Essential Cleantech Speakers

Uwe Albrecht

Siemens

Dr Uwe Albrecht is Managing Partner of the Corporate Fund for Siemens Venture Capital, being responsible for all worldwide venture capital investments of Siemens outside of Com and MED.

Before joining SVC in 2000 he directed the innovation management for Siemens' Mobile Devices line of business.

In a previous assignment he has spent five years with Mannesmann AG in Germany, where he worked as a consultant and technology manager in communications, telematics, logistics, and automotive technology.

Khaled Awad

Director Property Development, Masdar Initative

Khaled Awad is the Director of Property Development within the Masdar Initiative.

The key objective of Masdar is to position Abu Dhabi as a world-class research and development hub for new energy technologies through building an alternative energy city, development of specialist carbon management systems, sustainable technology innovation and investment.

Mallen Baker

Development Director, Business in the Community

Mallen is currently responsible for developing BITC's approach to marketplace issues, which includes how companies manage issues that arise around their core products and services.

He initiated the Business Impact Review Group - the group of 20 companies who developed a common approach to CSR reporting, and was responsible for the work of the Business Impact Taskforce which produced the landmark "Winning with Integrity" report.

Richard Barrington

Sun Microsystems

Richard Barrington is head of Public Policy for Sun UK and Ireland.

He represents Sun on the UK's Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change; the DTI's Information Age Partnership; is a board member of PITCOM, the UK Parliamentary IT Committee and has just been asked to join the UK Government's 'Business Task force on Sustainable Consumption and Production'.

Charles Cameron

Jefferies Broadview

Jefferies' Technology Group, Jefferies Broadview, is one of the largest banking teams dedicated to IT, communications, healthcare technology and digital media businesses.

Mr. Cameron has over eighteen years' investment banking experience in New York, Tokyo and London, with emphasis on advising European technology companies.

He has led numerous high profile IPO's and secondary issues in London, Frankfurt and the Nordic region including Bookham, ARC, Telecity, SGL Carbon as well as some of the largest UK government privatisations and the flotation of emerging biotech companies

Ken Carter

Energy Manager, Tesco

Ken Carter is the Tesco Energy Manager, responsible for reducing the retailer's carbon footprint by 50% by 2020.

He is a chartered electrical and energy engineer, and has spent the past ten years working on energy projects in academia, industry and retail.

The primary focus of his work has been energy efficiency, but he is now concentrating on low carbon technologies and renewables for the Tesco estate.

Christopher Choa

EDAW

Christopher Choa is a Principal with EDAW, the international environmental practice that is designing new communities worldwide, and leading the masterplanning of the London Olympics among other things.

A prize-winning architect, urban designer and author, he brings over 20 years of experience to a wide range of government, commercial, institutional and cultural projects.

James Edmonds

Investment Associate, NESTA

James joined NESTA in October 2004. He sources, contracts and manages investments primarily in the Healthcare and Environment Technology sectors.

Prior to joining NESTA, he had experience of fund and project management, and strategy consultancy based in the UK, Southern Africa and Continental Europe with Old Mutual and Arthur Andersen Business Consulting.

In March 2007, NESTA launched NESTA Investments - a £50mn Fund to focus on identifying, investing in and supporting innovative early stage technology companies. A key aim of the Fund is to attract other investors to work in partnership with NESTA in funding selected start-ups which have significant commercial potential.

The Fund will look to invest up to £10 million each year for 5 years, offering individual start-ups seed capital of up to £250,000 and investing up £500,000 per company over the course of its development. In addition to financial input, companies receive ongoing mentoring and business support from NESTA to maximise the potential of the business and attract further rounds of funding. NESTA has one of the largest pools of mentors in the country. NESTA will also use the Fund to invest in seed or early-stage funds, either as a limited partner or co-investor and will make two or three investments per year from £1million to £3 million.

James Kanter

International Herald Tribune

James Kanter has been covering European and global business issues for the International Herald Tribune since 2005, including European Union regulation, mergers and acquisitions, the European Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization and links between transportation and the environment. He won an M&A International Media Award for 2006 and was twice the winner of Dow Jones awards for best market-moving story in Europe. His previous experience as an editor and as a reporter includes The Cambodia Daily (Phnom Penh), Dow Jones Newswires (Brussels) and Financial Times Marketwatch (London). Born in New York City, Kanter received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Columbia University in 1990 and a masters degree in international journalism from City University in London in 1993. From 1998 to 1999 he was a Knight Fellow at Yale Law School, earning a masters degree.

Vinod Khosla

Founder, Khosla Ventures

Vinod Khosla is one of the most influential people in Silicon Valley. He is a world renowned venture capitalist, famous for revolutionizing communications.

Mr. Khosla rose into fame at the age of 27 when he co-founded SUN Microsystems. Vinod later founded Khosla Ventures which offers venture assistance, strategic advice and capital to entrepreneurs.

The firm helps entrepreneurs extend the potential of their ideas in both traditional venture areas like the Internet, computing, mobile, and silicon technology arenas but also supports breakthrough scientific work in clean technology areas such as bio-refineries for energy and bioplastics, solar, battery and other environmentally friendly technologies.

Jeremy Leggett

Founder, solarcentury

Jeremy Leggett has been described by Time Magazine as 'one of the key players in putting the climate issue on the world agenda.'

He was an award-winning scientist, oil-industry consultant, and Greenpeace campaigner before setting up solarcentury.

