Speaker Bios

Jeremy Rifkin, Founder & President, The Foundation on Economic Trends

Mr. Rifkin is a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania—the world’s #1 ranked Business School—where he lectures to CEOs and senior-management from around the world in the famed Advanced Management Program.

Currently, Mr. Rifkin is advising the European Union and other governments as well as Fortune 500 companies, on actions that should be taken immediately to address the triple threat of the global financial crisis, energy crisis, and climate change. Rifkin argues that all three of these crises are interwoven and are feeding off of each other, creating a perfect storm.

Mr. Rifkin believes that it is imperative to begin pursuing a bold long-term Third Industrial Revolution economic game plan that can establish a new framework and architecture for remaking the globalization process along more sustainable lines.

Mr. Rifkin’s vision of a Third Industrial Revolution has become the centerpiece of the long-term economic and energy vision plan of the European Union—the world’s leading economy.  Mr. Rifkin has advised the last four presidents of the European Council and is currently advising Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, and Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, as well as several EU heads of state, including Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

Mr. Rifkin is also Chairman of the Third Industrial Revolution Global CEO Business Roundtable, made up of 100 of the world’s leading corporations and trade associations that are creating the infrastructure for a new low-carbon energy era and accompanying economic paradigm.

Evan Thornley, CEO, A Better Place (Australia) (Founder & former CEO LookSmart)

Evan Thornley is responsible for all aspects of the company’s direction, strategy, financing and operations, including development of the Better Place electric vehicle network in Australia. He leads a local team in support of the Better Place mission to reduce oil dependence by delivering personal transportation as a sustainable service. Before joining Better Place, Evan served in the Victorian Parliament. He was elected from the Southern Metropolitan Region to the Legislative Council and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier. Prior to that, Evan was a successful technology entrepreneur. He founded and served as chairman and CEO of LookSmart Ltd. (NASD: LOOK), an Internet search advertising company that remains one of the few Australian companies to be taken public on the NASDAQ Stock Market. Evan also has served in various roles with McKinsey & Company, a leading global management-consulting firm, in Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and New York. Evan chairs the Board of Per Capita, a public policy think tank and is the National Secretary of the Australian Fabian Society. He serves on the board of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, a leading faith-based welfare agency in Melbourne, and was a Founding Director of GetUp! an online activist network with over 300,000 members. Evan holds degrees in Law and Commerce from The University of Melbourne, where he served as student body President.

The Hon John Robertson MLC, Minister Industrial Relations, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Energy and Minister for Public Sector Reform

As Minister for Energy John has spearheaded the development of a local solar industry with the introduction of the Solar Bonus Scheme and is committed to delivering a sustainable and reliable energy supply to the people of NSW.  

In his additional responsibilities in the Industrial Relations portfolio, John is passionate about protecting the rights of NSW workers and ensuring they are treated with respect and dignity in the workplace.

John is working to support the better delivery of services and greater Government accountability in the areas of Commerce and Public Sector Reform – where he is also managing the roll out of the NSW Government’s public sector apprenticeship and cadetship programs. As a former apprentice electrician he recognises the important role that these programs play in supporting young people to gain valuable skills and employment.

Appointed to the NSW Cabinet in January 2009, John has also held the portfolios of Environment and Climate Change, Corrective Services and Special Minister of State.

Previously the Secretary of Unions NSW and Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, from 2005-07 John met with and addressed thousands of NSW workers and community members in rural and regional NSW on the Your Rights at Work bus tour.

He has served as a Director of Energy Australia, WorkCover NSW, the Parramatta Stadium Trust and of 2KY broadcasters, was formerly a member of the NSW Heritage Council and an Executive Officer for the Labor Council of NSW.

Prior to that he worked as an electrician and organiser for the Electrical Trades Union, NSW Branch. He has a Graduate Diploma of Human Resources through the University of Technology, Sydney and a Trade Certificate, Electrical Fitter Mechanic. John has co-authored the book ‘Know Your Rights at Work’, published in 1993.

John is married with three children.

Dr. Lingjie Meng, General Manager, Longyuan Electricity Technology Engineering;
and Managing Director, Shandong Longyuan Electric Technology Co Ltd - Longyuan Power Group - CDC (China)

Dr. Lingjie Meng is one of China’s leading experts on energy and environment with a stellar career as both a research scientist and a senior company executive in one of China’s largest state run power utilities.

An expert in low-carbon energy, he specializes in bio-energy and solar thermal power generation technologies. Many of the innovations based on his research findings are patented and in commercial use in China.

Dr. Lingjie was awarded his PhD from China Southeast University in 1996 and came to live in Australia in 1999 while undertaking post PHD research at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, WA.

He is the General Manager of Longyuan Electricity Technology Engineering Ltd, the company responsible for research and development of solar thermal electricity generation technology in China.  

LETE is owned by Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited (CLYPG) the company responsible for investment and development of renewable energy technologies across 17 provinces and regions in China.

Dr. Lingjie is also the Managing Director and General Manager of Shandong Longyuan Electric Technology Co. Ltd., another wholly owned subsidiary of CLYPGC; which is the company responsible for commercialization and development of pilot projects using solar thermal electricity related technologies in Shandong province.  

Dr Lingjie has had many scientific and commercial successes to date and has received numerous awards from the Chinese central government’s achievements.

CLYPG is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Guodian Corporation (CGC) - one of the five largest power producers in China with over 110,000 employees and total assets amounting to 418.86 billion RMB Yuan (US$61 billion). CGC is a state-owned enterprise administrated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China and one of the 6 ‘mega’ power utilities created when the China State Power Corporation was split up in 2002.

CGC is responsible for the development, investment, construction, operation, marketing and management of power plants and power generation for electricity supply in Northern China, Northeast China, Central China, East China, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shandong, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Xinjiang.

