIES AMERICAS EXECUTIVE LEADER, MICROSOFT

With over 15 years experience in the electricity sector, Patrick is an experienced people and thought leader in the areas of innovation, long term strategy, and partnerships. He is currently the Power and Utilities Americas Executive Leader at Microsoft, where he leads strategic innovation on AI transformation with investor-owned utilities across the Americas. Prior to Microsoft, Pat was the Senior Manager of Partnerships in Innovation, Research, and Development at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), where he oversaw the Grid Innovation Fund and its portfolio of projects. Pat has also held various positions at Hydro One, including leading its 10 year distribution strategy and advising on grid modernization through SCADA technologies to improve system reliability. Patrick currently represents Canada as a National Expert in the areas of Transmission-Distribution Power Systems and Flexibility Markets at the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN) as a part of the Internal Energy Agency (IEA). He sits on the boards of both Mohawk College’s Energy, Power, Innovation Centre (EPIC) and the DesignLights Consortium (DLC).

 
 

Regina Durga

Sales Leader, CENTRICA

Vice President of Sales, North America, Centrica Business Solutions

Regina Durga brings over 20 years of experience in guiding businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations toward a low-carbon future. As Vice President of Sales for North America at Centrica Business Solutions, she leads strategic initiatives to deliver integrated energy solutions that help clients achieve sustainability, net-zero, and resiliency goals. Throughout her career, Regina has spearheaded teams that have developed over $500 million in comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for a diverse clientele, including educational institutions, federal agencies, housing authorities, and commercial enterprises.

Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to delivering results-driven projects that not only meet clients’ energy needs but also contribute to broader environmental objectives. Regina’s approach combines innovative solutions with creative financing, enabling organizations to implement sustainable practices effectively.  

Regina is also an active participant in industry events, such as the Public-Private Partnership Conference, where she engages with stakeholders to foster collaboration and drive impactful energy project

 
 

Meg Lusardi

STRATEGIC ENERGY POLICY & LEADERSHIP ADVISOR

Meg Lusardi brings more than 30 years of clean energy leadership to the table, with experience spanning energy efficiency, renewable power, and public policy. She has spent her career advancing pragmatic solutions to reduce carbon emissions and boost energy savings across both public and private sectors.

As Executive Vice President of PowerOptions, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit energy consortium supporting over 500 public and nonprofit entities across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. There, she led initiatives in electricity and gas procurement, turnkey solar, off-site renewables, clean transportation, and more.

Previously, Meg served as Acting Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), directing over $60M in clean energy investments and managing grants to cities and towns through federal and state funding. Her efforts helped expand the state’s Leading By Example program and drive lasting impact in municipal energy use.

Earlier in her career, Meg held leadership roles with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Booz Allen Hamilton, and as COO of Project Hope in Boston. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and serves on the Massachusetts Energy Advisory Council.

 
 

Karen Zelmar

Clean Energy Executive

Karen Zelmar is the former program manager for the Department of Energy’s $8.8B Home Energy Rebate Programs authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. Previously, Karen worked as the Senior Vice President of Network Planning at Volta Charging and as the Director of Clean Energy Programs at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), where she leveraged her experience in the technology industry while pursuing her passion for energy and sustainability. Karen has previously held leadership positions at multiple technology providers including AOL and Navteq, before moving into the energy industry. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.