Phil Cochrane leads the Communications and Advocacy Team supporting bp’s Gas and Low Carbon Energy (G&LCE) business in the United States.  G&LCE is at the forefront of delivering bp’s ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and help the world get to net zero. The business spans onshore and offshore wind, solar, natural gas, hydrogen and  carbon capture, use and storage.

Phil is accountable for the integration and delivery of communication, government affairs, policy and external engagement in support of bp’s business.  Every day, Phil and his team build relationships in communities across the U.S., communicate internally and externally, and advocate for responsible energy development. An accomplished communicator and leader, Phil loves his job and the opportunity to advance the energy transition and find solutions to difficult issues.

Prior to moving to Chicago, Phil served a decade as bp Alaska’s Vice President External Affairs.  He has also served in leadership roles in Los Angeles, Calgary, Canada, and, during the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010, BP’s external response in Florida.  Before joining bp, he worked in the natural gas pipeline industry and in various political and policy roles within the Canadian Government. A trained broadcast journalist, he began his career as a reporter after graduating from SAIT Polytechnic.

Based in Danbury, CT, Neil currently serves as Head of Global Government Affairs for Linde, a leading global industrial gas and engineering company, overseeing all company government affairs activities including Linde offices in Berlin, Germany.  Prior to this role, Neil served in various government affairs capacities for industrial gas company Praxair, as well as United Technologies Corporation (now Raytheon Technologies). 

Neil holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a M.A. in Public Policy with Honors from Trinity College and has completed an executive fellowship at the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, College of William & Mary. 

Michael Weiner is an experienced public policy professional providing strategic advice and representation on federal legislative and regulatory issues.  His portfolio includes matters relating to federal energy, environmental, natural resources, transportation, and energy sector cybersecurity policy.  He also assists clients with federal appropriations matters and monitors major actions and emerging issues on Capitol Hill.

Michael has significant experience representing several of the firm’s coalition clients, including his service as the Associate Director for the Carbon Utilization Research Council (CURC).  On behalf of CURC, he assists with the development of policy solutions that support the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies and advocates for those policies before federal policymakers.

Before joining Van Ness Feldman, Michael worked in the office of Wisconsin State Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca on environmental, education, and transportation issues. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University with a focus on clean energy and environmental policy.