In December 2009, the total controlled installed capacity of CGC was 82,030 MW, including 70,250 MW from thermal (88.64% of total installed capacity); 6,376 MW from hydro - including 3.9MW tidal power (7.77%); 5,345.2 MW from wind power (6.52%); 54MW (0.07%) from biomass generation.

China Guodian is the largest wind power operator in Asia and fifth largest worldwide. CGC ranks third for tidal power generation in the world and is the largest tidal power generator in Asia.

One of the largest coal mine and coal fired power plant operators in the world, CGC is investing a significantly in the research and development of world leading low carbon clean coal technology that greatly reduce CO2 and N emission levels in their thermal power stations.

David Daly, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Canberra

Ambassador Daly has had a distinguished career in the diplomatic service of the Republic of Ireland and then the European Union. He has extensive experience with the accession of new states to the Union and in particular experience in dealing with those of the Balkans. He was the head of the Commission's unit negotiating the accession of Croatia to the Union. He has also served in many other placements dealing with the Central and Eastern European countries during the 1990s as they transformed their political and economic systems and moved toward joining the European Union.

He has been the Head of the European Union's Delegation to Australia since January 2009.

Steve Jeston, CEO Australasia, Landis+Gyr

Originally qualifying as an electrical engineer and later completing his MBA, Steve has over 25 years experience working in, and leading automation related businesses. He commenced his career in the building automation industry with one of the large US companies in that field and later joined Zellweger, a company which eventually became a part of Landis+Gyr. Steve returned from a six year period in Europe in 2006 to take up his current position as CEO (Australasia), leading Landis+Gyr in the developments around smart grid and smart metering.

Emma Herd, Director Emissions & Environment, Westpac; and Member, Sydney Carbon Market Taskforce

Emma was appointed to the role of Director, Emissions & Environment in Westpac Institutional Bank in 2007.

Working across all areas of Westpac Institutional Bank, Emma is responsible for leading the strategic response to carbon and environmental risks and opportunities, developing effective client solutions in response to climate change and working with deal teams to develop client solutions which monetise or hedge clients exposures to environmental regulatory developments.

From 2001 to 2007, Emma was Senior Advisor, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, and played a key role in developing Westpac's leading sustainability position. Principally, Emma was responsible for producing Westpac’s first seven sustainability reports and was environmental co-ordinator with responsibility for drafting the Westpac Group climate change strategy.

Emma has been the Westpac representative on government and industry forums such as the Australian Business Leaders' Roundtable on Climate Change (2006) and the Australian Business and Climate Group (2007). She continues to represents the bank in a number of public forums and play a key role in the Westpac Group approach to managing climate change risks and opportunities.

Emma comes from a government relations background and prior to Westpac, worked in Parliamentary Committee in Canberra. She holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Thai).

Prof Ed Blakely, Honorary Professor of Urban Policy, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney

Dr.  Edward J. Blakely has a more than 40 year of international experience in all aspects of urban and regional planning, disaster management and sustainable development. Until 2009 he headed the recovery of the City of New Orleans. In this role he coordinated all aspects of municipal government from planning and financing to construction of major infrastructure related to the recovery of the City from the worst modern urban disaster in the United States.

He is currently the Professor of Urban Policy at the United States Study Center at the University of Sydney where he coordinates the Centres programs on global urban issues with an honorary professor appointment. He also heads up BlakelyGlobal a  strategic policy consulting group  to provide advice and direct assistance in his areas of expertise.
He led the recovery of New Orleans where he developed and directed the implementation plans for the recovery of the City from 2007-2009. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Public Administration, A Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellow and the 2008 Eliot Richardson Award Winner for Ethics in Government from the American Society for Public Administration.
He has held several national and international appointments including a Presidential Appointment by Bill Clinton as Vice Chair of the Presidio Trust.
He Chaired and led teams in regional planning and management systems consulting in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia as well as Los Angeles, Oakland and several other US, European and Asian city-regions. www.blakelyglobal.net

Anthony Pascoe, CEO, Lend Lease Ventures

As CEO of Lend Lease’s venture capital business, Anthony leads Australia’s largest dedicated cleantech investor. Anthony is responsible for the business’ $100 million cleantech fund which invests in commercially viable growth companies operating in energy, water and building sectors.

Anthony joined Lend Lease in January 2007 as Global Chief Operating Officer of Lend Lease’s investment management business. In this role, Anthony made a significant contribution to the development of this business, particularly in relation to building its offshore business platforms.

During his career prior to Lend Lease, Anthony accumulated extensive experience across a variety of senior executive positions. Anthony was formerly Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director of ASX listed Blackmores Limited where he played a leading role in improving the company's strategic and financial performance.

Carlos St. James, President & Founder, Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber

Carlos St. James is a leading voice in the rapidly-evolving global biofuels industry.  He currently advises both the European Union and Argentina on its biofuels policies and vision of the future of the industry.  He is very knowledgeable in legislative aspects of renewable energies in Latin America and communicates regularly with business leaders, government officials and the banking and investment sectors to maintain the pulse of the industry – especially the manner in which it will affect markets in the more mature economies.

He has spoken at conferences in fourteen countries across four continents on the subject and is the author of a number of published studies on the industry.  In late 2008 he was voted “Biofuels Personality of the Year” by readers of Biofuels Digest, reflecting his efforts to promote awareness of the potential that clean energies have to redirect Latin American economies, as well as his efforts to develop new leadership for the industry.  He was also recently elected Vice Chairman of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, a Toronto-based federation of associations representing more than 60% of world biofuels production in 30 countries.

Mr. St. James holds a bachelor’s degree in international economics from DePaul University in Illinois, USA, and a master of arts in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA.  More information can be found at www.santiagosinclair.com/StJamesBio.html.