Please note your affiliation and years of experience in the energy and/or environmental field

I first dipped my toe into the energy and environment pool when I was a graduate student at Johns Hopkins/SAIS. I took several courses in environmental economics and did a simulated negotiation of an environmental treaty. I have been working in the energy and environmental field since about 2005, although back then, I had no idea that my career would take this direction. (My undergraduate degrees are in English and drama!) I ended up in energy and resources mainly because I really like the people who work in this field, and because I like the challenges associated with a constantly changing landscape. It can be intimidating at times, however. I am presently an attorney in the Global Energy Sector of Dentons, and I am constantly in awe of the talent that surrounds me. It is a great place to work, and gives me a platform to explore a wide variety of issues, far beyond the individual cases I handle.

Any particular achievement/interest in energy/environment you would like to mention?

There are so many exciting projects that I am working on right now that I hardly know where to begin. First, I have the pleasure of hosting a group of Canadian law students in an international energy law travel course that Dentons sponsors with the Universities of Calgary and Houston each year. The students come to Washington as part of the program and spend time visiting with prominent leaders in US energy and environmental regulation. Most of the students are people who already have worked in the energy sector before going to law school - regulators, engineers, geologists, etc.. It is exciting working with students who bring so much experience to the table. I also am working with the leaders of my practice group to launch a Smart Cities Think Tank to complement our legal and policy capabilities. We are grappling with issues that are cutting edge, but that touch the everyday lives of millions of people. Smart Cities initiatives are something that most people can be excited about and support to some degree. This allows us to bring groups that would normally oppose one another to the same table to achieve a common goal.

How long have you been a member of NCAC? Any particular NCAC memory you would like to share with us?

I think it was about 7 or 8 years ago. While I don't have a particular NCAC memory to share, I will say that what keeps me coming back is the unique, unpretentious nature of the organization and the relevance of the discussions. I once tried to someone why I liked living in Baltimore - at least at the time, no matter who you were or where in town you were from, you could come down to the Inner Harbor on a summer evening and find people from all walks of life dancing together to a local band, sharing a common interest or experience. This organization is a bit like that. We come together from a wide variety of jobs and experience in the energy industry - from FERC commissioners or other prominent government officials to students just starting out -- even lawyers are welcome! - and we gather for a very affordable lunch and talk about issues that interest us all. Rank and status doesn't matter. I find it so refreshing, and I learn so much each time!