SPEAKER BIOS
Paul Anastas
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development
Science Advisor to the U.S. EPA
Paul is the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science Advisor to the Agency. Known widely as the “Father of Green Chemistry” for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture, and use of minimally-toxic, environmentally friendly chemicals, he has an extensive record of leadership in government, academia, and the private sector.
At the time he was nominated by President Obama to lead ORD, Paul was the Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, and the inaugural Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Prior to joining the Yale faculty, he was the founding Director of the Green Chemistry Institute, headquartered at the American Chemical Society in Washington, DC. From 1999 to 2004, he worked at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, concluding his service there as the assistant director for the environment. Paul began his career as a staff chemist at EPA, where he rose to the positions of chief of the Industrial Chemistry Branch, and director of the U.S. Green Chemistry Program. It was during his work at EPA that he coined the term “green chemistry.”
Trained as a synthetic organic chemist, Paul research interests have focused on the design of safer chemicals, bio-based polymers, and new methodologies of chemical synthesis that are more efficient and less hazardous to the environment. A leading writer on the subjects of sustainability, green chemistry and green engineering, he has published 10 books, including “Benign by Design,” Designing Safer Polymers,” “Green Engineering” and his seminal work with co-author John Warner, “Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice.”
Paul has been recognized for his pioneering work with a host of awards and accolades, including the Vice President’s Hammer Award, the Joseph Seifter Award for Scientific Excellence, the Nolan Sommer Award for Distinguished Contributions to Chemistry, the Greek Chemical Society Award for Contributions to Chemistry, the Inaugural Canadian Green Chemistry Award, a Scientific American 50 Award for Policy Innovation, the John Jeyes Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and an Annual Leadership in Science Award from the Council of Scientific Society Presidents. He was a Special Professor at the University of Nottingham and an Honorary Professor at Queens University in Belfast where he also was awarded an Honorary Doctorate.
He earned his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Brandeis University.
Kate Anderson
Director of K-12 Education, Beyond Benign
Kate earned her Master's in Education: Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Environmental Education from Florida Atlantic University in 2006 after graduating with her B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has worked as a Sustainable Project Manager in the seafood industry in Massachusetts. Kate's previous experience took place in the K-12 classroom setting. As a program coordinator for nonprofit environmental education programs, she developed curricula, taught K-5 programs, managed service-learning projects and supported professional development workshops and trainings for teachers. She was first introduced to green chemistry as an undergraduate student at University of Massachusetts, Boston in 2000. As one of the first students to take the environmental studies concentration track, Dr. John Warner was her professor for Chemical Solutions to Environmental Concerns (a non-science major chemistry course). Kate's passion is working with students and teachers to improve education. She serves as the Director of K-12 Education at Beyond Benign.
Steve Davies
Director, Communications & Public Affairs
NatureWorks LLC
Steve leads communications and public affairs globally for NatureWorks LLC, a company formed with the unique mission of bringing to market a broad family of performance plastics and fibers created from plants, not oil. He is responsible for the strategy, direction and management of the company’s external communications, media relations, issues management and brand.
Previously as NatureWorks’ Global Marketing Director, Steve was responsible for market development with Ingeo natural plastic innovations in packaging, bottles, food service-ware, films and durable electronics, and with Ingeo fibers in apparel, personal care, home and garden. Since joining NatureWorks in 2003, he has led fibers applications development, business development in apparel, home textile, and nonwovens markets, brand management and marketing communications.
Previously at Honeywell International, Steve held a variety of positions spanning process and product development, and applications and downstream business development in the polymers and fibers markets.
Anselm Doering
President/CEO, EcoLogic Solutions
Anselm has been an environmental entrepreneur since 1991 and currently heads EcoLogic Solutions, which introduces the most effective, cost competitive and environmentally preferable cleaning and maintenance chemicals and technologies for the B to B, or institutional marketplace. EcoLogic’s client list includes the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island; The Durst Organization; conEdison; Whole Foods Market; Chipotle; the Mandarin Oriental; Kimpton Hotels and Universal/NBC to name a few, and has its corporate headquarters in the storied Brooklyn Navy Yard. Anselm’s successful efforts have brought his company strategic partnerships with NYS, NYC and the Onondaga Nation/Iroquois, who is EcoLogic Solutions’ primary investor. Anselm is a frequent moderator and panelist for green events and is well versed in many aspects of eco products and technologies. He is the vice chair of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Green Business Steering Committee, is married and has 2 children, Finn and Isola, who all share time living in Brooklyn and Woodstock, NY.
