​Super South Climate Week NYC 2026

​Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Rivian Space, Manhattan

​Join Super South on September 22 at Rivian’s New York flagship space in the Meatpacking District during Climate Week NYC 2026 for an afternoon exploring the people, companies and ideas shaping the next generation of sustainable innovation across the American South.

​Programming will explore some of the most consequential opportunities shaping the region and global economy—from the future of mobility and sustainable finance to AI data center infrastructure, corporate sustainability leadership and the commercialization of emerging technologies.

​A curated showcase of early-stage sustainable innovators will highlight emerging technologies from across the Southeast, while conversations with corporate and ecosystem leaders will examine how the region is building the infrastructure, capital networks and innovation platforms needed to move promising ideas from concept to commercial scale.

​The afternoon will conclude with a hosted reception connecting entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, researchers, investors and ecosystem builders from across the South with the broader Climate Week NYC community.

​Preliminary Program Schedule (Subject to Change)

​12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

​Future of Mobility

​A conversation exploring the technologies, infrastructure and partnerships transforming transportation and accelerating the transition toward a more connected, electrified and sustainable mobility future.

​Gabrielle Pierre — Director for Strategy and Partnerships; Editor-in-Chief, Georgia Network for Electric Mobility (GNEM)
Additional speakers to be announced

​1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

​Leadership at the Intersection of Capital and Sustainability

​A conversation exploring the relationship between investment, corporate leadership and sustainability - and how different stakeholders can help accelerate solutions that prioritize long-term resilience.

​Lisa Sachs — Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Samara Rudolph — Senior Director of Sustainability, Rivian

​1:45 PM – 3:15 PM

​The Next Wave of Sustainable Innovation

​Presentations from a curated group of early-stage sustainable innovators from across the Southeast, showcasing emerging technologies, business models and solutions with the potential to scale nationally and globally.

​Andy Marshall (Host) — Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub
Miguel Granier (Host) — Poderus Capital
Jude Davies — CEO, RevaTerra
Hamed Soroush — CEO, EnEarthia
SaLisa Berrien — CEO, COI Energy
Alexander Olesen — CEO, Buckstop
Hilary Taylor — CEO, Wattsapp
Other Innovators to be announced

​3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

​Women Leading Sustainability in the South

​A conversation among women leading sustainability across major Southern companies and institutions, exploring how they are translating ambitious goals into practical strategies, organizational change and measurable impact.

​Savannah Seydel — Sustaining Women, Founder and Vice President of Sustainability, Better Earth, Moderator
Sandra Martinez — Head of Sustainability, CHEP
Jennifer Chirico — AVP of Sustainability, Georgia Tech
Liz Minné — Head of Global Sustainability, Interface
Marissa Golison — Senior Director of Sustainability, Compass Group USA
Additional speakers to be announced

​4:00 PM – 4:15 PM

​Break

​4:15 PM – 5:00 PM

​Powering the AI Data Center Economy

​A panel discussion exploring the extraordinary growth of data centers across the South and the opportunities and challenges surrounding energy generation, infrastructure, resilience and sustainable development as AI drives unprecedented demand for computing capacity.

​Gareth Evans — CEO, VECTKA
Matthew Plante — President, Voltus
Chris Pennington — VP of Operations, Iron Mountain
Hamed Soroush — Founder and President, Teverra

​5:00 PM – 5:45 PM

​Building the Next Generation of Clean-Tech Companies
Innovation Accelerators from the South

​A conversation with leaders from some of the South’s leading innovation and accelerator organizations exploring how regional ecosystems are helping entrepreneurs commercialize technologies, secure customers and capital, and scale the next generation of clean-tech companies.

​Bill Nussey — Engage, Moderator
Hannah Turner — Cox Cleantech Accelerator
Judy Ledlee, PhD — Duke Climate Design Program
Ryan Rutledge — Joules Accelerator
Jeremy Fritzhand — Embarc Collective

​5:45 PM – 7:00 PM

​Super South Climate Week NYC Reception

​Connect with entrepreneurs, researchers, corporate leaders, investors and innovation ecosystem builders from across the South and the broader Climate Week NYC community.

​Super South Climate Week NYC 2026 showcases a region increasingly defined not simply by economic growth, but by its ability to build, commercialize and scale the technologies shaping our shared future.

Learn more Super South at supersouth.org.