2025 SPEAKERS
Agenda and speakers subject to change.
Anya Scuderi
Deep FissionStrategic Finance
Anya brings over 10 years of experience in capital markets, specializing in raising debt and equity, including tax equity, for transformative infrastructure projects in the energy sector. With a proven ability to structure complex financial agreements and develop detailed financial models, Anya has played a key role in fostering strategic finance partnerships that enhance business growth. Her expertise encompasses crafting innovative corporate finance models that drive value for stakeholders. Anya has raised financing and contributed to high-impact projects at leading energy companies, including SunPower Corporation, NRG Energy, Clearway Energy, LanzaTech, and NuScale Power, across both US and EU markets.
Anya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of San Francisco.
Brenda Jesus
25th Navajo Nation Council
Chairwoman, Resources & Development Committee (RDC)
Delegate Brenda Jesus represents the Oaksprings and St. Michaels Chapters within the Fort Defiance Agency. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Navajo Nation Council’s Resources & Development Committee (RDC) — the legislative body charged with oversight of land, natural resources, water, energy, and economic development matters.
Chairwoman Jesus is deeply committed to advancing community-driven development, energy sovereignty, and balanced environmental stewardship. Under her leadership, the RDC has prioritized policies that modernize the Nation’s infrastructure and strengthen local economies while ensuring responsible use of natural resources.
Born to the Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People) clan and the Tódich’ii’nii (Bitter Water) clan, her maternal grandfather is Honágháahnii (One-Walks-Around Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Tó’áhani (Near the Water Clan). A lifelong resident of St. Michaels, Arizona, she continues to advocate for the advancement of Navajo families and communities through effective, transparent governance.
Brian Somers
Utah Mining Association
President
Brian Somers is the president of the Utah Mining Association (UMA), a trade association that has been the voice of the Utah mining industry since 1915. UMA advocates for and advances the mineral resource and related industries in Utah; represents and informs its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas at the local, state, and federal levels; and educates elected officials, regulators, and the public on Utah’s mining industry.
Mr. Somers joined the Utah Mining Association as its president in 2019. Mr. Somers has over 20 years of extensive experience in legislative affairs, strategic communications, and executive leadership. Prior to UMA, he led the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) as its managing director. He also served as the deputy director of the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, on the communications staff of Governor Gary R. Herbert, and in various strategic communications and management roles in the private sector.
Carlyle W. Begay
Towering House Advisory Group
Moderator & Strategic Advisor
Carlyle W. Begay is a strategic advisor and public policy professional with over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of tribal, federal, and private-sector partnerships. As Founder and Managing Partner of Towering House Advisory Group, LLC, he advises on complex infrastructure, energy, and environmental projects involving tribal nations, federal agencies, and industry leaders.
A former Arizona State Senator, Mr. Begay has been a leading voice on energy sovereignty, legacy uranium cleanup, and tribal economic development. He has worked closely with federal partners including the U.S. EPA, Department of the Interior, DOE, and the White House to advance initiatives supporting tribal infrastructure and sustainable energy projects.
Born and raised on the Navajo Nation, Carlyle brings both policy depth and cultural grounding to conversations around responsible development, environmental restoration, and intergovernmental collaboration.
Constantine E. Karayannopoulos
Kloni Inc.President
Retired CEO, Neo Performance Materials Inc.
Former Chairman, Neo Performance Materials Inc.
Former Chairman, Neo Lithium Corp.
Constantine is President of Kloni Inc., a company providing advisory services to global clients in the critical materials space.
He has served as CEO of Neo Performance Materials (“Neo”, a company he co-founded in 1993), 2005-2012 and 2020-2023 as well as interim CEO of Molycorp Inc., 2012-2013. His past publicly-listed company board roles include Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Neo (2016-2020) and Neo Lithium Corp (“NLC”, a company he co-founded in 2016), (2016-2022).
Constantine is a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Toronto’s department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, a Director of the Canada-China Business Council, a Director of the Board of Grid Metals Corp. and a member of the Boards of Advisors of Lithium Royalties Corp. and Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.
He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto.