His first book The Carbon War has been described by the Sunday Times as "the best book yet on the politics of global warming".

Doug Richard

Chairman, Library House

Doug is founder and executive Chairman of Library House and has more than 18 years experience in the development and leadership of technology and software ventures, both in the US and in the UK.

In addition to his Library House involvement, he is co-founder and Chairman of Hotxt, Ltd. and co-founder and vice-chairman of Cambridge Angels.

Previously, he was vice president and later president and CEO of US publicly quoted software company Micrografx with offices in 11 countries which he sold to Corel Corporation in 2000.

Neil Rimer

General Partner, Index Ventures

Neil Rimer is a co-founder and General Partner of Index Ventures. In 1992, Neil started the venture capital activity of Index's predecessor firm, later co-founding Index Ventures and raising the firm's first fund in 1996. Neil's investment interests include online and mobile services as well as green technology solutions to environmental problems. He is currently a Director of Trolltech, Netvibes, Last.fm, Moo Print, Photoways, Innovative Silicon, Pulsic and Kimotion.

Neil sponsored many of the firm's investments including Betfair, Ofoto (now Kodak), Listen (now Real Networks), Numerical Technologies (now Synopsis)and Genmab. He has also served on the Board of Directors of U.C. Sampdoria, a football club competing in the Italian Serie A.

Before starting Index Ventures, Neil spent four years with Montgomery Securities in San Francisco. Neil has a BA in History and Economics from Stanford University and a MBA from Harvard Business School.

Vivek Tandon

Aloe Private Equity

Dr Vivek Tandon, the founder and General Partner of Aloe Private Equity, is an experienced international executive and proven entrepreneur with an in-depth background in building technology start-up companies.

Prior to Aloe, Vivek co-founded a number of high technology companies including VICOM Group International. He has held several senior executive management positions including Viventures (a $700 m Venture Capital Fund as UK Managing Director), CIENA, Kymata, British Telecommunications PLC and Motorola.

Ziad Tassabehji

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company

Ziad Tassabehji is the Director of Innovation and Investments at Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company; a multi-billion dollar government sponsored initiative to promote advanced energy and sustainability technologies. Ziad is also the executive director of the Masdar Clean Tech Fund, a $250 Million VC fund that was setup byt the Innovation and Investment unit as a joint venture with Credit Suisse.

Walter Todd

PepsiCo

Walter Todd is Vice President, Operations. Walter has been with PepsiCo since 1989, starting his career in the UK as Franchise Operations manager. Over the next 4 years, Walter expanded his responsibility to cover Ireland, Holland and France before relocating to NY to take up a Global Purchasing role. In 1996, Walter moved to Ireland to lead the Supply Chain team in the Ireland Concentrate Operation before being promoted to General Manager of that business in 1998. After 3 years in Ireland, Walter relocated back to NY to lead the Latin America Concentrate Operation, managing significant infrastructure change in that region as well as leading the Carrigaline Concentrate Plant Project. In 2001, Walter took his family back to the UK as Vice president, Operations for CSD & Gatorade beverages in Europe before taking on the additional responsibility of Tropicana in 2003. Walter has been in the UK business since September of last year, leading the UK Operations teams in Walkers, Tropicana, Quaker and PJ’s.

John Watson

Sustainability Controller, ABB UK Limited

John Watson is the Sustainability Controller for ABB UK Limited taking responsibility for all Health & Safety and Environmental issues.

As part of this role John has been responsible for the implementation of ISO 14001 at all ABB sites in the UK.

In ABB sustainability is an important part of our business. Our products and services are designed to make our customers more competitive and sustainable by helping increase energy efficiency and industrial productivity.

Nick Williams

Simmons & Simmons

Nick has advised on structuring and project agreements including joint ventures, power and water purchase agreements, fuel supply agreements, operation and maintenance and shared facilities.

He has advised in relation to gas, power, (including renewables), water, mining and rail projects and, in particular, on negotiations with governments in Africa, Asia, the Gulf and the UK, advising on the acquisition of onshore and offshore wind farms for a leading international generator.

Eckart Wintzen

Founder, BSO Atos Origin

Eckart Wintzen is the founder of Ex'tent Green Venture Capital and an unconventional thinker, visionary and serial entrepreneur.

Born in the Netherlands, he established the information systems branch of the Dutch daughter company of American General Telephone. He bought the struggling company for just 10 gilders and renamed it BSO.

Exckart resigned in 1996 when BSO/Origin, with 10,000 ftes and offices in 75 cities in 25 countries merged with Philips.

Adam Workman

Carbon Trust

Adam Workman is Investment Partner at the Carbon Trust. The Carbon Trust is one of the leading investors in UK clean technology start-ups. Our business incubators and links to world class R&D ensure a strong deal flow. We invest on strictly commercial terms and have co-invested in 9 businesses to date. These companies between them have raised a total investment of £68 million, two of which have resulted in a successful IPO.

Adam has led the investment for several key deals for the Carbon Trust, including Whitfield Solar, Natural Building Technologies and Exus Energy. Recently he co-authored the Carbon Trust’s report into investment trends the UK Clean Technology Sector (2000 to 2004) which identified the golden triangle as a key area of clean technology centres in the UK. He designed and created a £5m investment fund for Salix Finance Ltd. which assists the public sector to accelerate the uptake of low carbon technologies. Adam formerly worked with 3i and Shell in the UK. He has an MA in Natural Sciences and a Postgraduate diploma in Computer Science from Cambridge University.