2017 Conference Speaker Bios
Matt Babcock, PhD is the principal of Wider Lens Research LLC, where he conducts independent research and analysis work with the aim of informing decision making in complex human/technical and human/environmental systems. His current work focuses on environmental risk communication and the use of mental models in understanding stakeholder perceptions. He earned his doctorate in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, where the focus of his thesis was on how different stakeholder groups involved in water management communicate with each other and through boundary organization networks. He also holds an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University, a MS in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Tech, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Manhattan College. In addition to his academic work, Matt’s interest in improving communication about environmental risk and complex systems stems from both his years of experience as an indoor environmental investigator for a small private company in New York City, and his experience working with local water committees and designing aqueducts as an environmental health extension agent in the Peace Corps in rural Panama.
Matt Barranca is an Assistant Director with the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Physical Infrastructure Team. Matt primarily works on surface transportation issues, leading GAO reviews of federal highway, rail, transit, pipeline safety, and maritime programs. Matt contributed to GAO’s August 2017 report titled, Pipeline Safety: Additional Actions Could Improve Federal Use of Data on Pipeline Materials and Corrosion, GAO-17-639. Matt holds a Master of Applied Anthropology from the University of Maryland, with a focus on ethnographic research methods, and Bachelor of Arts in Language and Literature from Saint Mary’s College of Maryland.
Dominic Boyer is Professor of Anthropology at Rice University and Founding Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences (CENHS, culturesofenergy.org), the first research center in the world designed specifically to promote research on the energy/environment nexus in the arts, humanities and social sciences. He is part of the editorial collective of the journal Cultural Anthropology (2015-2018) and also edits the Expertise: Cultures and Technologies of Knowledge book series for Cornell University Press. His most recent monograph is The Life Informatic: Newsmaking in the Digital Era (Cornell University Press, 2013). With James Faubion and George Marcus, he has recently edited, Theory can be more than it used to be (Cornell University Press, 2015) and with Imre Szeman has developed Energy Humanities: An Anthology for Johns Hopkins University Press (2017). His next book, Energopolitics, is part of a collaborative multimedia duograph with Cymene Howe, which will explore the complexities of wind power development in Southern Mexico. With Howe, he also co-hosts the “Cultures of Energy” podcast (available on iTunes, PlayerFM and Stitcher).
Sheila Caguiat, MSW is the Executive Director at the Danielle Dawn Smalley Foundation, Sheila develops, enhances, manages, and promotes the organizations pipeline safety programs by working with stakeholders, industry, and regulatory agencies. She has personally delivered pipeline safety education to school officials in over 40 states. As a non-profit professional, Sheila has more than 15 years of experience working with tribal, faith-based, public, and private organizations, many which include prevention and safety programming. Sheila holds degrees in human development, sociology, social work, and a master’s degree in non-profit administration/community practice. She is a member of the Common Ground Alliance, has been published in industry journals and has spoken at pipeline safety conferences across the nation.
David W. Chittick is Director of Pipe Integrity for TransCanada. He is responsible for ensuring the safety and reliability of TransCanada’s operating pipe assets. His portfolio includes strategic developments, integrity management plans, threat management processes and procedures, industry association participation (INGAA, CEPA), development of integrity programs and technology management. Mr. Chittick has 28 years experience with TransCanada in various Engineering groups. In particular, he has participated in the design, construction, maintenance, project and program management of natural gas and oil pipeline facilities in Canada, the US and overseas. Mr. Chittick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary (U of C). He is affiliated with a number of associations including the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Linda Daugherty serves as the Deputy Associate Administrator (DAA) for Pipeline Safety – Field Operations. She has worked with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for over 25 years. Ms. Daugherty leads PHMSA’s pipeline Field Operations Divisions, including inspection and enforcement staff located across the country in five Region Offices and the Washington based Data Analysis, Emergency Response, Security and Facility Response Plan Divisions. She previously served as DAA for Policy and Programs in Washington, leading the efforts of the Enforcement, Engineering, Regulatory, Training and Qualifications, State Program and Program Development Divisions. Ms. Daugherty also has served as Region Director for the Southern and Central Regions. Ms. Daugherty, a chemical engineer by training, began her career with a hazardous liquid pipeline company and then joined PHMSA as an inspector/investigator.