David Frydenlund
Energy Fuels
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
David Frydenlund is the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Energy Fuels. With more than 35 years in the mining and energy sectors, Mr. Frydenlund holds a prominent role in the company, overseeing all legal matters. His expertise extends to regulatory and environmental laws and regulations at the state and federal levels.
Prior to his role at Energy Fuels, Mr. Frydenlund served as the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Denison Mines Corp. and its predecessor, International Uranium Corporation (IUC). He was also a director at IUC and served as Chief Financial Officer. Preceding that, he was the Vice President of the Lundin Group, a collection of international public mining and oil and gas companies. He also worked as a partner at the Vancouver law firm of Ladner Downs (now Borden Ladner Gervais), specializing in corporate, securities and international mining transactions law.
Mr. Frydenlund earned a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, a master’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Chicago, and a law degree from the University of Toronto.
Debra Bennethum
Energy FuelsVice President, Critical Minerals & Strategic Supply Chain
Debra Bennethum is Vice President of Critical Minerals & Strategic Supply Chain at Energy Fuels, leading the company’s new Rare Earth Element business and U.S.-based supply chain development. She previously held senior roles at General Motors, managing EV raw material supply chains and over $1.5 billion in new critical mineral projects. She began her career at BP Corporation in engineering and logistics roles. Debra holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and serves on the Board of the Rare Earth Industry Association (REIA) and the Advisory Board for Westwin Elements.
Dr. Jeremy Pearson
Utah Office of Energy Development
Director of Nuclear and Energy Institute
Dr. Jeremy Pearson serves as the Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development’s Utah Advanced Nuclear and Energy Institute where he works with Utah universities, Idaho National Lab and industry to research and commercialize groundbreaking energy technologies including nuclear, fossil, hydrogen, battery, water and other technologies. Dr. Pearson received an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering in 2002 from Brigham Young University and worked in manufacturing and process development at Amgen prior to returning to school to pursue a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. During his graduate work, Dr. Pearson studied the backend of the nuclear fuel cycle and used nuclear fuel recycling. In 2015 Dr. Pearson worked in Senator Hatch’s office as a AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering fellow advising the office on science and energy policy and briefly as an Energy Security Fellow for SAFE (Securing America’s Future Energy). Following his time in D.C. Dr. Pearson moved to Utah to work as a Development Scientist at Red Leaf in the fossil fuel industry pursuing economical solutions to synthetic fuels development, and served for three years as director of the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab. Dr. Pearson is from Los Angeles California and has enjoyed the mountains and outdoors in both California and Utah.
Kevin Loyens
TAM International
Chief Commercial Officer
Kevin Loyens is the Chief Commercial Officer at TAM International, a role he has held since 2019. He leads the company’s commercial and business development efforts across a diverse range of industries, including nuclear, rare earths, medical isotopes, and low-level waste. A key focus of Kevin’s role is to diversify TAM’s industry portfolio, working closely with customers and other stakeholders to identify the most suitable transportation solutions and setting the strategic direction of the company.
Born in Belgium, Kevin holds a Master’s degree in Sinology from the University of Leuven and a Master’s degree in International Marketing Management from the University of Limburg. With over 20 years of experience in international shipping and logistics, his career has spanned multiple continents and sectors.
In 2005, Kevin moved to China, where he became General Manager of Kerry-TALKE Chemical Logistics, a specialized logistics group focused on chemical and petrochemical materials. In 2012, he relocated to Canada, working for the Government of British Columbia in the Ministry of International Trade before joining TAM in 2015.
Kevin currently lives in Vancouver with his wife and two sons, and brings a global perspective, deep industry expertise, and a strong commitment to community engagement to his leadership at TAM.
Kori Ann Edwards
47G Utah Aerospace & Defense
Chief Strategy Officer
Kori Ann Edwards is the Chief Strategy Officer for 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense. In this capacity, Kori Ann leads the organization’s strategic initiatives to accelerate the growth of Utah’s aerospace and defense ecosystem. She possesses over three decades of public and private-sector experience in economic development, strategic leadership, program development and stakeholder engagement.
