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  Meera Atreya VP of Decarbonization Science & European Advisory @ Carbon Direct

  Dr. Meera Atreya has worked in climate technology research and strategic advisory since 2009. She was lead author of Bioresources within a Net-Zero Emissions Economy, a report for the Energy Transitions Commission on sustainable bioresources. At SYSTEMIQ, she advised a major climate-focused philanthropic foundation and co-authored a plastics waste report now used by the UN Environment Programme as the basis for a global plastics treaty. Previously, Meera was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, designated an Affiliate Expert in Renewable Energy & Cleantech and part of the team driving McKinsey’s global carbon emissions strategy. Based in London, she serves on the Carbon Gap advisory board and formerly on the SBTi Technical Advisory Group (2023–2025). She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and an A.B. from Harvard. She received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for work on engineering enzymes to improve conversion of cellulosic biomass to advanced biofuels.

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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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  Greg FitzGerald Vice President, Supply @ Carbon Direct

  Greg oversees the sourcing and commercialization of high-integrity portfolios of environmental assets vetted by Carbon Direct’s science team, helping clients meet their climate goals with confidence. He is a strategist and innovator at the intersection of climate, technology, and finance. Before Carbon Direct, he built the capital markets function at Pachama and later led product, strategy, and operations to commercialize remote-sensing-based carbon project solutions. Previously, Greg worked at Silicon Valley Bank, structuring and managing technology loan portfolios and pioneering new lending models for hard-asset and climate-tech companies. He also held roles in management consulting at Deloitte and co-founded two climate-tech startups focused on carbon measurement and waste management. As an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, he has taught innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship and mentored in programs such as RADIUS SFU and New Ventures BC.

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  Diego Saez Gil Senior Vice President of Strategic Engagement @ Carbon Direct

  Diego is a climate-tech entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in carbon markets, nature-based solutions, and geospatial AI innovation. Prior to joining Carbon Direct, Diego was the founder and CEO of Pachama, which was acquired by Carbon Direct in 2025. Pachama focused on solving climate change by restoring nature, and harnessing AI and satellite data to model, monitor, and finance effective reforestation and nature conservation. It was named the Most Innovative AI Company of 2021 by Fast Company and was recognized among the “AI 50 2023” by Forbes. Diego studied entrepreneurship at Stanford GSB and project management at LaSalle University in Barcelona. He was born in Tucumán, Argentina, is a descendant of indigenous people of South America.

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  Jonathan Goldberg CEO + Founder @ Carbon Direct

  Jon is the Founder and CEO of Carbon Direct, working to scale carbon management into a global industry through science and software. Founded in 2019, the company’s 90+ scientists and market and policy experts have served more than 150 clients worldwide in carbon removal, carbon measurement, firm clean power, and low-carbon energy solutions. Jon is also the founder of Carbon Direct Capital, a global investment firm with a science-focused approach to carbon management. He has held multiple leadership roles in energy and finance over his 20+ year career. Before Carbon Direct, Jon founded and served as Chief Investment Officer at BBL Commodities, a commodity hedge fund. He was also a partner at Glencore, managing its US derivative business before its IPO. Jon began his career at J. Aron, the commodities division of Goldman Sachs, investing across global macro markets with a focus on commodities.

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  Rory Jacobson Head of Policy @ Carbon Direct

  Rory 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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  Katherine Vaz Gomes, PhD Decarbonization Engineer @ Carbon Direct

  Dr. Katherine V. Gomes is a decarbonization engineer specializing in carbon management, mineralization, and critical mineral extraction. With expertise in techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment, she helps clients deploy scalable carbon removal solutions that are technically sound, economically viable, and aligned with policy. Katherine advises on cutting emissions in cement, concrete, and mining by integrating carbon mineralization, repurposing waste, and applying circular economy strategies. She conducts due diligence on emerging technologies such as mineralization for concrete curing and carbon-storing cementitious materials, ensuring rigor and scalability. She earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on process engineering, techno-economics, and regulation of mining waste for CO₂ storage and mineral recovery.

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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.