Clean Technology Panel
Cleantech in Asia: Big Risks, Big Rewards
The global economy is in disarray, but how much will it stem the explosive growth of cleantech and renewable energy in Asia over recent years? Despite the economic downturn- energy security, environmental concerns, volatile oil prices and government support combine to make a powerful case for the continued development of this sector. Asian countries and companies are uniquely positioned with surplus capital and ample liquidity to take advantage of this opportunity to invest. Which technologies and firms will survive in the current climate and what are the long term prospects for cleantech in Asia?
Panelists
Frank P. Paniagua, Jr., Founder & CEO, Green Plug
Frank has spent his entire career involved in start-ups. Frank was the co-founder of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) and was Vice President of Worldwide OEM Sales at RasterOps and VideoLogic (both companies executed successful IPO's), founder of KidWise LearningWare, co-founder of Eskape Labs and AutoNetworks and the president of IXMICRO. (EskapeLabs, IXMICRO and AutoNetworks were acquired).
Frank has a history of success including 23+ years of "solution selling" to the industry's most respected PC and consumer electronics manufacturers (Apple, Compaq, Digital Equipment, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Sun and Sony). Frank's expertise is building and growing new ventures into successful companies. Frank's last tenure was as a partner for Trusted Strategies, an IT Security consulting firm. Frank holds a BA degree in Communications from California State University Hayward.
Patrick Tam, General Partner, China Environment Fund
Patrick Tam has many years of experience in starting and growing cleantech, IT and manufacturing companies in the US. He served as President of the Washington Research Foundation, which commercialized innovations from over $900 million of annual research conducted at the University of Washington. He sat on the Washington governor’s commission to create a $350 million Life Sciences Fund.
Patrick also headed a Washington State economic development agency, at which he obtained funding for commercial development of fuel cells, biodiesel and waste treatment as a focus for Washington State. He also formed a public private partnership to build a 45,000 sq. ft. biotech incubator and formed a fund for purchase order financing for high growth early stage companies. He is a cofounder of the Northwest Energy Collaborative that links emerging companies in the energy sector with large utilities and other potential customers.
Patrick was listed in the Who’s Who in Technology, Who’s Who in Business, and Who’s Who in Science. He recently was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for his work in developing a vaccine time-temperature tracker which is used on over 250 million vaccine dosages purchased by UNICEF.
Patrick obtained BS and MS degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Ravi Anaparti, Renewable Energy Analyst, Passport Capital
Ravi joined Passport Capital in 2005. He is responsible for Passport Capital’s investments in the Renewable Energy sector. He has focused on the sector for over 3 years and also lead investments in 5 private renewable energy companies. Prior to joining Passport Capital, Ravi spent over seven years managing R&D and Business Development at Pacific Steel, an oil services company.
Ravi has an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa and a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India.
Lilly Chung, Principal/Partner, Deloitte Services, LLP
With more than 20 years of experience in high tech, Lilly Chung is the lead client service partner for several of Deloitte’s largest global high-tech clients. As the Northern Pacific Women’s Initiative Leader, Lilly helps to advance Deloitte’s nationwide programs to support women’s careers and promote work/life flexibility. Lilly also plays a key role in Deloitte’s China Gateway Initiative, a collaborative effort with the Bay Area Council to develop stronger relationships between the Bay Area and business leaders and policy makers in China. Cleantech is one of the key focus areas of this effort.
Lilly started her career as a very large-scale integrated circuit design engineer for Fairchild Semiconductor and Xerox in Palo Alto. After business school, Lilly started her management consulting career focusing on business process reengineering and ERP system implementations for companies in the banking, insurance, technology and utilities industries. Most recently, Lilly is overseeing several projects of companies in the solar industry.
Lilly holds numerous degrees including a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California; an M.S. in Engineering Management and Industrial Engineering from Stanford University; and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Moderator
Todd G. Glass, Partner, Clean Technology & Renewable Energy, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati 
Todd Glass is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on the representation of project developers, venture capital firms, and utilities in the clean technology and renewable energy sector in North America, Asia, and Europe.
Todd has extensive experience with the development, purchase, and sale of renewable and thermal generation projects; the structuring and implementation of transactions and financing; and the state and federal regulation of the electric industry. He also has been involved in the commercialization, project development, and financing of alternative energy technologies, including concentrated solar, solar photovoltaic (PV), clean coal, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, and hydrokinetic. Notably, he served as lead project counsel on the largest solar PV project in the U.S. (MMA Renewable Ventures' 14.2 MW Nellis AFB Solar Project) and BrightSource Energy's power purchase agreements (900 MW) with Pacific Gas & Electric.
In addition, Todd represents utility-scale solar and other renewable energy clients in their power sales and renewable energy credit (REC) transactions with regulated utilities—their primary customers—and advises emerging clean technology companies on a variety of commercial matters, joint ventures, and venture and other financings. He also represents venture capital firms with regard to their investigation and funding of clean tech companies.
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