Most recently, Edwards served as the managing director of strategic initiatives for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) where she developed Utah’s economic vision for the 2034 Winter Olympics, led the agency’s COVID-19 response, overseeing the rapid distribution of $200 million in relief funds, and launched forward-thinking programs such as the state’s telework and returnship programs.
Prior to her service at GOEO, Edwards worked as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Logistics Specialties, Inc. (LSI). During her 20-year tenure at LSI, Edwards instituted and managed the company’s economic development division, overseeing more than $40 million in revenue allocation. Edwards has served on numerous executive boards and committees across the state. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Utah State University.
Leland Melvin
NASA
Astronaut
Leland Melvin is a former NFL player, astronaut, engineer, author, and executive producer whose remarkable career spans sports, space exploration, and education.
Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Melvin earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Richmond in 1986, where he also played college football. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1990.
After being drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1986, Melvin also played for the Dallas Cowboys before a hamstring injury ended his professional football career. He transitioned to a career in science, joining NASA as an engineer and later becoming an astronaut. He flew on two Space Shuttle Atlantis missions to the International Space Station in 2008 and 2009, contributing to critical research and operations in orbit.
Dedicated to education and advocacy, Melvin served as co-chair of the White House’s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force, where he helped develop the nation’s five-year STEM education plan. He was also the United States representative and chair of the International Space Education Board (ISEB), fostering global collaboration in space education.
An accomplished author, Melvin wrote the memoir Chasing Space, detailing his journey from the football field to outer space, and co-created the Space Chasers graphic novel series to inspire young readers. He is also an executive producer of The Space Race, a documentary highlighting the experiences of Black astronauts.
Melvin’s contributions have earned him widespread recognition. He was selected as an ICON MANN alongside Quincy Jones, Forest Whitaker, and Steve Harvey, honoring his ability to inspire people worldwide through his vision and commitment to positive change. He also received the NFL Players Association’s “Award of Excellence” for encouraging athletes to excel beyond the game.
With multiple honorary doctorates, Leland Melvin continues to be a trailblazer in STEM education, storytelling, and mentorship, inspiring future generations to break barriers and reach for the stars.
Leonard Tsosie
Eastern Navajo Land Commission (ENLC), Executive Director
Former Navajo Nation Council Delegate
Leonard Tsosie serves as the Executive Director of the Eastern Navajo Land Commission (ENLC), where he leads efforts on land use planning, resource development, and intergovernmental coordination on energy and environmental projects across the Eastern Navajo Agency.
A respected statesman and former Navajo Nation Council Delegate, Tsosie represented the chapters of Crownpoint, Torreon/Star Lake, Pueblo Pintado, Whitehorse Lake, and Becenti. Over decades of public service, he has been a steadfast advocate for balanced natural resource development, tribal sovereignty, and equitable community benefits.
As ENLC Director, Tsosie plays a key leadership role in ongoing collaboration with BHP, EPA, and DOE to address legacy uranium mine remediation and advance economic revitalization in Eastern Navajo. His deep knowledge of tribal governance and pragmatic approach to interagency cooperation make him a trusted voice in advancing sustainable land and energy strategies for the Navajo Nation.
Maria Korsnick
Nuclear Energy InstitutePresident and Chief Executive Officer
Maria Korsnick is president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear industry’s policy organization in Washington, D.C., a role she has held since January 1, 2017.
Drawing on her engineering background, hands-on experience in reactor operations and a deep knowledge of energy policy and regulatory issues, Korsnick aims to increase understanding of nuclear energy’s economic and environmental benefits among policymakers and the public.
As part of her duty to NEI’s members, she serves as a member of the boards of directors of the U.S. Energy Association and the Foundation for Nuclear Studies. She also serves as a trustee of the Nuclear Power Labor Management Cooperation Committee Trust, vice chair of the University of Maryland Department of Mechanical Engineering External Advisory Committee, and a member of the Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering Advisory Board.
Before joining NEI, she was senior vice president of Northeast Operations for Exelon, responsible for overseeing operation of the Calvert Cliffs 1 and 2, R.E. Ginna, and Nine Mile Point 1 and 2 nuclear power plants.