Troy A. Eid is a Principal Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP in Denver representing companies and Indian tribes in environmental enforcement actions, natural resource development matters, and criminal and civil investigations. He co-chairs the firm’s American Indian Law Practice Group and is also an experienced mediator helping resolve disputes between tribes and energy companies. Troy served as Colorado’s 40th United States Attorney appointed by President George W. Bush. Under President Barack Obama, Troy chaired the Indian Law and Order Commission. This independent commission was created by the Tribal Law and Order Act to advise the President and Congress on public safety improvements for all 568 federally recognized tribes. The American Bar Association endorsed all the Commission’s recommendations contained in its path-breaking report, A ROADMAP FOR MAKING NATIVE AMERICA SAFER (https://www.aisc.ucla.edu/iloc/report/). Troy grew up in Colorado, graduated from Stanford and the University of Chicago Law School, and clerked for Judge Edith H. Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is an elected member of the Navajo Judicial Conduct Commission, which oversees judicial ethics and performance for the country’s largest tribal court system. An aging yet undaunted distance-runner, Troy competes regularly in trail and road races.
Graham Emmerson is the Technical Manager of Integrity Programs with Enbridge Inc. and is the Integrity Management lead within Enbridge’s Enterprise Safety and Operational Reliability Team. For the past four years Graham has worked with a multi-disciplinary team of experts to strengthen Enbridge’s process safety management and improve operational reliability through Enterprise minimum standards, safety culture assessment, incident investigation and a variety of assurance activities. Prior to joining Enbridge Graham spent eight years with Canada’s National Energy Board, preceded by eight years in engineering consulting and oilfield services. Graham works actively with several Industry Association and standards committees to advance safety and loss management programs and is currently Chair of the CSA Z260 Technical Committee developing the Pipeline Safety Metrics Standard. Graham is a geotechnical engineer by training with a B.Sc.(E) in Geological Engineering from Queens University and an Masters in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary. Graham currently resides in Calgary, Alberta and has worked extensively across North America and Canada’s Arctic Territories.
Stephen (Steve) Ernst is the Integrity Management Services Manager at Marathon Pipe Line LLC (MPL). Steve and his team are responsible for integrity management on over 6,400 miles of mainline pipe and 36 pipeline facilities. Key responsibilities include in-line inspection; data integration; engineering analysis; tank integrity; hydrotesting; quality assurance for design, construction and inspection; operational support; and implementation of MPL’s Integrity Management Plan. Prior to his current role, Steve held various positions in Marathon’s Integrity, Operations and Logistics, and Engineering groups. Steve holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Purdue University. He resides in Findlay, Ohio, with his wife and four boys.
Geoff Foreman is a Senior ILI technology Advisor for Baker Hughes a GE company – PII Pipeline Solutions. He has been with the company for 40 years. In 1977 Geoff commenced working at the British Gas, Engineering Research Station, as an experimental technician on the first High Resolution ILI tools. 1996 he opened up the Latin American market, as South America Regional Sales Manager, and in 1999 he became the South American Regional GM, building operational bases in South America. In 2001 Geoff moved to Calgary, Alberta as GM PII Pipeline Solutions Canada. In 2004 he became the North Americas Regional Sales Manager GE Oil & Gas PII Pipeline Solutions. In 2005 he became the Global ILI Sales Leader, in 2008 he became the Global Growth and Strategy Leader, and in 2012 he became the Global Inorganic Growth (Adjacencies) Leader. From 2014 to current Geoff has served as Senior ILI Technology Advisor – Specializing in Industry Advocacy of how the BHGE ILI tools technologies are compliant to Standards and Regulations. In 2011 Geoff presented ILI tool capabilities at the San Bruno NTSB inquiry in Washington DC. Geoff was educated in Newcastle, England, attained a BEng Degree in Industrial Engineering from University of Northumbria.
Ernest House, Jr. is the Executive Director for the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs (CCIA), where he maintains communications between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, and other American Indian organizations, state agencies and affiliated groups. Ernest works closely with Governor John Hickenlooper, Lieutenant Governor Donna Lynne, and the CCIA members to maintain a government-to-government relationship between the State of Colorado and tribal governments. The CCIA is an eleven member commission, comprised of both Ute Tribes, their appointees and several state department representatives and ex-officio members. Ernest represents the CCIA at various federal and state public policy meetings and provides legislative and government-related information to community stakeholders. He previously held the same position under previous governors from 2005-2010. Ernest is an enrolled member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Towaoc, Colorado. Ernest currently serves on the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees, the Mesa Verde Foundation, and the Global Livingston Institute. He holds a rich tradition in his position as son of the late Ernest House, Sr., a long time tribal leader for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and great-grandson of Chief Jack House, the last hereditary chief of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
Blaine Keener is the Operations Systems Division Director in the Washington DC Headquarters for PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). Blaine’s primary mission is to ensure information technology systems meet the needs of PHMSA’s internal and external stakeholders. Blaine began his public service career with the Maryland Public Service Commission in Baltimore, MD as a pipeline safety engineer. After holding a wide variety of positions with the Commission, Blaine began federal public service with OPS in 2004. Within OPS, Blaine has also served as the Community Liaison Program Coordinator and the National Field Coordinator.
