Cory Channon is the International Director of Climate Change Policy Solutions for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Mr. Channon advocates on behalf of the Boilermakers union for the advancement of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen technologies to help solve climate change challenges while also preserving and enhancing blue collar jobs in affected industries. He is a regular participant and contributor at global climate events and works closely with leading CCUS proponents including the Global CCS Institute, the International CCS Knowledge Centre and the Clean Air Task Force. Channon was instrumental in producing the Boilermakers’ educational video, “CCS, Bridge to a Cleaner Energy Future.”

Channon began his career with the Boilermakers in 1986 as a member of Local 146 in Edmonton, Alberta. He earned Red Seal journeyman welder designation with B Pressure qualifications in multiple welding processes, and he worked on numerous construction projects. He is a graduate of the Harvard Trade Union Program. Channon is a former member of the Canadian Executive Board of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Canada and is a current member of the Pacific Regional Maintenance Council. In 2020, Channon was elected to the Board Selection Panel of the Global CCS Institute.

DR. GAURAV N. SANT is an Associate Professor and a Henry Samueli Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he is also the Director of the Institute for Carbon Management. Dr. Sant’s research interests include reactions at solid-liquid-vapor interfaces including dissolution, precipitation, and electrochemical corrosion with applications to (i) cement, concrete, porous media, (ii) biological tissues, (iii) metals and alloys, (iv) natural and synthetic minerals, and (v) glasses. In his research, focus is placed on understanding the mechanistic origins of formation, degradation and aging of such materials in environments of relevance to engineered, biological and geological systems. The outcomes of this work are described in > 100 refereed journal publications. Dr. Sant also leads Carbon Upcycling UCLA / CO2Concrete: a pre-commercial venture based at UCLA that was recently selected as a Finalist in the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE Competition, and as a Global Top10 Innovation at The International Cool Earth Forum 2018. Dr. Sant's research has been recognized by numerous awards including: the National Science Foundation's CAREER Award, a Hellmann Fellowship, RILEM's Gustavo Collonnetti Medal, the American Concrete Institute's Walter P. Murphy Jr., and J.C Roumain Awards, and selection as one of UCLA's Optimists. Dr. Sant received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 2006, 2007, and 2009, respectively.