Emerging Leaders Program

Dr. Rob Andrews is an expert in solar energy operations and modeling with a PhD in the field. He co-founded Heliolytics, an international leader in aircraft-based solar site analytics, and led the company as CEO until its acquisition by Novasource Power, where he took on the role of VP of Product Strategy and Innovation. Currently, he offers technology and strategy consulting services in renewable energy and entrepreneurship, and creates advanced photovoltaic system analytics tools.

Pooja Shah is a Senior Consultant on DNV’s Energy Storage and Emerging Technologies advisory in North America. Ms. Shah is a leading expert on energy storage development and clean energy project finance. At DNV, she leads the technical due diligence practice for Production Tax Credits (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) transfer transactions across solar, wind, and storage technologies. She has served as a senior manager and energy storage expert across several utility-scale tax equity, debt, and tax credit transfer deals. Prior to joining DNV’s Independent Engineering team, Ms. Shah led Owner’s Engineering services for energy storage at DNV and was a lead engineer at Kiewit Energy before that, where she supported project development, engineering, and design on some of the largest solar and energy storage projects in North America. Pooja earned her Masters of Science in Systems Engineering with a focus on renewable energy systems from Syracuse University, New York.

Karo’s experience in the PV industry, dating back to 2009, combines hands-on system installation, design, inspection, commissioning and troubleshooting with a passion for technical training and curriculum development. Karo advocates for increasing worker safety by fostering their understanding of PV systems. Karo has been a curriculum developer and technical trainer for Solar Energy International since 2013. In her current role as AES Clean Energy’s Technical Training Manager, she spearheads workforce development through creative technical content and training, and stakeholder collaboration. Karo is a NABCEP PVIP certified since 2014, sits on NABCEP’s Board of Directors, and participates as a member on NEC CMP 13.

Bio coming soon

Elise is a seasoned consultant and operator who specialises in helping climatetech startups fundraise, strategize, and scale. She has supported companies including Heliolytics (solar analytics), Ki Hydrogen (green hydrogen production), and Beam (offshore wind subsea inspections). Her prior experience involves digital strategy consulting and product management with PwC/Strategy&. She is passionate about bridging technical innovation and operational excellence to accelerate the clean energy transition.

A native of the Panhandle, Alison left Texas 20 years ago to pursue a career in solar energy and couldn’t be happier that big solar has taken root the Lone Star State. After kick-starting her 15-year career with the German Solar Industry Association in Berlin, Alison has sold roof top solar, helped grow a US monitoring and controls provider into a global brand, took a short foray into supply chain and distribution, and is now happily focused on utility-scale projects. As the Business Development Manager for SOLV Energy’s Services Division, Alison rustles up new opportunities for the #1 Global Affiliated O&M Services Provider as ranked by Wood Mackenzie for five consecutive years. SOLV currently manages over 9.5 GW of renewable energy assets across the U.S. When she’s not working with IPPs and project owners to construct, operate, and repower their assets, she’s chasing her two kids or riding her horses through the sage brush.

Edwin founded Solarplaza company in 2004. He is a senior PV expert and started in the photovoltaic solar energy business in 1994. He has experience as a solar energy consultant and project developer in more than 200 PV projects. Edwin holds a Master’s degree in Chemical engineering and previously worked in the Chemical industry before starting his first consultancy company in PV in 1994.