Keynote Speakers
Doug Berven 
Doug Berven graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining POET in March 2003, Berven held various roles in banking, real estate development and medical consulting. Berven served as Director of Business Development with POET for over four years and recently accepted a new role as Director of Corporate Affairs for POET. In this position, Berven serves on several POET Boards and is actively engaged in the development of new business ventures, licensing opportunities, and corporate relations for POET domestically and internationally.
To learn more about POET, go to http://www.poetenergy.com.
Stephen R. Brand
Stephen R. Brand is senior vice president, Technology, for ConocoPhillips. Brand began his career with Phillips Petroleum Company in 1976 as a geologist for exploration and production (E&P). In 1980, he transferred to Denver as a geologist for the minerals group. He became supervisor of North America E&P in Houston in 1982. In 1989, he transferred to Bartlesville, Okla., as a staff director for E&P and held that position until 1992. Beginning in 1995, he served as Canada region manager of North American E&P. He was also president of Phillips Petroleum Resources, Ltd. and served as E&P business development manager. In 1998, he was named general manager, Australia division. Following the ConocoPhillips merger in 2002, Brand became president, Australasia, then in 2005 was named vice president, exploration and business development, Exploration and Production. He assumed his current role in October 2007.
Brand was born in 1949 in Owatonna, Minn. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in geology. He received a master of science degree in geology in 1973 and a doctorate in 1976, both from Purdue University.
Suzanne Hunt
Suzanne Hunt is the former director of the Worldwatch Institute’s bioenergy program. She had
directed the program since
April, 2005. She coordinated the landmark study, Biofuels for
Transportation: Global Potential and Implications for Sustainable
Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century. Under her leadership, a
team of international experts in the field of bioenergy has assessed
the opportunities and risks of large-scale international development
of biofuels. Ms. Hunt meets regularly with government, industry, and
civil society leaders and with the media, appearing on CNN
International, Voice of America, and public radio. She speaks
frequently before diverse audiences ranging from European
Parliamentarians to farm associations in places such as the World
Bank, the United Nations, Yale University, Brussels, and Capitol
Hill.
Ms. Hunt has extensive environmental research, policy, education and
planning experience. Most recently, as a research fellow at
Environmental Defense, her work focused on social and environmental
safeguard policy reform at the International Finance Institutes.
Ms. Hunt’s agricultural roots sparked her involvement with the world
of biofuels when she initiated the use of biodiesel at her family
farm and winery, Hunt Country Vineyards, in its efforts to become a
more environmentally responsible business. Ms. Hunt is a co-founder
of “SmartFuel,” an organization dedicated to teaching children
principles of science and business through hands-on biodiesel
production as a cleaner-burning fuel for their school buses. In
addition she is a founding steering committee member of the
“BioEnergy Wiki”, an information sharing hub. She also serves on the
Board of Directors of the “Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance” as well
as the “Renew the Earth” organization.
Ms. Hunt has a BS in Environmental Science from Penn State and a
dual master’s degree in International Affairs and Natural Resource
Management from American University and the UN’s University for
Peace in Costa Rica.