Adam Semel believes that empowering resilient communities means reaching across sectors and disciplines to drive new solutions. As a Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Adam helps deliver transformative built environment projects around the globe. As CEO and co-founder of Ourea Energy—SOM's first spinout company—he leads the development of novel infrastructure that combines energy storage, thermal management, and water resilience to power the next century.

Steve Ray specializes in charting a path to yes where others see no. An MIT Mechanical Engineering lifer (BS, MS, and PhD), Steve blends rigorous technical expertise with deeply human finesse to empower teams that deliver world-class results in architecture, sustainability, and manufacturing. Previously, he led manufacturing engineering at Rivian and co-led the sustainability practice at SOM, where he pushed the boundaries of sustainability, structures, and architecture for the world's tallest towers.

Brook Rosini has a gift for asking the right questions to bridge the gap between bold ideas and seamless execution. A dual-brained systems thinker, Brook's ability to synthesize information, knack for overcoming organizational inertia, and talent for galvanizing multidisciplinary teams around a shared vision has enabled her to transform work at large institutions like Apple and the Obama Presidential Center.

Bill Baker has redefined the limits of what is possible in the built environment. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished structural engineers in the world, he led the development of the “buttressed core” structural system for the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest manmade structure. From honorary doctorates to his role as an Emeritus Professor at the University of Cambridge, Bill's work bridges the gap between classical engineering theory and the most advanced technologies of the 21st century.

Abolfazl Noorjahan is a voracious problem-solver who specializes in the multi-scale modeling of polymeric systems, thermodynamics, and data analysis. With a PhD from the University of Alberta and graduate and undergraduate degrees from Sharif University of Technology, he has spent more than a decade translating rigorous simulation science into real-world engineering solutions. Most recently, he led chemical and thermal simulation work for building infrastructure design at Rivian.

Katherine Gajewski believes that complex challenges require engaging as many stakeholders as possible. She built that conviction over six years leading Philadelphia's Mayor's Office of Sustainability, where she helped build one of the earliest integrated approaches to climate, sustainability, and energy management inside city government. She later carried that work forward as a City Scale partner, building cross-sector partnerships and coalitions to advance local climate solutions.

Jeff Goldsmith relishes the challenge of structuring legal and commercial frameworks that enable innovative, high-profile built projects to succeed. A seasoned legal strategist with more than two decades of global experience, he specializes in professional liability, complex intellectual property matters, and high-stakes contract negotiations across the construction and design sectors. 

Chris Wiese is a master of reimagining development processes driven by a relentless focus on efficiency. Over a 40-year career spanning senior executive roles at Zebra Technologies and Alcatel-Lucent, he has built a track record of driving gross margin expansion and 100% on-time delivery. As President at Energy Vault, Chris was responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations, from global supply chain management to complex product engineering. 

Sachin Deshpande excels at transforming complex technical roadmaps into scalable market solutions, including for landmark infrastructure like the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. As Vice President of Technology and Product Operations at Energy Vault, Sachin spearheaded the development, commercialization, and strategic growth of the company’s gravity-based energy storage systems.