Keynote Speaker Bios

Michael “Mick” Dalrymple brings to USC over 30 years of multi-disciplinary experience in sustainability leadership, higher education, information technology, and media. He previously served as the director of university sustainability practices at Arizona State University, developing the internal consulting service to empower the university in attaining ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving carbon neutrality in 2019 – six years ahead of schedule.

Dalrymple connects stakeholders and experts in developing integrated solutions to complex environmental, social, and economic challenges and opportunities. His previous work includes formulating and executing projects that joined expert faculty researchers and students with stakeholders from various sectors (government, industry, and/or non-governmental organizations) to create domestic and international solutions related to algal biofuels, green schools, energy benchmarking, municipal tree and shade master plans, aquifer sustainability, and circular economy. Dalrymple also managed a federally-funded project for ASU with partners in the City of Phoenix and Arizona Public Service to retrofit as much of downtown Phoenix as possible for energy efficiency.

As an entrepreneur, Dalrymple co-founded an environmental building supply company and a green building architecture and consulting services firm. He is a produced feature film screenwriter with an extensive film and advertising production background. Aim high and implement.

Danny Kennedy is the CEO of New Energy Nexus, connecting entrepreneurs everywhere to capital to build an abundant clean energy economy that benefits all. New Energy Nexus is a global platform organization for funds and incubators, with chapters in the USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Uganda, and India.

He Chairs a joint venture with RMI, the Third Derivative, which is the world's largest climate tech accelerator, and is Managing Director of the California Clean Energy Fund. This includes overseeing the CalSEED fund of $25m for very early-stage companies driving innovation and building equity in the California economy. He is an adviser to Young Greentech Entrepreneurs in China with the Asia Society. Kennedy also serves as President of CalCharge, a public-private partnership with DoE National Labs, universities in California, unions, and companies, working to advance energy storage. Kennedy co-founded Sungevity in 2007, the company that created a remote solar design, and Powerhouse, a smart energy incubator and accelerator in Oakland, CA.

He was the first backer of Mosaic in 2011, the $1B solar loan provider, and remains on the Board of Powerhive, a solar mini-utility in Kenya, and is an adviser to SolarPhilippines. He is also a Director of the nonprofit organization Power for All and Confluence Philanthropy. Kennedy authored the book Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy – and Our Planet – from Dirty Energy in 2012 and blogs at dannyksfun.medium.com. Prior to being an entrepreneur and investor, he worked at Greenpeace and other NGOs on climate and energy issues for 20+ years.