Dr. Brenda Kenny, FCAE, ICD.D has extensive experience in energy and environment regulation, policy, sustainability, CSR and innovation. Her career has included executive roles at the National Energy Board and as CEO of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association. Brenda serves as the Vice Chair of Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA; formerly CCEMC), on the Member Council for Sustainable Development Technology Canada, on the Board of the Canada West Foundation, and co-chairs the Nature Canada initiative Women for Nature. She recently completed a six year term serving on the Board of Governors for the University of Calgary, chairing that board’s Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability Committee. Other experiences include serving as a panel member on the National Energy Board Modernization Expert Panel which completed its work in May 2017, and as a member of the Advisory Council for the Positive Energy Project at the University of Ottawa. Brenda holds a Bachelor’s in Applied Science (Metallurgy) from Queens University, a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a PhD in Resources and the Environment from the University of Calgary where she is an adjunct professor.
Dr. Kairn Klieman is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Houston, and the co-director of the Graduate Certificate in Global Energy, Development, and Sustainability (GEDS). She is currently working a book entitled Before the “Curse”: Petroleum, Politics and U.S. Oil Companies in the Gulf of Guinea, Africa, 1890s-1980s, which chronicles the political and economic impacts of international oil companies in sub-Saharan Africa during the long 20th century. Along with Mr. Tom Mitro, a retired regional CFO for Chevron in Angola, she co-founded the GEDS certificate, which trains industry employees, government officials, and NGO leaders in the current “best practices” for developing oil and gas projects that will be beneficial for all stakeholders (companies, communities, governments). Dr. Klieman has received numerous grants and fellowships (Fulbright-Hayes, Social Science Research Council, Belgian-American Foundation, The West African Research Association, Rice Humanities Research Center, UH Teaching Excellence Award), and has delivered lectures and papers on African oil history for the U.S. State Department, MIT, The University of Ibadan (Nigeria), The Rachel Carson Center (Munich), The University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Brown University, and Boston University.
Dr. Linda Knight has worked with Enterprise for Education to develop and distribute a variety of school science programs and presently serves as the Education Director for the nationally distributed Safe at Home/ Safe at School science and pipeline safety program. Dr. Knight holds an Ed.D. in Science Education from Indiana University and has been a national leader in earth and environmental education for more than forty years. After twenty-five years of teaching science in public schools and eleven years serving as Co- Director of the Rice University Model Science Laboratory she retired from the public school system. Dr. Knight authored an Earth Science textbook and created commercially available instructional materials. She served as president for the Texas Earth Science Teachers Association, the National Earth Science Teachers Association, and the Science Teachers Association of Texas. In recognition of her work, Dr. Knight received grants and awards, including, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the Synergy Award, the Geological Society of America’s Excellence in Earth Science Teaching Award, and the Business Week Award for Instructional Innovation.
Terri Larson has 27 years of experience working in public relations, media relations, internal communications, crisis communications, community engagement, public awareness programs and in the broadcast and print news media. Formerly a member of Enbridge Inc.’s senior leadership team, she led the company’s U.S. communications, built an industry-leading crisis communications and response program, and developed and implemented an Enterprise approach for pipeline public awareness programs. As principal of Larson Communications & Consulting, formed in April 2017, Terri supports clients on their communications, crisis communications & response, and community engagement needs. She is currently chairing the 2018 American Petroleum Institute (API) Pipeline Conference, the API Public Awareness Group and the team tasked with rewriting API Recommended Practice 1162, which provides guidance to pipeline operators regarding their required pipeline public awareness programs. Terri is a member of the Greater Houston Women Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Energy Network, the International Crisis Management Conference, PRSA and PRSA Houston, and IABC and IABC Houston. She is accredited in Public Relations; has a B.A. degree, Radio/Television, and an M.B.A., Marketing. She has completed an executive leadership program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and is certified in ICS 100/200, 300, 320 and 403.