Before Exelon, Korsnick served as chief nuclear officer (CNO) and acting chief executive officer at Constellation Energy Nuclear Group. She began her career at Constellation in 1986 and held positions of increasing responsibility, including engineer, operator, manager, site vice president, corporate vice president, and CNO.
Korsnick holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Maryland, and has held a Senior Reactor Operator license. She lives in Maryland with her husband, and they are the parents of two adult children.
Mark Chalmers
Energy Fuels
CEO
Mark Chalmers is CEO of Energy Fuels, bringing a wealth of experience in mining and mineral processing to his position. Prior to his promotion to CEO in 2018, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Energy Fuels.
Prior to Energy Fuels, Mr. Chalmers was the Executive General Manager of Production for Paladin Energy Ltd. where he successfully managed the Langer Heinrich (Namibia) and Kayelekera mines (Malawi) and achieved significant increases in production levels while reducing operating costs.
Mr. Chalmers is an expert in in situ recovery (ISR) uranium production, having managed both the Beverley Uranium Mine owned by General Atomics (Australia) and the Highland mine owned by Cameco Corporation (USA). Additionally, he has consulted several key industry leaders in the uranium supply sector, including BHP, Rio Tinto, and Marubeni.
Mr. Chalmers holds a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from the University of Arizona, is a registered professional engineer and served as the Chair of the Australian Uranium Council for ten years. Holding dual citizenship in the U.S. and Australia, Mr. Chalmers resides in Lakewood, Colorado with his wife while his two adult daughters live in Australia.
Mark P. Jensen
Colorado School of Mines
Professor of Chemistry
Director of Nuclear Science and Engineering Program
Mark P. Jensen, is Professor of Chemistry, holds the Jerry and Tina Grandey University Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering, and is the Director of the Nuclear Science and Engineering Program at the Colorado School of Mines; positions he has held since 2015. He earned his PhD in Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry from Florida State University in 1994 and then spent 20 years as a scientist in the Heavy Element Chemistry and Separation Science group at Argonne National Lab. His research focuses on the nuclear fuel cycle and critical materials with particular interest in understanding the separations, environmental, and biological chemistry of the radioactive actinide elements. He is also an Associate Editor of the journal Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange.
Matt Cameron
Duke Energy Corp.
Manager – Nuclear Fuel Supply & Storage
Matt Cameron is the Manager of Fuel Supply & Storage for Duke Energy with responsibility to oversee Duke Energy’s nuclear fuel procurement and dry storage programs. Previously, he was a Lead Engineer, responsible for uranium and conversion procurement for the eleven nuclear units operated by Duke Energy. Matt originally joined Duke’s safety analysis team doing deterministic accident analysis in 2006 and subsequently moved to fuel supply in 2010.
Matt graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University.
Mike Kopp
U.S. Dept. of Energy
Senior Advisor to the Secretary
Mike Kopp began his career as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of the US Army Ranger School and was a member of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. He served with the 82nd in the Gulf War and in airborne operations in Honduras during operation Golden Pheasant.
He served in the ministry and operated a consulting practice being elected and re-elected to the Colorado State Senate. He was selected to serve as Caucus Chairman and Minority Leader. He was later nominated as his party’s topline candidate for Governor.
Mike was recruited to the senior management team of Colorado’s largest cooperative electric association as Corporate Affairs Manager, where his responsibilities included state and local government affairs, member affairs, and public and regulatory affairs.
Mike was President and CEO of a prominent business advocacy organization in Colorado, where he focused on several areas, including transportation, property tax relief, energy, and multifamily litigation reform. He received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the board of trustees at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He later joined the founding team of a new investment fund focused on private long-term equity.
Mike earned a BA from North Central University and an MPA from University of Colorado, Denver. He and his wife and children currently own and enjoy spending time on their Western South Dakota ranch.
Mike was appointed by the Trump administration as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the Department of Energy. He works in a range of policy areas and is tasked with coordinating the Department’s critical mineral work.
