Leadership and Board
The Global CCS Foundation brings together individuals of all different backgrounds who are focused on mitigating climate change through the deployment of CCUS.
Our Leadership
Jarad Daniels
Chief Executive Officer
Jarad has more than 20 years of experience in international collaboration and leadership on clean energy and sustainable development. He has broad expertise in energy and deep experience in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), having worked with many countries, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and companies on technology development and deployment and government policy.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Jarad led the Office of Strategic Planning, Analysis, and Engagement within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Carbon Management. Earlier responsibilities included managing research, development, and demonstration programs for advanced power systems and environmental stewardship. His professional experience includes life cycle analysis, process engineering and materials science.
Jarad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University and a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Xiaoliang Yang
Director of Strategy and Programs
Xiaoliang is the Director of Strategy and Programs for the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Foundation. Xiaoliang has extensive experience working in environmental and energy think tanks. Within the Foundation, Xiaoliang designs new strategic initiatives and plans, implements, and evaluates programs.
Xiaoliang joined the Global CCS Institute as China Country Manager in 2022. Prior to joining the Institute, Xiaoliang served as Technology Director at China Oil & Gas Climate Investments, a clean technology venture firm focusing on CO2 and methane reductions, energy efficiency improvement, and transport decarbonization. Xiaoliang also held various positions at the World Resources Institute, including leading its China Climate & Energy Program and CCUS activities. in addition, Xiaoliang worked at Department of Social Affairs at UN Headquarters and KAPSARC in Saudi Arabia.
Xiaoliang holds a PhD in Environmental Science from State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a MPA from Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Xiaoliang also completed a Professional Short Program on Carbon Capture and Storage: Science, Technology, and Policy from MIT.
Our Board
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus
Board Member
Maria is the CEO and Founder of Ardinall Investment Management; an investment firm focused on climate change, energy access and sustainable energy infrastructure that she started in 2017. Prior to Ardinall Investment Management, Ms. Dreyfus spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs, where she most recently served as a Portfolio Manager and Managing Director in the Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP) Group.
She sits on the Center on Global Energy Policy advisory board at Columbia University, on its executive committee, and serves as co-chair of its Women in Energy program. Additionally, Ms. Dreyfus is a member of the MIT Corporation’s Development Committee and sits on the MIT Economics Department’s Visiting Committee. She also serves as a New York State Secure Choice Savings Program Board member.
Her current and past non-profit board memberships include New America Alliance, Breakthrough New York, and Girls Inc. of NYC. She is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC), and the Milken Institute’s Young Leaders Circle.
Ms. Dreyfus has held her CFA since 2004 and holds a dual degree in economics and management science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Roger Aines
Board Member
Roger Aines is the Chief Scientist of the Energy and Homeland Security Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Aines leads the Carbon Initiative at LLNL, which aims to understand, develop, and implement technologies for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—so-called negative emissions technologies.
Aines has been at LLNL since 1984 working on nuclear waste disposal, environmental remediation, application of stochastic methods to inversion and data fusion, management of carbon emissions including separation technology, and monitoring and verification methods for sequestration. With Amy Aines, he authored the recently released Championing Science, a book that helps scientists communicate more effectively with decision makers.
Kurt Waltzer
Chair of the Board
Kurt Waltzer is the principal for Energy Systems Innovation (ESI), focused on working with civil society, market leaders, and policymakers to help develop systems-level solutions for the most challenging parts of decarbonization.
Prior to launching ESI, Kurt was CEO and Managing Director at the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), where he focused on managing CATF’s resources and strategy, as well as growing the organization from a US-based NGO to a global climate organization.
Over the past two decades he has successfully developed efforts and obtained outcomes in policy, markets, and technology innovation that relate to reaching a net zero emissions system. A particular focus has been creating the policies and networks needed to support technology through development phases – from early stage to deployment. Efforts have included a concentration on carbon capture and storage where Kurt helped develop strategies and lead efforts that resulted in the adoption of major CCUS policies, such as the enhanced and expanded US 45Q tax credit. He has also incubated programmatic advocacy efforts across a range of technologies, including SHR geothermal, nuclear fission and fusion, and zero carbon fuels (hydrogen/ammonia).
Prior to working at CATF, Kurt worked on clean energy policy issues for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Izaak Walton League of America as well as the Ohio Environmental Council. Kurt has an MBA from the University of Michigan as well as a BS in economics and a BS in biology from Ohio State.
More Information
About Us
We’re on a mission to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage through partnerships and high-impact programs.
Supporters
The Global CCS Foundation is grateful to our diverse group of supporters who are dedicated to accelerating climate solutions around the world.