Kenneth (Ken) Y. Lee is Director of the Engineering & Research Division in the Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) where he oversees technical engineering support for federal and state pipeline safety actions and manages the pipeline safety research program. Prior to joining PHMSA in 2009, Ken worked 19 years in industry, providing expert welding engineering support for worldwide pipeline construction projects, research, training, and standards development. Ken holds a M.S. in Welding Engineering from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from The Johns Hopkins University.
Sarah K. Magruder Lyle serves as President and CEO of the Common Ground Alliance. In her role, Magruder Lyle works to build partnerships among 1,700 CGA members across 16 stakeholder industries with one common goal of eliminating excavation-related damage to nearly 20 million combined miles of underground facilities nationwide. Magruder Lyle most recently served as vice president of strategic initiatives for the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association. At AFPM, Magruder Lyle was responsible for leading a team that executed strategies to educate consumers, key stakeholders and elected officials about the implications of national energy policy decisions on their communities. Prior to joining AFPM, Magruder Lyle held positions with America’s Natural Gas Alliance, the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Department of Energy as White House liaison and a senior advisor in the Office of Policy and International Affairs. Magruder Lyle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Transylvania University and earned a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. She and her family reside in Alexandria, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C.
Shawn Lyon is vice president, operations of Marathon Pipe Line LLC. He has lead the hazardous liquid pipeline industry’s implementation of the Pipeline Safety Management System (API RP 1173), since 2015. Mr. Lyon joined Marathon in 1989 as an engineer in Indianapolis, Indiana. While in Indianapolis, he worked in various positions in the Transportation and Logistics and the Marketing and Transportation Engineering organizations. In 1998, he began a series of engineering manager positions, providing engineering services for Marathon Petroleum’s marketing business in the Marketing and Transportation Engineering organization. In 2002, Mr. Lyon transferred to Findlay, Ohio, where he has held a variety of leadership positions. He was named the Product Quality manager in the Transportation and Logistics organization in 2005 and operations manager in Operations and Logistics for Marathon Pipe Line LLC in 2006. Mr. Lyon was named district manager in Transport and Rail for the Terminal, Transport and Marine business in 2008 and manager, Marketing and Transportation Engineering for Marathon Petroleum Company in 2010. He was named to his current position in July 2011. Mr. Lyon graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree in construction engineering in 1989. He received his professional engineering license in 1994.
Alan Mayberry is the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In his role, Alan leads PHMSA’s development of comprehensive oversight programs including regulatory development, engineering and research, state grants, federal enforcement and the Training and Qualifications Division. Prior to August, 2013, Alan was the Deputy Associate Administrator for Field operations overseeing US pipeline safety oversight through PHMSA’s five regional offices. Alan has over 34 years of experience in the energy industry, equally divided between pipeline operations and design engineering. In 2006, Alan first joined PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety in a senior engineering role in the Engineering and Emergency Support Division. Alan was appointed Director of the group in 2008. In his role as PHMSA’s technical lead, Alan was responsible for supporting programs and the regional offices on nationwide pipeline issues to ensure uniform policies. Additionally, Alan led the agency’s response to major pipeline incidents. Alan is a Civil Engineering graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and is also a registered professional engineer.
Dave Mulligan acts as a Community Liaison for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Dave focuses on expanding pipeline safety outreach efforts within: local communities; State and Federal governments; and local governments. He remains engaged on topics that include excavation enforcement; policy and program development; inspection processes; community outreach; technical services; and technology and data information systems. Dave has been involved in several recent high-profile pipeline incidents serving as a liaison between public entities and federal agencies. He received his Electrical Engineering degree from Colorado School of Mines, and is a registered Professional Engineer. Dave resides in Littleton, CO, a suburb of Denver.
Captain David Murk, US Coast Guard (ret.), is the Pipeline Manager at the American Petroleum Institute (API) and is responsible for the oversight of infrastructure policy and technical issues to support and advocate for the safe and reliable transportation of petroleum liquid and natural gas by pipeline. David joined API having served twenty-six years in the public sector including twenty-four years with US Coast Guard and two years at US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). In his last three years in the Coast Guard, David served as the Senior Maritime Advisor to the Secretary of Transportation. Immediately prior to joining API, David served as the Director of Field Operations in the Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA, where he helped lead over 140 pipeline inspectors in the oversight of federal safety regulations for interstate natural gas and petroleum liquid pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities. Murk began his career at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut earning a BS in Applied Science and has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. David, his wife Pam and boys reside in Maryland with their five dogs.
