Movers & Shakers

Karen Bennett, formerly of national law firm Clark Hill, has begun lobbying for the National Mining Association, a coal and hardrock mining trade group.

Taking on another United Nations climate leadership role, former ELI Award winner Michael Bloomberg will be Secretary-General António Guterres’ right-hand man at a climate summit in New York next year.

Bracewell LLP has hired Stoney Burke, former bipartisan hill staffer and utility executive, to focus on their energy, infrastructure, trade and technology practices.

New President and COO of Energy Fuels Inc. Mark Chalmers (pictured) takes over as CEO as Stephen Antony retires from the role.

Lindsey de la Torre joins the National Association of Manufacturers to serve as executive director of the Manufacturer’s Accountability Project and special counsel to the Manufacturers’ Center for Legal Action. De la Torre was formerly a Justice Department lawyer.

Baker Donelson has added Ralph A. DeMeo to the firm’s Tallahassee office Real Estate and Environmental groups.

Michelle DePass, a former senior U.S. EPA official, will take on a philanthropic role after being named CEO of the Meyer Memorial Trust. She takes over the job from Doug Stamm.

Former editor at Bloomberg News Mark Drajem will lend his communications skills to the National Resources Defense Council, where he has joined the group’s federal communications team.

Ted Garrish, a nuclear expert, has been nominated to serve as the Department of Energy’s assistant secretary for international affairs.

The American Petroleum Institute’s Jack Gerard steps down from his position as president and CEO after serving for 10 years at the lobbying group.

Harvard Law School’s Environmental Law Program has appointed Joseph Goffman to serve as executive director. He has a 30-year career shaping environmental law and policy, most recently as senior associate administrator for Climate Security Counsel in EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

The National Whistleblower Center names Scott Hajost as managing director of its Global Wildlife Whistleblower Program. Most recently Hajost was the chief of party for the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge, an initiative of USAID.

Mary Anne Hitt has been promoted to lead the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. She was a campaign director for the program, and will now serve as senior director, taking over for Bruce Nilles, who leaves Sierra Club after 15 years.

Peter Kelley leaves his position as vice president of public affairs at the American Wind Energy Association to relaunch RenewComm LLC. — a public relations firm focused on promoting clean energy and running issue campaigns and events for renewable energy companies and environmental nonprofits.

Former leader of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has been unanimously elected president and council chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute, based in South Korea.

Brett Korte, ELI’s director of education programs, leaves the Institute for the West Coast, where he will serve as the clinical fellow at the University of California Irvine School of Law.

Sarah Laskin says goodbye to the National Geographic Society as she takes on the role of vice president of the National Wildlife Federation’s National Advocacy Center.

Ranallo & Avenvi has promoted Joshua T. Morrow to partner at the boutique firm. Morrow leads the firm’s litigation practice.

Bernard McNamee is headed for the Texas Public Policy Foundation to lead its Center for Tenth Amendment Action. McNamee comes to the foundation from the Department of Energy, where he served as deputy general counsel.

Crowell & Moring LLP announces that Richard J. Merril has joined the firm’s Environment & Natural Resources Group as a partner in the Orange County office. He joins the firm from Snell & Wilmer LLP.

Jennifer Murphy has been tapped from her role as assistant general counsel of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners to serve as the group’s director of energy policy and senior counsel.

Janet Naughton transitions from the private to public sector as she takes on the role of a senior advisor at the Department of Energy. Naughton served as a top advisor at the Heritage Foundation and also owns a DC-based consulting firm.

Jane Nishida switches roles at EPA’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs. After serving as the office director of regional and bilateral affairs, she becomes the principal deputy assistant administrator of the office.

Sidley Austin’s Houston office has added environmental partner Heather Palmer as part of the firm’s strategic expansion in the energy sector.

The Trust for Public Land’s National Board of Directors has selected Diane Regas as the president and CEO of the conservation organization. She brings experience from her role as executive director of the Environmental Defense Fund.

Geologist and former NASA astronaut James F. Reilly II has been nominated as director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

James Robb becomes the leader of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. as president and CEO after serving as CEO of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the largest of NERC’s eight regional entities.

Sambhav Sankar has been selected to take the lead as executive director and general counsel of the Environmental Council of the States. He leaves behind his role at The Nature Conservancy.

Intelex Technologies has appointed Jessica Sarnowski as global compliance lead, EHSQ Content. Sarnowski was previously managing editor at Bloomberg BNA’s Environment, Health and Safety division and was editor of ELI’s National Wetlands Newsletter.

William C. Siegel joins San Diego-based firm Richard Brady & Associates after serving as CEO and Chairman of the board of science and engineering consulting firm Kleinfelder.

Jason Sloanas, who has served as interim director of the Associations of Air Pollution Control Agencies, has been named the organization’s permanent executive director.

Oceana’s senior policy aide Lora Snyder has moved to Capitol Hill. She serves on the minority staff of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Ariana Spawn is now the legislative aide to Senator Cory Booker on environment and oceans. Spawn was a research associate with the Environmental Law Institute from 2011-2014.

Kazmarek Mowrey Cloud Laseter LLP has opened a Pittsburgh office and hired Paul Stockman as partner. He previously worked at McGuireWoods.

BP has picked a new lead for its Gulf of Mexico and California operations. Starlee Sykes is now head of the operations. She replaces Richard Morrison, who is slated to retire.

Peter Tsirigotis, a career EPA employee, has been tapped as director of the agency’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

Christopher Walker has been named partner in K&L Gates’s Charlotte office, where he will advise on environmental and regulatory matters.

Robert Bonnie has joined the board of directors of The Conservation Fund. Bonnie oversaw the U.S. Forest Service from 2013-2017.

George Hawkins, DC Water’s CEO and general manager, received the Ronald F. Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership. The award recognizes non-elected government executives who work collaboratively with elected officials and stakeholders to shape a better region. Hawkins is recognized for his innovation in addressing stormwater pollution in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.

Leaders in Law has named Gary A. Meyer Environmental Lawyer of the Year. Meyer is a shareholder attorney at Parker, Milliken, Clark, O’Hara & Samuelian PC. Meyer founded and has since chaired the firm’s Environmental Law Department.

The New York League of Conservation Voters has elected Steven C. Russo chair of its board of directors. Russo is chair of global law firm Greenberg Traurig’s New York Environmental Practice.