Fast Pitch Judging Panel

Byron Washom: Director of Strategic Energy Initiatitves, UCSD

Byron Washom is UC San Diego’s Director of Strategic Energy Initiatives and is responsible for energy management policy to achieve the campus’ goals for quantum improvements in energy management and Greenhouse Gas reductions. Prior to UCSD, Mr. Washom was the CEO for twenty years of a due diligence firm that specialized in CleanTech, and he served as Sr. International Advisor to the World Bank and DOE. He is a four time Rockefeller Foundation Grantee and a former Heinz Endowment Grantee for early commercialization of CleanTech into developing countries. Mr. Washom was also Founder and President of Advanco Corp which in 1984 set the long-standing world records for solar electric conversion efficiency at 29.4% and subsequently achieved an IR100 Award. He was the 2008 Recipient of UCSD’s Citizen of the Year Award for Sustainability, and he was a Visiting Faculty Member at the Rady School of Management while teaching the graduate level course, The Business of Renewable Energy. Fast Company magazine named him to their June cover story, “100 Most Creative Persons in Business, 2010.”

Kate Zeng: Technology Planning & Analysis Manager, Sempra Energy Utilities

Kate Zeng, currently Technology Planning & Analysis Manager with Market Development & Emerging Programs for San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company, leads and manages the development of strategic plan and roadmap, business case of RD&D initiatives and equity investment opportunities in emerging new innovative technologies that benefit utility customers and enhance operational excellence. The Company’s strategic priorities cover a broad range of solutions on energy efficiency, demand response, green house gas reduction, smart premises, clean transportation infrastructure, renewable generation, utility operation & automation, smart grid, advanced energy storage and distributed energy resources. Ms Zeng’s educational background includes M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and MBA with finance concentration.

Scott Gardner: Managing Director, US Renewables

Mr. Gardner is a Managing Director based in Los Angeles. Mr. Gardner has 16 years of business development, project development and investing experience in the energy sector. Over his career, he has worked on renewable energy projects in biomass, solar thermal, wind, geothermal, municipal solid waste to energy, landfill gas and hydroelectric. Prior to USRG, Mr. Gardner was a Vice President with TRC Companies, Inc., advising major energy companies on new business opportunities. Prior to TRC, he served as Vice President of Business Development for AES Corporation’s North America West group. In his 12-year career with AES, Mr. Gardner held various roles in business development, project development, and business restructuring. Highlights of his time at AES include serving on the Chairman’s restructuring task force in 2003, leading the company’s acquisition of Thermo Ecotek Corporation in 2001, serving as Project Director of natural gas combined cycle developments in South San Francisco, CA and Calgary, Alberta from 1998 through 2002, and developing AES’s first power project in Australia in 1996. Mr. Gardner is active in the management and boards of General Compression, Novo Development Company and USRG Niagara Biomass. Mr. Gardner holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and an AB with honors in engineering and environmental studies from Dartmouth College.

Jacques Chirazi: Cleantech Program Manager, City of San Diego

Jacques Chirazi is the Program Manager for Clean Tech Initiative for the City of San Diego. He is responsible for promoting, fostering and coordinating strategic alliance and collaboration among local, regional, state and federal institutions to develop and execute a clean technology business attraction strategy. His focus is the creation of economic growth and environmental sustainability by developing a clean technology cluster in San Diego. Prior to this position, Jacques was Senior Project Manager at Bainbridge Inc., a strategic management consulting firm which provides consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. Finally, Jacques received a Master degree from University of California San Diego’s Graduate School of International Relations & Pacific Studies with an emphasis in International Environmental Polices and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from San Diego State University’s School of Business Administration.