The energy transition is creating new and exciting opportunities throughout the energy sector. In New York City, roles in energy finance are abundant and growing.
The Women in Energy (WIE) initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia SIPA envisions a world with equal gender representation at every level within the energy sector. Our mission is to elevate women and enhance inclusion within the energy workforce by developing and sharing research, expanding entry into the sector, and supporting professionals.
In order to help facilitate entry into the sector, WIE will host a career panel series to highlight and connect women who have successfully entered and thrived in a specific energy subsector. Our second session will focus on careers in energy finance. The panelists will discuss their career trajectories, share advice for students and professionals, and provide information on what skills are required to be successful in their fields.
Panelists:
- Caren Byrd, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley’s Global Power and Utility Group
- Natallia Camargo, Chief People Officer, Greenbacker Capital
- Ellen Friedman, Partner, Global Projects Practice, Baker Botts L.L.P.
- Ouma Sananikone, Board director, IA Financial Group
Biographies
Caren Byrd is a Managing Director in Morgan Stanley’s Global Power and Utility Group. She joined the Investment Banking Division of the firm in 1972 and has focused all her career on the power and utility industry. Ms. Byrd is an expert on the requirements of investors in the equity and debt securities in the energy industry. She is involved in the firm’s activities for the utility industry including, financing, advisory services, restructuring and mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Byrd is the co-founder and organizer of Morgan Stanley’s Executive Women in Energy Group and also Women Energy Directors Network, established in 2004 and 2007, respectively. In December 2019, Ms. Byrd was awarded the Global Energy Lifetime Achievement Award by S&P Global Platts, one of the most respected distinctions in the power and energy industry.
Natallia Camargo is an accomplished global strategic HR professional with over 10 years of experience consulting executives and teams in various businesses in Brazil and the US. Currently, she serves as the Chief People Officer and EVP at Greenbacker, a fast-growing investment management firm focused on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure investing. With nearly 180 employees spread across the US, Natallia is responsible for overseeing the organization’s people strategy, working closely with business leaders and key stakeholders, and developing initiatives. Natallia’s academic qualifications include a certification in Wharton Executive Education’s HR Management and Analytics Program, an Executive MBA in Strategic and Economic Management in Human Resources from FGV, Integrated Coaching Institute certification from ICI, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from PUC – Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo.
Ellen Friedman is a seasoned project finance attorney focused on energy projects, including renewable energy, carbon capture and storage and renewable fuel matters. Her practice supports a wide variety of clients, including project developers and sponsors, tax and equity investors, commercial lenders, underwriters and buyers and sellers of projects, insurers and hedge providers. Ellen has a hands-on approach to clients in connection with transaction structure, risk assessment, due diligence, financing, M&A and partnership/joint ventures. Ellen has been recognized as a standout among her peers by a number of the leading legal directories, including Chambers Global & Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law.
Ouma Sananikone is currently a non-executive board director of IA Financial Group (Canada, TSX: IAG.TO), Hafnia (Oslo, OSL: HAFNI.OL), Innergex Renewable Energy (Canada, TSX: INE) and Ivanhoe Cambridge (Canada). She also acted as an honorary Australian Financial Services fellow for the USA on behalf of the Australian government. She was CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management (Australia), CEO of the EquitiLink Group (Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and UK) as well as founding Managing Director of BNP Investment Management (Australia). Ouma holds a BA (economics and political sciences) from the Australian National University and a Master of Commerce (economics) from the University of New South Wales. She is a recipient of the Centenary Medal from the Australian Government for services to the Australian finance industry.
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This event will be hosted in person in New York City. All in-person attendees are required to have received a full COVID-19 vaccination series.
Advance registration is required and free-of-charge. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email.
For more information about the event, please contact energypolicyevents@columbia.edu.