2013 WISER/Galvin Center Seminar Series

"Growing the World's Fuel"

Cynthia (CJ) Warner (M.B.A.'87)
Chairman and CEO
Sapphire Energy, Inc.

Thursday, February 21, 2013 | 3:00 pm
Illinois Institute of Technology
Main Campus | IIT Tower | 16th Floor
10 West 35th Street | Chicago
[IIT ID or guest registration required at lobby desk]

Metered guest parking available in lot D5-V, view parking map)

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
RSVP to Peg Murphy (murphym@iit.edu), 312.567.6881

IIT Co-hosts:
Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (WISER)
Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation
Office of Alumni Relations

Abstract

Energy production is one of the most challenging issues facing scientists and engineers today. Sapphire Energy is at the intersection of biotechnology, energy, and agriculture; breaking down many of the barriers that were once thought to hinder algae-to-energy technology with advances in biology, chemistry, and engineering. Our product, Green Crude, is a renewable, sustainable form of crude oil that is scalable to meet growing demand and uses marginal resources like non-potable water and non-arable land. By addressing the entire value chain of algae-to-energy production and incorporating world-scale industrial analogs into a first-of-its-kind commercial demonstration site, we are well on track to reaching our goal of bringing Green Crude to commercial scale and changing the world’s petrochemical landscape. Sapphire has headquarters in San Diego, California, an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently operating the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in Columbus, New Mexico.

Bio

Cynthia (CJ) Warner joined Sapphire Energy, Inc. in February 2009 as President, and was named Chairman in May of 2010, and CEO in April of 2012. She brings more than 27 years of experience in the energy, refining and transportation industries. At Sapphire Energy, Ms. Warner is leading the company’s ongoing technology development and transition into commercial-scale crude oil operations. During Ms. Warner’s tenure at Sapphire Energy, she has played an integral role in securing government financing, Sapphire Energy’s series C investment funding, and the successful design, construction, and startup of the Integrated Algal Biorefinery (IABR).

A chemical engineer by training and one of the very few senior women in the oil and gas industry, Ms. Warner served as an executive with energy industry giants British Petroleum, Amoco Oil Company, and UOP. Ms. Warner is currently a member of the National Petroleum Council. Prior to joining Sapphire, she most recently served as group vice president, of global refining for BP where she was instrumental in turning around BP’s U.S. refining business and achieving record performance in international refining. During her 10-year career with BP, she held numerous leadership roles including overseeing refining operations in five continents and developing long-term technology strategies for low carbon and sustainable fuels. Ms. Warner led the groundbreaking cooperative effort with the U.S. E.P.A. to shape a framework for Clean Air improvements, which was eventually signed on by the entire U.S. refining industry.

Ms. Warner holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from Illinois Institute of Technology. She is a featured leader in the 2008 book, "Becoming a Resonant Leader: Develop Your Emotional Intelligence" (Harvard Business School Press).

Last modified: 02/14/2013 11:16:02