2025 Speakers
Introducing the early confirmed speaker lineup for the 2025 Permian Energy Dialogues! This year’s distinguished experts will share insights on the most pressing issues shaping the Permian Basin. Explore the industry leaders and innovators joining us in 2025 as we engage in critical discussions on the future of energy.

Melanie Kenderdine
Cabinet Secretary
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

Catarina Gonzales
Commissioner
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Thomas J. Gleeson
Chairman
Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT)

Greg Bloom
Assistant Commissioner of Mineral Resources
New Mexico State Land Office

Ted Wooten
Chief Engineer
Railroad Commission of Texas

Michelle Miano
Division Director, Environmental Protection
New Mexico Environment Department

Steve Cole
EVP and Partner
Five Point Energy

Joey Bernica
Director
Climate Investment

Nile Garritson
Portfolio Manager
CalSTRS

Darin Zanovich
CEO
Mesa Minerals Partners

Michael Gibson
Deputy State Director, Minerals
Bureau of Land Management

Bruce Baizel
Division Director, Compliance and Enforcement,
New Mexico Environment Department

Kris Kindrick
Senior Vice President, Commercial
Kinetik

Jeff Hammad
Chief Commercial Officer
Golden Pass LNG

James Lackey
Director, Customer Relations
Xcel Energy

Chris Nichols
Vice President, Permian Basin
Continental Resources, Inc.

Joaquin Silva
Managing Director
Energy Innovation Capital

Michael Grossman
Chair, Technical Committee
Produced Water Society

Matt Kolesar
Chief Environmental Scientist
ExxonMobil

Dr. Katie Smye
Research Associate Professor, Bureau of Economic Geology
The University of Texas at Austin

Kristi Hobbs
Vice President, System Planning and Weatherization
ERCOT

Robert Sadlier
Deputy Director, Water Quality Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

Beth Garza
Senior Fellow, Energy & Environmental Policy Team
The R Street Institute

David Rains
General Manager of Assets, Shale & Tight Business
Chevron

Elizabeth Lieberknecht
Manager, Regulatory and Legislative
EDF

Molly Determan
President
Energy Workforce & Technology Council

Jason Pigott
President & Chief Executive Officer
Vital Energy

Elena Nilolova
Manager, Climate Intelligence
RMI

Clay Brett
Partner
Baker Botts L.L.P.

Holly Hopkins
Vice President - Upstream Policy
API

Missi Currier
President & CEO
New Mexico Oil & Gas Association (NMOGA)

Rich Dealy
Vice President, Permian Basin
ExxonMobil

Jacob Nagy
Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer
Avant Natural Resources

Joni Carswell
President & CEO
Texan by Nature

Martina Sittler
Vice President, Engineering & Construction
Targa Resources

Brian Sellers
Permian Water Infrastructure Manager
ExxonMobil

Derek D. Adams
Managing Director
Permian Energy Development Laboratory

Ben Cahill
Director, Energy Markets and Policy
University of Texas at Austin

Coy Connelly
Head of Legal
bpx Energy

Monika Simoes
Founder & CEO
Energy Dialogues

Ryan Murphy
Facilities Engineering Manager, Power Distribution
Diamondback Energy

Carolina Ortega
Vice President, Sustainability & Communications
Milestone

Mike Hightower
Program Director
New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium

Masoud Aghajani
Domain Champion, Lithium Brine Concentration
SLB