Paula Durand
Senior Venture Officer, Clean Technology
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA)
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) is an independent state agency that serves as the New Jersey’s “bank for business” by financing small and mid-sized businesses, administering tax incentives to retain and grow jobs, revitalizing communities through redevelopment initiatives, and supporting entrepreneurial development by providing access to training and mentoring programs.
As a Senior Venture Officer at the EDA, Paula works with global investors and early stage clean technology companies under the Edison Innovation Fund, an integrated set of resources that support financing initiatives throughout all stages of development and commercialization. Her passionate focus is on delivering to this entrepreneurial community a suite of innovative clean technology funding solutions and assisting in its further growth.
Paula previously worked in middle market corporate finance at Chase and corporate and investment banking at HSBC Securities, where she managed a global portfolio of more than 100 public sector clients. She is a member of several clean energy advisory review boards at the EDA. She also serves on the Sustainable Business Incubator Advisory Council and several boards of professional accounting and finance organizations.
Paula received her B.A. degree in Economics from Northwestern University, her M.B.A. in Finance from New York University and is a Certified Management Accountant.
Judith A. Enck
Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA
On November 5, 2009, Judith was appointed Regional Administrator of Region 2 by President Barack Obama. Previously, she was Deputy Secretary for the Environment in the New York State Governor's Office. As Regional Administrator, Judith's responsibilities are wide-ranging. In cooperation with state and regional authorities in NJ, NY, PR, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Indian Nations, Region 2 administers federal programs governing air and water pollution, industrial discharges, toxic substances, pesticides, protection of streams, lakes and the ocean, solid and hazardous wastes, the cleanup of chemical spills and abandoned hazardous waste sites, and much more.
Judith is responsible for managing a staff of about 900 and overseeing an annual budget of approximately $700 million.
In her prior position, she was responsible for policies and operations of New York State’s environmental protection agencies, including the Department of Environmental Conservation; Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Adirondack Park Agency; Agriculture and Markets; Department of State and others.
Judith previously served for 8 years as a policy advisor to the New York State Attorney General. Prior to that, she was Senior Environmental Associate with the New York Public Interest Research Group. She also served as the Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York, a nonprofit government watchdog organization. She is a past President of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, former Executive Director of the Non-Profit Resource Center and a designer of her town’s recycling program. She worked with the New York State Legislature to pass a number of the state’s most far-reaching environmental laws, including those addressing acid rain, toxics, pesticides, recycling, energy conservation and environmental funding.
Her accomplishments in the field of environmental protection have been recognized with professional awards from the Attorney General’s Office, the Sierra Club, Center for Women in Government, Citizen Action, the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, and other public interest groups.
Judith was raised in the Catskill Mountains and is a graduate of the College of St. Rose in Albany,NY, which recently recognized her as a Distinguished Alumni. She is married and has a grown son, and splits her time between Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and rural Rensselaer County, NY.
Philip J. Landrigan
Director, Children’s Environmental Health Center, The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Philip, the Ethel Wise Professor, is a pediatrician and epidemiologist. He has been a member of the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine since 1985 and Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine since 1990. He was named Dean for Global Health in 2010. He is also the Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center.
Philip graduated from Boston College in 1963 and from Harvard Medical School in 1967. He completed an internship in Pediatrics/Medicine at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital and a residency in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston. In 1977, he received a Diploma of Industrial Health from the University of London and a Masters of Science in Occupational Medicine degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He served for 15 years as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). While at CDC, Philip served for 1 year as a field epidemiologist in El Salvador and for another year in northern Nigeria. He participated in the Global Campaign for the Eradication of Smallpox. He directed the national program in occupational epidemiology for NIOSH. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal of the U.S. Public Health Service.
