Liz Dennett, Ph.D. is a passionate technologist and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience pioneering innovative data-driven solutions in the biotech and energy industries. She has a proven track record of integrating genomics, biotechnology, and cloud-first engineering to create commercial solutions that address pressing sustainability challenges.

Currently, Liz serves as the CEO of Endolith, where she leads a dedicated team in exploring the potential of microbes and synthetic biology to revolutionize sustainable mining practices.  Liz is also the CTO of Cemvita where she is leading the development and deployment of nature-inspired biosolutions to enable the transition to a carbon-neutral future.

Prior to joining Cemvita, Liz was VP of Data Architecture and Data Engineering at Wood Mackenzie, the Lead Solutions Architect for Energy Data Platforms at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and has previously held roles of increasing scope and complexity within Wood Mackenzie Amazon Web Services (AWS), Biota Technology, Hess Corporation, and the NASA Astrobiology Institute.  Liz currently holds an advisory board position with the UW-Madison Dept. of Geoscience.

With expertise in developing technology strategy and data platforms, Liz has extensive experience creating and delivering novel technology visions. As AWS Lead Solutions Architect, she led the AWS Implementation of the OSDU Data Platform, an international open-source initiative spanning industry, academia, and governmental entities. As VP of Data Architecture at Wood Mackenzie, Liz slayed data silos through the company’s robust data and analytics products to help transform how they delivered value to energy customers globally. Within her time at Biota Technology, she led the scale up and commercialization of subsurface genomics for energy customers.

Liz's entrepreneurial spirit and technological expertise have earned her numerous accolades, including being named #13 in the “Top 50 Women Leaders in Houston” in 2022. As a recognized domain expert and technology evangelist, she has given over 100 invited presentations and has written over a dozen academic and industry publications, and was the host of the Horizons podcast, a candid perspective on the Energy Transition. Liz has also provided technical subject matter expertise to help guide and shape renewable energy strategy and investment with Amazon Climate Pledge teams.

Liz holds a MS and PhD in Geoscience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has completed executive education at the Haas School of Business. Liz’s passions include building things, board games, and stubbornly refusing to believe things are “hard”.