Sustainable Solutions: Decarbonization, Sustainability & the Future

The panelists will discuss how fluctuations in energy demand, prices, evolving regulations, and emerging technologies are influencing business decisions. They will explore strategies for improving energy resilience, accelerating clean energy deployment, enhancing building performance, managing costs and risk, and identifying new opportunities.

Participants will gain insights into the trends shaping the future of the energy economy and how businesses can position themselves for long-term success.

Speakers

Robert Ost — Commercial Real Estate

Robert Ost is a sustainability and real estate professional focused on advancing high-performance buildings. As director of sustainable buildings at JLL in Washington, D.C., he works with organizations to establish and implement sustainability, decarbonization, and healthy-building goals across their real estate portfolios. His multidisciplinary approach connects environmental policy, energy systems, and real estate development, translating climate and sustainability goals into practical, measurable outcomes. Ost holds an MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State.

Paul Burman — Renewable Energy Development

Paul Burman is a renewable energy project developer and director of renewable development at Invenergy, the largest U.S.-owned independent power producer. He brings two decades of experience in program leadership and project development, with expertise in advancing renewable energy projects and navigating the complexities of bringing clean energy infrastructure to market. His work has helped deliver more than 1.5 gigawatts of solar and energy storage projects, representing nearly $3 billion in investment in low-carbon infrastructure. Previously, he implemented clean energy and water projects as a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Africa and Southeast Asia. Burman holds a BA in Environment and Resource Management from the University of Toronto and an MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.

Munimah Ahmed — Sustainable Buildings

Munimah Ahmed is a sustainability professional specializing in buildings, energy efficiency, and climate solutions, with recent experience in decarbonization policy. As a utility data analyst at CodeGreen Solutions, she supported energy benchmarking and regulatory compliance for building portfolios. Previously, as an energy analyst at ClearlyEnergy, she contributed to an impact study examining building performance standards across key U.S. jurisdictions. Ahmed also brings experience in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction through her work with development organizations in Bangladesh. Ahmed holds an MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree in Development Management and Practice from BRAC University in Bangladesh.

Learn about Johns Hopkins’ MS in Energy Policy and Climate program.