Keynote Speaker BioS

Brad Haydel has over 10 years of experience providing comprehensive solutions and effective leadership on a wide range of sustainability initiatives, with a focus on carbon mitigation and climate resilience programs.

Prior to joining USC, Brad served as the Energy & Sustainability Manager at Cal State LA, where he established their 2019 Climate Action Plan, Campus Sustainability Committee, Zero Waste Plan, and Green Revolving Fund to foster a campus culture of sustainability. He holds a Master of Environmental Science & Management degree from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Brad has extensive work experience in energy management, building energy efficiency, climate action planning, GHG accounting, cost benefit analysis, zero waste planning, water conservation, change management, civic engagement, and social justice initiatives.

Michael Swords is the Vice President of Government Affairs and International Relations for the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). In this role, he is responsible for managing the organizations relationships with leaders at the local, regional, state and federal level. Swords also manages the Cleantech LA Innovation Hub, the LACI Leadership Council and international partnerships. From 2006-2014, Swords served as the Executive Director of Strategic Research Initiatives and Global Partnerships at UCLA. In this role, he was responsible for developing large, multi-disciplinary research centers and institutes. He was also responsible for developing partnerships with government agencies, foundations, industry and non-profits, both here in the United States and abroad.

Michael served as Board President for CleanTech Los Angeles (CTLA) from 2011-2014. CTLA was a consortium established to make Los Angeles the global leader in the research, commercialization, and deployment of clean technologies. Originally established as a multi-institutional collaboration between major research universities, utilities, major industry partners, cleantech start-ups and the City of Los Angeles, the organization has now merged with LACI. Michael currently serves as Board President of Climate Resolve, and has previously served on the Executive Advisory Committee for the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and the Board of the Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator (LACI). Michael also serves on the LA-Israel Cooperation Task Force and also the Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Tech and Innovation Council.