Participants

Bo Kong led and organized the SAIS China energy research trip. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, specializing in China's energy policy and energy security. He just completed a three-month visiting scholarship program at the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) in South Africa and returned from his field work in Angola for his dissertation on China's international petroleum policy. In 2005 he worked with the Center for Global Security at the Northwest Pacific National Laboratory under the US Energy Department and published his monograph entitled An Anatomy of China's Energy Insecurity and Its Strategies. In addition to energy, he is also widely published in both English and Chinese academic journals as well as newspapers on a variety of topics. His most recent work includes "Basic Assessment and Thoughts about China's Rise" (2007), "Institutional Insecurity" (2006) , and "China's Energy Insecurity" (2006).

Tania Askins is a second year M.A. student at SAIS concentrating in China Studies with a focus on the finance and energy sectors. Prior to attending SAIS , Tania worked for Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup in New York structuring over $9 billion in infrastructure and project financings. Tania graduated from Southern Methodist University magna cum laude with two degrees, B.A. Music and B.B.A. Finance.

Roman Cheung, a 2007 M.A. graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS in Energy/Environmental Policy and International Finance, is interested in identifying effective solutions to the international energy and climate change conundrum. Professionally trained as a lawyer, he is currently working in the Beijing office of AES Corporation as a Business Developer focusing on developing investment opportunities in power generation in China using renewable resources.

Matt Genasci, a 2007 MA graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS in Energy Policy, is interested in China's increasingly important role in international energy markets. Matt is trained as a lawyer and has worked as an international tax policy advisor for the US Senate and as a consultant for the International Energy Agency. Matt is currently affiliated with an organization focused on helping oil-producing states to maximize the development potential of their natural resources.

Neil Gibson is a M.A. candidate in China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Prior to enrolling at SAIS, Neil worked and studied in China. In addition, Neil has served in various capacities at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Boeing Company, and the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

Patrick Gilman is an MA candidate in China Studies at SAIS and an intern with the World Resources Institute, where he works with a group of Fortune 500 companies to evaluate green power projects. Patrick's interests include environmental planning, sustainable design, renewable energy and project finance. Before his time at SAIS, he worked for several years in urban planning in Philadelphia and Seattle. Patrick holds a BA with high honors in Politics from Whitman College.

Yongyong Ji is a 2nd year M.A. student at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, doing concentrations in International Finance and International Energy Policy. He recently completed an internship at Westinghouse Nuclear Electric. Prior to SAIS, Yongyong studied and worked in China. He is interested in sustainable energy development in China, and business and investment opportunities in this area.

Samantha King, a 2007 M.A. graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS in International Policy Studies and Economics, currently works in the Beijing offices of Arreon Carbon, a clean development mechanism/renewable energy investment firm. There she handles international finance and research on emerging clean energy areas. Prior to Hopkins she was manager of marketing for AllLearn, the online learning venture of Oxford, Stanford and Yale Universities.

Melanie Mickelson-Graham graduated from Johns Hopkins SAIS in 2007 with an MA in International Relations focusing on China and Economics. With a background in government service, Melanie now works in the China practice at The Cohen Group, a consulting firm headed by former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen. She focuses on designing government relations strategies for firms in energy and financial industries.

Jai Singh, a Johns Hopkins SAIS M.A. candidate in Energy/Environmental Policy, aims to develop a deeper understanding of China’s energy challenges and the opportunities China presents for alternative energy industries. Prior to attending SAIS, he served as an editor at Foreign Policy, a leading magazine of international affairs, and later as a policy aide to former Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner. A graduate of Brown University, he plans to pursue opportunities related to energy and political risk following completion of his SAIS degree.

Yiting Sun is a 2nd year M.A. student at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, with concentration in International Energy & Environment Policy and International Finance. Mr. Sun has strong interest in Carbon Finance and Risk Management in Global Energy Investment. Before SAIS, Mr. Sun served as Assistant Dean, School of Management at Fudan University and Special Advisor to the President of China Telecom (USA) Corporation. He received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angles.

Jennifer Yau graduated from Johns Hopkins SAIS with an MA in International Studies, focusing on Energy Policy and Finance. She also holds a BS from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She currently is an analyst with the Constellation Energy Commodities Group, where her responsibilities involve structuring electricity and fuel-related transactions.