In 1987, Philip was elected a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine and Editor of Environmental Research. He has published more than 500 scientific papers and 5 books. He has chaired committees at the National Academy of Sciences on Environmental Neurotoxicology and on Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. From 1995 to 1997, he served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veteran's Illnesses. In 1997-1998, Philip served as Senior Advisor on Children's Health to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and was instrumental in helping to establish a new Office of Children's Health Protection at EPA. From 2000-2002, he served on the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. He also served from 1996 to 2005 in the Medical Corps of the United States Naval Reserve. He retired in 2005 at the rank of Captain. He continues to serve as Surgeon General of the New York Naval Militia, New York's Naval National Guard.
Philip is known for his many decades of work in protecting children against environmental threats to health. His research combines the tools of epidemiology with biological markers derived from clinical and laboratory medicine. He is deeply committed to translating research into strategies for health protection and disease prevention.
Ally LaTourelle
Director of Government Affairs, Bio-Amber Inc.
Ally is the Director of Government Affairs for BioAmber Inc., a renewable chemistry company that uses agricultural crops and transforms them into green chemicals that directly substitute for petrochemicals. She is an attorney, consultant, former financial advisor and former sustainable business owner. Prior to founding her own consulting practice, Earthventure Capital, LaTourelle was the lead business generator for a team in private wealth management at UBS Financial Services. Her work led the team to successful portfolio design strategies merging traditional investment practice with socially responsible investment. LaTourelle assisted the deputy state director in the U.S. Senate office of Hillary Rodham Clinton. She received a J.D. with a concentration in international law from Pace University Law School.
John Leazer, Ph.D.
U.S. EPA
John serves as the Director of the Sustainable Technology Division for the U.S. EPA. In his current role, he oversees and develops the division’s research portfolio. Prior to joining EPA, he worked as a process chemist for the pharmaceutical company Merck, where he is credited for being one of the company pioneers in green chemistry.
David Levine
Co-Founder and Executive Director, American Sustainable Business Council
David is the co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council, which is a growing coalition of business networks and businesses committed to advancing a new vision, framework and policies that support a vibrant, equitable and sustainable economy. The Council brings together the business perspective, experience and political will and strength to stimulate our economy, benefit our communities, and preserve our environment. Today, the organizations that have joined in this partnership represent more than 100,000 businesses and social enterprises and more than 200,000 entrepreneurs, owners, executives, investors and business professionals.
David is also the Director of Sustainable Economies at the Environmental Health Fund (EHF). The EHF works to protect human health and environment from toxic and dangerous chemicals through education, advocacy and policy. His work helps catalyze interest in green chemistry and the development of innovative sustainable materials, products and businesses.
He co-coordinates the business engagement initiative for the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Campaign. He also sits on the steering committee of the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative and has directed the Working Landscapes Certificates program for Green Harvest Technologies.
Dana Levy
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Dana is the Program Manager for Manufacturing Technology Development & On-site Power Applications in the R&D Group at NYSERDA where he leads a nine-member team. One aspect of the program provides support for innovations to enable efficient manufacturing of clean energy products and techniques that can accelerate new product design cycles with an appreciation for requisite manufacturing needs (such as Biomimicry-an appreciation for reverse-engineering, time-proven streamlined shapes, materials, or processes found in Nature). NYSERDA programs provide financial and technical support for entrepreneurs along the entire innovation pathway from concept development to product commercialization, and Dana is championing NYSERDA’s efforts to promote biomimicry as a brainstorming technique during product development phases, because wisdom gleaned from nature will lead to invention of energy-efficient and non-toxic products. Prior to joining NYSERDA in 1999, he held positions in private industry and the federal government performing academic laboratory research, engineering consulting, and factory operation and management. He earned his Doctorate and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Michael O’Brien
Lecturer, Siena College
Michael is a Lecturer in Chemistry at Siena College in Loudonville, NY. He holds a Master’s of Science in Education from The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY, and a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry from Siena College. Currently, he has active research projects in biodiesel synthesis and green synthesis of liquid crystals. Michael is motivated by sustainability, improving the environmental impact of the chemistry field, and encouraging student interest in scientific discovery.
