Ning Lin is the Chief Economist at the Center for Energy Economics (CEE) in the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. CEE’s mission is to translate energy data, engineering insight, and market analysis into decision-ready solutions—bringing academia, government, and industry together to develop system-level strategies for reliable, affordable, and lower-carbon energy.

Dr. Lin has 20 years of experience in advanced market analysis and technology-commercialization across natural gas, power, hydrogen, and downstream industrial value chains. Prior to UT Austin, she led global market analytics and commercial development at Shell Trading, Koch Industries, and Tenaska, with work spanning petrochemical derivatives, intermediate chemicals, polymers and fibers, and large capital project development, including technology licensing, market entry, and investment evaluation.

Her current portfolio centers on two fronts: (1) large-load energy and resource management for data centers and power-intensive industry—integrating power, gas, and water planning to guide siting, interconnection, firming strategies, and community considerations across Texas; and (2) hydrogen value-chain valuation—from production through midstream networks, geological storage, and ammonia markets. She leads the development of HyFive, a screening and valuation framework for underground hydrogen storage that links geology, engineering, and economics; supports hub-scale planning in Texas; and advances decision tools on water use and quality for emerging hydrogen systems.

Austin Knight assumed the position of vice president of hydrogen for Chevron New Energies in February 2022. In this role, he is responsible for accelerating Chevron’s lower carbon business prospects, including the commercialization of our hydrogen business opportunities. In 2023, he was appointed Chair of the coordinating subcommittee for the National Petroleum Council study on hydrogen energy which was released in April 2024. 

He previously served as the Vice President, Large Industries World Business Line for Air Liquide, a world leader in industrial gases, supplying over 400 global customers with oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and syngas. Addressing climate and energy transition needs for a sustainable future in industrial supply chains through hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable electricity have been a strong emphasis of his work. In this last role he led the global vision, customer experience, industrial strategy, energy management, and technical roadmap activities for supply of industrial gases to major chemical producers, refineries, and steel manufacturers. In his roles with Air Liquide, Austin also led the Hydrogen business for several years, with demonstrated experience in production units, purification plants, storage facilities and pipeline infrastructure for Hydrogen transport. Prior to joining Air Liquide in 2007, he was a lead electrical engineer at Fluor, a leading global engineering, procurement, and construction firm. 

Austin holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.

Ben Meinke joined Kiewit Energy Group in 2021 and is Vice President, Business Line Manager for the Hydrogen market. He is responsible for market strategy, business development, commercial management, and OEM/licensor relations for energy projects with respect to hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production projects.

Prior to Kiewit, Ben has over 15 years of construction industry experience, 10 years in the oil, gas, and chemicals industry holding progressing roles in operations and business development at an engineering and technology company. There he took part in the planning, design, construction execution, and business development activities for global petrochemical, LNG, and energy transition engineering, procurement and construction projects.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering degree, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering focused on Construction Engineering & Project Management from The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.

Stephen has over 40 years’ experience in the Process Industries, with expertise in low-carbon hydrogen production and utilization, as well as cryogenic engineering, carbon capture, partial oxidation, reforming, and syngas applications with a strong emphasis on safety. He has more than 15 years’ experience with electrolyzer-based hydrogen projects to complement more than 30 years’ experience with low-carbon natural gas-based hydrogen projects. 

He is responsible for advising clients on technology, vendor and licensor selection, site selection and layout, storage options, and integration with host and adjacent facilities. His clients include major Oil and Commodity Chemical companies, Power Generators and Utilities, International Banks, Governments and Government Agencies, and project developers. He specializes in Hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Gasification, Syngas treatment and uses, Power to X, Air separation, and Cryogenics.

Pradeep Venkataraman currently serves as Senior Technical Director at AES Clean Energy and oversees the design and engineering of large-scale green hydrogen facilities. In addition to technical aspects of large-scale Green Hydrogen projects, Pradeep is responsible for fostering relationships and contracting mechanisms with important suppliers, including key OEMs, EPC providers, technical consultants and engineering firms. 

Pradeep has technical expertise in thermodynamics, process design and catalysis. Over the course of his career, he has worked on technologies for hydrogen storage, carbon capture and storage and solvent reduction for heavy oil extraction. 

Pradeep's career has spanned from technology development, integration and deployment. He is actively involved in the value chain assessment of low carbon fuels including hydrogen and ammonia. Pradeep is a Chemical Engineer by training. He has authored several journal articles, written a book chapter and holds two patents. Prior to his current position at AES, he has held roles at New Fortress Energy, ExxonMobil, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Baker Hughes.

State Representative Drew Darby represents ten counties in West Texas, encompassing the Big Country, Concho Valley, and Permian Basin.

A lifelong West Texan and native of San Angelo, Representative Darby attended San Angelo public schools before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas at Austin.

He currently serves as chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resources and is a member of the Administration and State Affairs Committees. In addition, he chairs The Energy Council, a nonpartisan organization spanning over 12 states and provinces that facilitates dialogue among legislative policymakers on critical energy issues affecting their states, citizens, and the environment.

Beyond his legislative work, Chairman Darby is a successful businessman who owns Surety Title, which operates offices throughout West Texas. He also serves as Counsel to the Energy and Real Estate practice group at Jackson Walker, LLP.

Drew and his wife, Clarisa, have five children and twelve grandchildren. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo.