• CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Barbara Burger

Lazard

Senior Advisor

Barbara J. Burger, PhD., is a “graduate” from Chevron where she ended her time as the Vice President, Innovation and President of Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV). During her career, Burger held leadership positions across a number of the company’s businesses as well as a wide range of civic and industry board and advisory positions. In this next chapter, she remains focused on the big challenges in energy transition, equity, and access to education. She has built a portfolio that includes being named as a Senior Advisor to Lazard, to the Heliogen Board of Directors, Emerald Technology Ventures Advisory Council, a Senior Advisor to Energy Impact Partners, an Advisor to Marunouchi Innovation Partners, Greentown Labs Board of Directors, and an Advisor to Syzygy Plasmonics, Epicore Biosystems and Sparkz, Inc. She remains committed to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Activate, and is the President of the Board of Directors of the Houston Symphony. Burger is a proud alumnus of the University of Rochester where she serves on the Board of Trustees and chairs the River Campus Libraries National Council. She established the Barbara J. Burger Endowed Scholarship in the Sciences and founded the Barbara J. Burger iZone, where students generate, refine, and communicate ideas for social, cultural, community, and economic impact. At Caltech, she supports graduate women in Chemistry who aim to contribute through careers beyond academia and serves on the Strategic Advisory Board for the Resnick Sustainability Institute. Burger holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Rochester, a doctoral degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and an academic honor MBA in finance from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sessions With Barbara Burger

Tuesday, 19 March

  • 08:30am - 09:10am (CST) / 19/mar/2024 01:30 pm - 19/mar/2024 02:10 pm

    Technology Development to Business Operations: How do we cross the chasm?
    Strategy and Business Models

    A daunting chasm exists between ideas on the blackboard and a successfully scaled-up business operation. What are some solutions to bridge this vast gap? 

  • 03:30pm - 04:00pm (CST) / 19/mar/2024 08:30 pm - 19/mar/2024 09:00 pm

    Disruptors in Low-carbon Technology
    Innovation & Technology

    A wide range of technologies are being researched by academia or implemented in industry that, if delivered at scale, could significantly impact the economics and sustainability of energy use over the next 10 to 20 years. What pathways are there for innovations in low-carbon fuels, materials, AI,  etc., to change current assertions about the roadmap to net zero? To what extent is there potential for “disruption” in low-carbon solutions? Is the impact of these innovations a function the uniqueness of a new technology, or its scalability, based on markets or human capabilities?

     

Wednesday, 20 March

  • 03:30pm - 04:10pm (CST) / 20/mar/2024 08:30 pm - 20/mar/2024 09:10 pm

    Voices of Innovation: Nicole Iseppi

    Join a conversation with an amazing energy innovator with experience across many regions and across the public, private and now philanthropic sector. What role does philanthropy play in the multiple dimensions of the energy transition? How do the lessons from the private sector inform philanthropic investment in climate and nature solutions? How do the challenges and the solutions differ across the globe AND how are they the same?   

Thursday, 21 March

  • 08:30am - 09:10am (CST) / 21/mar/2024 01:30 pm - 21/mar/2024 02:10 pm

    Pilots to Projects: The road to customers and success

    For the many energy and climate tech solutions that have been developed to have impact, the innovation and the company behind them must scale. It is a theme that is common in virtually every energy transition discussion today. It is complex, situational and possible. How do different investors approach this challenge? What work needs to be done with the companies to ensure they are meeting milestones and are prepared for the next leg of the journey?