Mariano J. Savelski and C. Stewart Slater
Rowan University, Department of Chemical Engineering
Mariano J. Savelski
Mariano is a Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. His research and teaching interests are in optimizing processes for water and energy reduction; lean manufacturing in food, consumer products, and pharmaceutical industry; and developing renewable fuels from biomass. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, M.E. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tulsa, and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires.
C. Stewart Slater
C. Stewart is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and founding chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. His research and teaching background is in separation process technology with a particular focus on membrane separation process research, development and design for pollution prevention, manufacturing sustainability, and green engineering. He received his Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Rutgers University.
Dorna L. Schroeter
Program Coordinator, P/NW BOCES, Center for Environmental Education
Dorna Schroeter has been the coordinator of the P/NW BOCES Center for Environmental Education since 1982. This program serves 42,000 students each year. Her K-12 sustainability programs and teacher professional development workshops are popular in the local schools. Currently, she is working to develop a K-12 multidisciplinary web-based sustainability curriculum. She co-founded the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation and organizes professional development workshops for teachers. The two marine ecology trips she runs to Key Largo, in fall for middle school students and a spring trip for high school students, are the favorite part of her job. These trips introduce young people to the tropical marine ecosystem from the Everglades to the coral reefs. She serves as an advisor to the Biomimicry Institute education program and is a board member of BioDreamMachine. She is currently working on two books, one on biomimicry and the other on sustainability principles.
Bill Waugh
U.S. EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
Bill received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland (1971), an M.S. in Medical Entomology from the University of Maryland (1974) and completed an advanced program in Toxicology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979).
Bill is a toxicologist with the U.S. EPA’s Risk Assessment Division within the EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. His recent work has focused on predictive toxicology with a focus on computerized methodologies designed to estimate risk-related properties of industrial chemicals based on chemical structure.
Working with his colleagues at the U.S. EPA, the group has developed the Pollution Prevention Framework (P2 Framework), The Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) Profiler, and the Analogue Identification Methodology, a compilation of EPA's most important screening-level computerized methodologies for predicting hazard and risk of industrial chemicals based on chemical structure. These methods are especially useful when assessing chemicals in the absence of test data. These methodologies also provide a screening-level assessment of a chemical’s physical/chemical properties, fate in the environment, PBT characteristics, human health and ecological hazard profiles, exposure estimates (general population, occupational and environmental) and human and ecological risk estimates.
Bill and his colleagues at the U.S. EPA offer the P2 Framework, PBT Profiler and Analogue Identification Methodology to chemical manufacturers and formulations for use at the R&D stage of chemical development. Bill and his colleagues train companies in the use, applicability and limitations of the tools, and work with companies to use the tools to compare and contrast product alternatives at R&D for risk- related considerations.
Anahita Williamson
Director, NYSP2I
Research Faculty, Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology
Anahita has a strong background and extensive experience in the field of environmental engineering, including manufacturing process modification for improved material recovery and reuse, design for the environment and life-cycle assessment. Prior to joining NYSP2I, she served as a senior engineer at Xerox Corporation where she assisted in implementing companywide sustainability and pollution prevention processes. Anahita led numerous teams at Xerox Corporation in defining environmental opportunities within processes/products by optimizing complex systems. She performed detailed material and energy balances on manufacturing processes to develop a quantitative baseline and capture all environmental inputs and outputs for a system. She also has extensive experience in utilizing life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology for evaluating the environmental performance of a process/product over its entire life-cycle and has performed multiple LCAs throughout her career. She has multiple peer-reviewed publications, including the Journal of Cleaner Production and has presented at numerous international conferences, including the International Society of Industrial Ecology Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
She is a Lean Six Sigma certified Greenbelt. She understands the importance of applying lean thinking when defining the root causes of deficiencies in processes and utilizing lean tools when implementing solutions. Anahita holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, all from Clarkson University.
N.S. Sandy Yee
Director, Environmental Affairs & Compliance, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson Company
Sandy has worked in the environmental, health and safety field for 30 years at Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, BF Goodrich and U.S. EPA Region 4. Currently, he is involved in compliance, environmental technology and sustainability programs in the pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson. He holds a B.S and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Louisville.
