James Knuckles, Ph.D., is a Senior Energy Access Consultant at the World Bank. For more than a decade, he has supported ESMAP and World Bank investments in mini-grids and off-grid electrification in more than a dozen countries. He is co-author and lead editor of the 2022 World Bank handbook on mini-grids, Mini Grids for Half a Billion People, and co-author of the 2014 World Bank book on small power producers, From the Bottom Up. He has also published in peer-reviewed journals his research on energy access business models, supply chains, subsidies, and lifecycle analyses. James began his career working for an innovation policy think tank in Washington, D.C., and has worked for a solar home system distributor in Haiti, an off-grid solar company, and startup social enterprises in California and Honduras. James has a Ph.D. in Management from City University of London, an MBA and a Master’s degree in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French from Bowdoin College. He lives with his family near Bologna, Italy.

Prior to his nomination as Deputy Secretary, Turk was the Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he focused on helping countries around the world tackle their clean energy transitions. He also directed reports on the digitalization of energy systems, the future of clean hydrogen, and a project tracking progress on a wide range of clean energy technologies.

During the Obama-Biden Administration, Turk coordinated international technology and clean energy efforts at DOE. During this time, he helped spearhead the launch of Mission Innovation—a global effort to enhance clean energy innovation.

Turk also served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at the U.S. National Security Council, where he coordinated interagency legislative affairs efforts by the full range of national security agencies and provided legislative advice to National Security Council decision-making. He also previously worked at the U.S. Department of State, including as Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change and helping to coordinate New Start Treaty ratification efforts in the U.S. Senate.   

Earlier in his career, Turk worked in both the U.S. Senate, primarily on national security issues, and as the Staff Director of the National Security Subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee. 

Dr. Preeti Jain is the Global Director (Policy, Chemicals & Carbon Solution) with ‘LanzaTech: a carbon capture and transformation leader creating a sustainable future for all. A ‘World Economic Forum Agenda Contributor’, she is a passionate advocate for science-based policies.

She brings 20+ years of rich global experience in energy, R&D, and Advisory for crafting conducive policies to support businesses toward energy transition and sustainability goals. Dr. Jain represents key National Committees & industry forums including.

• Member National Task Force on CCUS towards Steel Decarbonization
• Member DBT Sectoral Expert Committee on CCUS (Biofuels)
• Co-Chair CII Bioenergy Sub-Committee on SAF
• Member USISPF Indo-US Biofuels Task Force
• Member Governing Council Member of CBEII
• Served as Member National Task Force on SAF Roadmap 

A ‘Fulbright Scholar by U.S. DoE for Environment Leadership’, Dr. Jain is an ardent believer in enhancing women’s equity across sectors.