Katherine Murphy is the project manager for the National Energy Board of Canada’s Data Visualization Initiative (DVI). She is responsible for operational and coordination aspects of the three-year initiative which is transforming how the NEB structures and shares data. Working in collaboration with leaders in academia and industry the DVI relies on user-friendly interactive visualizations as a catalyst for a shift to data culture. The pilot project Exploring Canada’s Energy Futures (http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/energyfuturesdata) received the Canadian Federal Regulators Excellence Award for Innovation. Ms. Murphy has more than a decade of experience in the federal public service focused on communications, public relations, marketing, and now the shift from open data to open knowledge. Katherine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University and a certificate in project management from Mount Royal University.
Dr. Christie Murray is the Director of Outreach and Engagement in the Office of Pipeline Safety at the U.S. DOT/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety in Washington D.C. In this capacity, she leads and directs the execution of various pipeline safety programs such as damage prevention, 811, public awareness, community liaisons, national pipeline mapping systems, PIPA, and other communication outreach initiatives. She joined PHMSA in 2010 where she served as the National Community Assistance and Technical Services (CATS) Coordinator until June of 2013. Christie also has a strong background in engineering, operations, acquisitions, and communications.
Peter Ortego has been representing the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in all legal matters since 2000 and has been the Tribe’s General Counsel since 2002. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of California in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1993. He began his practice in Denver, Colorado, primarily representing indigent criminal defendants, dependency and neglect respondents and juveniles. As General Counsel, he assisted in the drafting of Colorado State repatriation laws, assisted in repatriations under NAGPRA and helped form the Tribe’s Tribal Historic Preservation Laws. Today, as the Tribe moves forward with various types of development, Peter advocates for the protection of ancient sites and artifacts and Ute culture.
C.J. Osman is the Director of Operations, Safety and Integrity for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), the North American association representing the interstate and interprovincial natural gas pipeline industry. Prior to joining INGAA in 2016, C.J. held facility engineering, construction management, and project management roles for an oil and gas operator, working on a variety of upstream and midstream projects in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. In his position at INGAA, C.J. is responsible for analyzing current regulatory, technological, and operational activity, developing technical workshops to provide educational opportunities for a variety of stakeholders, and participating in industry and government work groups related to gas transmission and storage. He received his Bachelors of Engineering in Chemical Engineering and Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Vanderbilt University.
Drue Pearce is the Deputy Administrator for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Pearce most recently served as Director of Government Affairs at Holland & Hart LLP, and before that spent six years as a Senior Policy Advisor at Crowell & Moring LLP. In both positions, she split her time between the D.C. and Alaska offices. In 2006, she was named as the Federal Coordinator for Alaskan Natural Gas Transportation Projects, where she oversaw efforts to expedite the delivery of Alaska natural gas to North American markets. Prior to that, Pearce served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and was named by the Secretary to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. In addition, she was appointed by Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta to PHMSA’s Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, a position she held for six years. Prior to her federal service, Pearce served in the Alaska House of Representatives, and the Alaska State Senate, where she became the first woman to serve two terms as Senate President. Drue Pearce earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences from Indiana University and her Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Tony Rizk is currently Vice President, Operations & Engineering for Boardwalk Louisiana Midstream, the Liquids business unit of Boardwalk Pipeline. He has 29 years of experience in pipeline integrity of natural gas pipelines, liquid pipelines, storage and pressure vessels. Mr Rizk has held several leadership positions in the service side of the industry until 2010. From 2010- 2017 he was Director of Asset Integrity for Boardwalk Pipeline, managing GIS, engineering records, pipeline services, Corrosion, failure analysis, compliance, and in-line-insepction departments. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering, and is a registered Professional Engineer in 11 states, a NACE Cathodic Protection Specialist and Sr. Internal Corrosion Technologist.
David Smith is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP. He has practiced law for over 30 years. During that time he has represented parties, including those working in the securities industry, in commercial litigation matters, including in major class actions around the country. He also has expertise in representing Tribes and individual Indians in matters involving trust mismanagement, treaty rights and protection of sacred sites. He serves as Class Counsel in the representation of approximately 500,000 Native Americans in Cobell v. Jewell, a class action against the United States arising out of the mismanagement of the individual Indian Trust. This resulted in a $3.4 billion settlement, the largest class action settlement against the federal government. Mr. Smith is also committed to providing pro bono services to those in need. He has represented parents in international child abduction cases, regularly provides services to the Children’s Law Centers in Washington, D.C., and North Carolina by serving as guardian ad litem for children involved in the court system, and represents indigent parties in civil litigation, often at the request of the federal district court.
