4 October, 2022  – BRUSSELS – The Long Duration Energy Storage Council (“The LDES Council”) announced today that Lidia Aviles H.E., and Sumin Sohn have been hired to lead the Council operations and program management. The LDES Council hired its first Executive Director and Communications Director in May. Since then, the Council has added fifteen new members totalling 62 members spanning 19 countries.  

Aviles joined the company in October as its first Director of Operations, based in Belgium. Previously, she held roles as a Global Operations - Digitalization Manager & Sustainability Leader for an international aviation organization with over eighty locations worldwide, and as a Global Advisor for Guidepoint, a global consulting firm. She is a European Climate Pact Ambassador and a Vetted Sustainability Expert for EMEA providing advisory on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She is also an Advisory Board Member for the Galanthus Initiative, a UAE based Social Impact Startup that creates job opportunities for women across the world. 

Sohn joined the company in September as its first Programs Manager, based in the U.S. She held positions as a project manager and sustainability specialist at the Los Angeles Unified School District, Energy Coalition and EcoMotion, where she managed projects to enhance energy efficiency and advance sustainability at public agencies across California, particularly at K-12 schools. Sohn also worked at Walt Disney Imagineering leading the design and implementation of social entrepreneurship research projects in developing countries.

“Our team is rapidly growing, to match the fast pace of the expanding long duration energy storage market,” said LDES Council Executive Director Julia Souder. “I’m fortunate to add these experienced and diverse team leads to join the Council at this critical growth point. Their passion and knowledge of the energy and sustainability industry are essential as we navigate through the next phase of the Council’s growth. I’m confident Lidia and Sumin will drive the Council to success in the years to come.”

Aviles and Souder will attend the EASE Energy Storage Global Conference in Brussels, Belgium next week from October 11-13. The Council is a Bronze sponsor of the event.

At the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt, the Council will release its latest research report, which is a follow-up to the flagship net-zero power report from 2021. The report will include new focus on net-zero heat and the impact of thermal technologies on LDES, and updated benchmarking information for LDES. 

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About the LDES Council

The LDES Council is a global, executive-led non-profit membership organization, comprising technology providers, equipment providers, renewable energy companies, utilities, grid operators, investors, and end-consumers. It strives to accelerate decarbonization of the energy system at lowest cost to society by driving innovation, commercialization and deployment of long duration energy storage. The LDES Council provides fact-based guidance and information to governments, industry and broader society, drawing from the experience of its members which include leading energy companies, technology providers, investors and end-users. To learn more: www.ldescouncil.com.

Media Contact:

Larissa Fair, Director of Communications, North America

lfair@ldescouncil.com