Archives: Speakers

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Rohit T. Aggarwala

Rohit T. “Rit” Aggarwala is a widely recognized expert on urban sustainability, technology, and mobility. He led the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, founded the environmental grant-making program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, and served as president of the Board of Directors of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

He was part of the founding team at Sidewalk Labs — Google’s urban technology startup — and more recently was a senior urban tech fellow at the Jacobs Cornell-Technion Institute. He has provided advice and assistance to a number of foundations and impact investment funds and chaired the Regional Plan Association’s Fourth Regional Plan for the New York region. Dr. Aggarwala holds a Ph.D., MBA, and B.A. from Columbia University and an M.A. from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Justin Driscoll

Justin E. Driscoll is the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, the New York Power Authority. NYPA is also the owner and operator of the New York State Canal System. Mr. Driscoll is responsible for developing and implementing the statewide utility’s strategic vision and mission and for supervising its operations, legal and financial matters, and relationships with external stakeholders.

Justin previously served as EVP and General Counsel of the Authority. He also supervised the activities of the Hydropower Licensing Group, the Regulatory/Energy Markets functions, Legislative and Community Affairs Group, Environmental Justice, the Corporate Secretary, and the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. He also served on the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and was management’s liaison to the Cyber and Physical Security Committee and Audit Committee to the Board of Trustees.

Before joining NYPA, Justin was engaged in the private practice of law and represented clients that included Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities, and energy companies in complex commercial litigation and regulatory matters.

Justin serves on several boards including The Alliance to Save Energy, New York City’s Urban Green Council, the Large Public Power Council, World Resources Institute’s Global Energy Advisory Group in Washington, D.C., and New York State Energy Research and Development Corporation.

Justin is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Public Affairs. He received his law degree from New York Law School and attended the New York University School of Law L.L.M. Program in trade regulation, He is a member of the New York City Bar Association and the Energy Bar Association.

Robert Catell

Robert Catell was formerly the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KeySpan Corporation and KeySpan Energy Delivery, the former Brooklyn Union Gas. His career with Brooklyn Union Gas started in 1958. Following National Grid’s acquisition of KeySpan Corporation, Mr. Catell became Chairman of National Grid, U.S. and Deputy Chairman of National Grid plc.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook University, the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, and the Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School.

Mr. Catell serves on the Board of the following not-for-profit organizations: Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, Department of Education-Diocese of Rockville Centre, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Futures in Education Endowment Fund, and St. Francis Hospital Foundation. He also serves on the Board of the following business organizations: A+Technology & Security Solutions Inc., Alternative Packaging Solutions (APS), Applied DNA Sciences Inc., Long Island Angel Network (LIAN), Long Island Association (LIA), National Petroleum Council, ThermoLift Inc., and Utility Technology Solutions (UTS).

He Chairs the STEM Advisory Board at St. Thomas Aquinas College, and serves on the Advisory Board for Our Energy Policy Foundation and the President’s Advisory Council at Adelphi University.

Mr. Catell is an Executive in Residence at Hofstra University and was named the first “John J. Phelan, Jr. Fellow” of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business at Adelphi University. Mr. Catell is a former Chairman of Alberta Northeast Gas Ltd., the American Gas Association, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of NYS, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Futures in Education Endowment Fund, KEYERA Energy Management Ltd., Long Island Association, New York State Smart Grid Consortium, Partnership for New York City Inc., U.S. Energy Association (USEA), the Advisory Board of the City College of New York’s School of Engineering, and Winthrop Hospital Board of Regents.

Mr. Catell is a former board member of the Brooklyn Public Library Foundation, City College of New York 21st Century Foundation, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Energy Association of NYS, Long Island Foreign Affairs Forum, National Grid Foundation, New York Academy of Sciences, New York City Police Foundation, New York State Economic Development Power Allocation Board (EDPAB), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, as well as a former advisory board member of Advanced Power North America (APNA), Brooklyn Law School (Member Emeritus), the Center for Urban Sciences & Progress (CUSP), and HeartShare for Human Services.

Mr. Catell is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, CUNY Business Leadership Council, National Society of Professional Engineers, NYS Society of Professional Engineers, and the Society of Gas Lighting.

Mr. Catell received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York and is a registered Professional Engineer. He has attended Columbia University’s Executive Development Program, and the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.