Eric S. Swartley is the Sr. Manager for Pipeline and Public Safety with UGI Utilities, Inc. which is a subsidiary of UGI Corporation and is a Pennsylvania based LDC serving 630,000 natural gas and 62,000 electric customers in 45 Pennsylvania Counties and 1 Maryland County. He has been in the natural gas distribution business since 1979. In those 38 years he has held numerous positions in construction, engineering, marketing, damage prevention, public awareness and compliance. Current affiliations include: Pennsylvania One Call – Board of Directors, Compliance Committee & Chair – Cross Bore Task Force, Common Ground Alliance – Best Practices & Stakeholder Advocacy (Co-Chair) Committee(s), Northeast Gas Distribution Council – Director, Energy Association of Pennsylvania – Transmission & Distribution Committee. Eric is a past member of the American Gas Association (AGA) DC&M Committee and has participated in a number of Peer Reviews involving AGA Staff and Member Companies. Memberships in addition to AGA and Common Ground Alliance (Bronze Member) include the North American Society of Trenchless Technology, Cross Bore Safety Association and the Pipeline Association for Public Awareness. Eric is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelors Degree in Management and resides with his wife in Harrisburg, Pa.
Jim Toye is the City Manager for Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a city of 36,000 situated on the North Saskatchewan River. Having attended the University of Saskatchewan and completed certificates in economic development and local government administration at the Universities of Regina and Waterloo, Jim has served in a series of municipal administrative positions in Saskatchewan municipalities over the past three decades, including the Towns of Unity, Leader and Kindersley in addition to the cities of North Battleford and Prince Albert. He has served in many leadership roles in professional organizations at the national and provincial level, including the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and the Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan, and is active in his local Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus.
Barb van Noord is Vice President of System Operations for the National Energy Board of Canada where she leads the team that delivers the processes and analyzes the data to drive improvements and achieve the NEB’s Departmental Results Framework goal of zero incidents that harm people and the environment. In support of this outcome NEB uses a risk based approach to assure compliance, uses the Management System defined in the regulations to drive systemic improvement and champions research and awareness on the power of a strong Safety Culture. Prior to joining the NEB Barb lead the delivery of the Operational Excellence Management System for Suncor and facilitated it’s deployment. Barb brings 30 years of experience including 23 years with Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil. She has held numerous leadership roles across North America, in the areas of management systems, quality, business and strategic planning, finance and information technology. Barb holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta
Carl Weimer is the Executive Director of the national Pipeline Safety Trust. He also serves as a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, the Washington State Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety, and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association’s External Advisory Panel. Carl has been called upon to testify to the U.S. House and Senate multiple times, as a witness by the National Transportation Safety Board, and was honored as a Champion of Change by the White House for his pipeline safety efforts. He has organized twelve national pipeline safety conferences, pushed for stronger pipeline safety legislation on the national and state level, runs the national Safe Pipelines and LNG Safety listservs that include over 900 people, and regularly serves as an independent source of pipeline safety information for news media, local government, and citizens around the country. Carl was elected in 2005 and again in 2009 and 2013 to the Whatcom County Council, where he has served as chairman for four of those years. He has a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Education from the University of Michigan, as well a degree in Industrial Electronics Technology from Peninsula College.
Jennifer Wenzel is jointly appointed as an Associate Professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. Her research and teaching focus on postcolonial studies and energy and environmental humanities. Her book, Bulletproof: Afterlives of Anticolonial Prophecy in South Africa and Beyond, published by Chicago and KwaZulu-Natal in 2009, was awarded Honorable Mention for the Perkins Prize by the International Society for the Study of Narrative. With Imre Szeman and Patricia Yaeger, she co-edited Fueling Culture: 101 Words for Energy and Environment, a compendium of keywords on the intersections of energy and culture (Fordham 2017). Her essay “Petro-Magic-Realism: Towards a Political Ecology of Nigerian Literature,” was re-printed in the Energy Humanities Reader (Johns Hopkins, 2017). Other essays on postcolonial memory, postconsumerism, petrocultures, and African and South Asian literatures, have appeared in journals including Alif, Cultural Critique, Interventions, Modern Fiction Studies, PMLA, Postcolonial Studies, Postmodern Culture, Public Culture, Research in African Literatures, and Resilience. She is currently at work on two book manuscripts: “Reading for the Planet: World Literature and Environmental Crisis,” and “Contrapuntal Environmentalisms: Nature, North and South.”