How the Reconciliation Bill Reshapes Climate, Innovation, and Industry Strategy

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  Colin McCormick Chief Innovation Officer @ Carbon Direct

  Dr. Colin McCormick provides science and technology expertise across a wide range of engineered carbon removal methods and industrial decarbonization sectors. He also supports Carbon Direct’s work in data science and remote sensing, life-cycle analysis, and carbon removal policy analysis. Dr. Colin McCormick previously served as the Senior Advisor for R&D at the US Department of Energy where he helped oversee the full applied energy research portfolio, and as a Professional Staff Member for the House Science & Technology Committee. Prior to this he conducted research in applied quantum optics and atomic physics at UC Berkeley and NIST. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Science, Technology and International Affairs program, Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and a Member of the District of Columbia Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency.

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  Rory Jacobson Head of Policy @ Carbon Direct

  Rory Jacobson is the Head of Policy at Carbon Direct. Previously, he served as the Director of the Carbon Dioxide Removal program within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In previous roles at DOE, Jacobson has supported and coordinated FECM’s carbon removal and management programs and projects. Prior to joining DOE, Jacobson was a Deputy Director of Policy at Carbon180, where he managed the federal policy portfolio for engineered carbon removal pathways. He also served as a Science Advisor with Carbon Direct from 2019 to 2022, where he provided policy guidance and performed due diligence on carbon removal projects. He has led carbon management research and analysis in multiple roles, including with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the World Resources Institute, and Carbon Direct Inc. Jacobson received his master’s in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry, where he was a Kerry Fellow.

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  Zara Ahmed Chief Operating Officer @ Carbon Direct

  Dr. Zara Ahmed is responsible for marketing, policy, communication, coordination, and execution across Carbon Direct. Dr. Ahmed's primary focus is strategic planning, program development, and U.S. policy engagement. Prior to working at Carbon Direct, Dr. Ahmed was the Government Affairs and Policy Lead for the COVID-19 Response at the CDC. She rejoined CDC in August 2021 after two years at the Guttmacher Institute as the Associate Director for Federal Issues. Before her time at the Guttmacher Institute, Dr. Ahmed spent 10 years with CDC. She holds a BA in political science from Brown University, MPP and MPH degrees from the University of Michigan, a MBA from the University of Oklahoma, and a DrPH from the University of North Carolina, where she is also an adjunct faculty member.

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  Thad Woody Policy Analyst @ Carbon Direct

  As a Policy Analyst for Carbon Direct, Thaddeus helps clients navigate the complicated and ever-changing world of tax credits, incentives, grants, and regulation in the clean energy and climate space. Before joining Carbon Direct, Thaddeus worked in Washington, DC for more than a decade, focusing on energy, environment, and climate policy. Most recently, he served as Legislative Director for Congressman Marc Veasey where he led the Congressman’s legislative team. He is especially proud to have played a part in building transformative climate legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Prior to joining Congressman Veasey’s office, he worked at the U.S. Department of Energy in the office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).