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Keynote

Air & Waste Management Association's 118th Annual Conference & Exhibition, Collaborating for an Equitable, Resilient Environment, June 9-12, 2025, Raleigh, NC


Opening Keynote Plenary Session: Fostering Collaboration for Environmental Resilience

Tuesday, June 10, 8:30 am – 10:30 am ET, Ballroom A 


Keynote Panelists:

H. Christopher FreyH. Christopher Frey, Futrell Distinguished University Professor of Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, and Former Assistant Administrator of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Chris Frey is an engineer, researcher, science advisor, and leader working on energy and environmental issues mostly in academia and government. From 2021-2024 he served in leadership roles, including as Assistant Administrator of Research and Development, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has been on the engineering faculty at NC State for over 30 years and is currently associate dean for research in the College of Engineering. His research focuses on improving relevance of scientific and technical information to inform decisions via sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, and on reducing uncertainties via measurement and modeling of vehicle emissions and human exposure to air pollution. He served on numerous national and international expert and advisory panels. He has a Ph.D. in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University. He has been a member of A&WMA since 1989. 

David HainesDavid Haines, President, North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance

David has 18 years experience leading and managing programs focused on energy, sustainability, and the environment. He has served as senior energy policy expert as a legislative fellow for Brookings Institution. David was a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Land & Minerals Management during the Obama administration and was Global Sustainability Advisor for Shell Oil, where he developed a cross-functional coalition with environmental groups, government agencies, academics, and industry.


Sushma MasemoreSushma Masemore, Deputy Secretary for Environment, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
 
Sushma Masemore was named Deputy Secretary for Environment in May of 2021. She guides DEQ’s regulatory divisions through the complex issues facing North Carolina and brings more than 30 years of public and private sector experience to the role. Masemore oversees the development and implementation of major policy initiatives for programs such as:  permitting of discharges to surface waters; issuance of air emissions permits; grant programs for wastewater and drinking water projects; remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, permitting of coastal development; and regulation of animal operations, mining operations, and energy development projects. As the State Energy Director, Masemore led statewide initiatives related to energy and climate change, including the development of the NC Clean Energy Plan and Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan. Masemore joined DEQ as a permit engineer and has managed teams of engineers and scientists through program design, standards development, and implementation phases. Her private sector experience includes building partnerships with technology developers, industry representatives, and government officials to collaborate on environmental solutions that made good business sense while protecting public health. Masemore earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina. 

Dave MiracleDave Miracle, General Manager, Environmental Affairs, Nucor Corporation
 
Dave Miracle is General Manager of Environmental Affairs for Nucor Corporation. Dave leads the corporate environmental and sustainability teams responsible for coordinating Nucor’s environmental regulatory compliance, permitting and sustainability programs. The team works closely with, and in support of, our divisions, our government affairs, commercial, investor relations and public affairs teams to advance Nucor’s enterprise strategy for environmental compliance and sustainability. Dave began his Nucor career in 2020 as an Environmental Manager of Compliance before being promoted to Manager and then Director of Sustainability. Prior to joining Nucor, Dave worked for 25 years in the steel industry as an environmental engineer, environmental manager and then General Manager of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability for AK Steel. Dave was named to his current position in July 2023. Dave also serves as the Corporate Secretary of the Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC) and as a presidentially appointed Federal Commissioner of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). Dave earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Kentucky. Dave is married to Angie, and they have two children, Tyler and Samuel.