John Lochner joined NYSERDA as Vice President, Innovation in 2019.

John founded Headland Advisors, which advises on and structures investments in sustainability-focused opportunities. As an investor in and advisor to businesses in water, energy, and sustainable resource management, he formerly served in leadership and advisory positions at Natural Resources Defense Council and Locus Energy. His experience in renewable energy includes work as a consultant to the Department of Energy, as a Board member, Treasurer, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Solar Energy Finance Association (SEFA), and as an investment banker in the Global Energy Group at Credit Suisse, where Mr. Lochner executed transactions across the traditional and renewable power sectors.

Katie is an entrepreneurship enthusiast and climate leader with experience in international development, business acceleration, and strategic partnerships within the ClimateTech sector. Katie joined NYSERDA in February 2020 where she serves as the Director of Technology to Market supporting and launching programs that can help the State of New York address ambitious climate and energy goals through innovation and entrepreneurship. Under Katie’s leadership, NYSERDA has launched first-of-a-kind programs for startup equity investment, deep decarbonization, insurance product development, and carbontech.

Katie comes to NYSERDA from Greentown Labs, the largest cleantech incubator in the United States, where she was Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships responsible for corporate partnerships and industry accelerator programs. At Greentown, Katie designed and scaled the ‘Greentown Go’ model for corporate / startup partnership development and ran first- of- a- kind programs in energy storage, hydrogen, solar materials, circular economy, and distributed energy resources. Companies Katie supported at Greentown have gone on to raise over $300 million from private investors.

Before Greentown Labs, Katie served as Executive Director of Cleantech Open Northeast, the region’s premier cleantech business accelerator. Under Katie’s leadership, the accelerator saw record- breaking application numbers, a 100% recommendation rate from startups, and the first national prize in the Northeast chapter’s history. In 2016, Katie also represented Cleantech Open at the White House for World Water Day. Katie has worked for organizations including the World Bank, 350.org, and Amherst College to build innovation programs, organize communities, and drive climate impact.

Sophie Purdom invests in and supports early-stage climate technology founders and their companies. She also writes Climate Tech VC, a newsletter with 30,000+ subscribers on climate and innovation. Prior, Sophie practiced sustainable business; first from the perspective of state and global policy, then at a major endowment, followed by a few years decking at Bain & Co., published a book on Sustainable Investing along the way, and founded an agricultural technology venture which has raised +$65m.