Ross Bhappu
Energy Fuels
President
Ross Bhappu is President of Energy Fuels and comes from a background of both technical and financial roles in the mining industry. Prior to joining Energy Fuels, Ross was a partner and served as Head of Private Equity for Resource Capital Funds (RCF), the pioneer in mining PE. In that role, Ross was responsible for a substantial portfolio of mining investments across 30 commodities and located in over 50 countries around the world. He was also responsible for fundraising and managing relationships with over 200 investors. During his 25 year tenure with RCF, he was involved in raising over $4.5 billion to be invested in the mining sector.
Mr. Bhappu completed his Ph.D. degree in Mineral Economics at the Colorado School of Mines and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Arizona. He began his professional career with Cyprus Minerals Company in Denver and Miami, Arizona before joining Newmont Mining Corporation in Denver. Ross served in both technical and financial roles with both companies. Ross gained substantial expertise in copper concentrate marketing while at Newmont and served as CEO of GTN Copper Corporation prior to joining Resource Capital Funds in 2001. During his tenure at Resource Capital Funds, Mr. Bhappu was instrumental in the acquisition of Mountain Pass, the only operating rare earth mine in the U.S. and the recreation of Molycorp, Inc. where he served as Chairman from 2008 – 2013.
Saleem Drera
Radioisotopes, Radiological Systems and Intellectual Property for Energy Fuels
Vice President
Saleem Drera, Ph.D. is Vice President, Radioisotopes, Radiological Systems and Intellectual Property for Energy Fuels. The founder and Chief Executive Officer of RadTran LLC, which Energy Fuels acquired in 2024, he is responsible for advancing efforts to produce medical isotopes from the Company’s existing uranium and rare earth process streams to support innovative and emerging receptor-targeted radionuclide therapeutics for cancer.
Dr. Drera has a broad background in the development of nuclear technology which includes testing, scaling, commercialization and licensing. Recently his main technological expertise has been with the development of radiochemical processes for the medial industry, and radioactive materials engineering. Noteworthy is his effort in pioneering preparative techniques for critical isotopes to be used in emerging cancer therapeutics. In addition to Dr. Drera’s previous CEO role with RadTran he was the Vice President of Research and Development for Thor Energy, the Vice President of Nuclear Consulting for The Cameron Group Inc. and a consultant for several successful startup companies within the green energy and advanced materials sector.
Dr. Saleem Drera earned two B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, a M.S. from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Mechanical Engineering, and a Ph.D. from the Colorado School of Mines in Nuclear Science and Engineering. Dr. Drera’s work has been published in dozens of peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, Journal of Nuclear Materials, Annals of Nuclear Energy, Progress in Nuclear Energy and many conference proceedings. Additionally, Dr. Drera is the listed inventor of many patents for the processing and separation of radioisotopes.
Stephen Etsitty
Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA)
Executive Director
Stephen Etsitty serves as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA), leading the Nation’s environmental regulatory and enforcement programs, including air and water quality, waste management, Superfund and abandoned uranium mine (AUM) remediation, and environmental policy coordination with federal and state agencies.
A veteran environmental professional, Etsitty has led NNEPA under multiple administrations and played a key role in shaping the Navajo Nation’s environmental sovereignty framework. His career includes service with the U.S. EPA and national tribal environmental networks, where he has advanced recognition of tribal authority under federal environmental statutes.
Known for his technical acumen and steady leadership, Etsitty’s work centers on protecting Navajo lands and public health while ensuring the Nation’s environmental programs operate with both cultural grounding and scientific integrity.
Travis McLing PhD
INL
Chief Geologist and Directorate Fellow
Dr. Travis McLing has been working in the field of geology and geochemistry since 1988. Dr. McLing serves as INL’s Chief Geologist and supports research in geothermal, critical minerals, and geologic hydrogen. Dr. McLing has more than 30 years of experience developing, growing, and leading multi-institutional, interdisciplinary research in geoscience-related fields. Dr. McLing also serves as INL’s Relationship Manager for DOE’s Geothermal Technologies and Fossil Energy and leads INL’s Critical Minerals Research Team. Dr. McLing has serves on the Utah Legislature’s Critical Mineral Board
