Project manager on the Department of Energy-funded Community Alliance for Direct Air Capture (CALDAC) project, which endeavors to undertake comprehensive technical, economic, social and governance feasibility assessments for establishing a DAC hub in the San Joaquin Valley that reflects and advances community goals and values while delivering meaningful community-defined benefits. Prior to this work, I designed and managed a carbon removal project to reforest former minelands in Central Appalachia as a fellow with Appalachian Voices.
As a member of Anew Climate's Technical Climate Solutions origination team, we work with new project opportunities that are looking for support in the monetization of their carbon removal credits through our credit development and marketing services. Anew has built a network of 100+ buyers that trust the integrity and quality of our Environmental Attributes, this has allowed Anew to be responsible for 25% of all carbon credits issued in the U.S. Anew’s proven track record and leadership extends to all environmental commodity markets in North America, spanning carbon credits, emission credits, renewable natural gas (RNG), renewable energy credits (RECs) and low carbon-intensity products.
Arnoud de Villegas brings over 20 years of diverse experience in environmental stewardship, finance, and strategic development. As Managing Director of Viridian Ecosystems, he advises clients on developing natural capital strategies that deliver risk-adjusted returns while achieving the greatest possible ecosystem and social impact. Over the past decade, Arnoud has been devoted to scaling reforestation and nature-based solutions across the American West, catalyzing noteworthy and award-winning environmental and social initiatives. In his role as Vice President of Business Development at Mast Reforestation, he spearheaded carbon product originations, forged strategic partnerships, and led growth-oriented initiatives that established the company's influence in reforestation and natural capital markets. Prior to joining Mast Reforestation, Arnoud served as Chief Operating Officer of CalForest, the largest independent reforestation stock producer in the western United States. Under his leadership, CalForest gained significant market share and produced over 130 million seedlings for state and federal agencies, industrial and non-industrial landowners, tribal nations, and non-profit organizations, meaningfully contributing to large-scale reforestation efforts across the American West. Earlier in his career, Arnoud built a strong foundation in global finance and strategic management. He began working for a $250 million fund of hedge funds in London and New York, ultimately heading all equity strategies covered out of the U.S, including Emerging Markets. He went on to live six years in India where co-lead the first successful SPAC reverse merger in Indian capital market history, with $100 million of cash in trust and another $75 million raised post-close. Before pivoting to reforestation, he served as Director of Global Emerging Markets (gem), a $1.5 billion venture capital and private equity group, reporting to its chairman. They made investments in hospitality real estate globally, as well as education content development and publishing services in the US and India. Arnoud serves as a Board Advisor to the University of Montana’s FARTHER Engine. Its mission is to build an economic engine for rural, tribal, and urban communities across Montana and Idaho. Through partnerships, research translation, and workforce development FARTHER advances nature-based innovations and precision technologies in forests and rangelands to promote resiliency and prosperity.
Rick Wayman has a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Marquette University and a Master’s degree in NGO Management from the SIT Graduate Institute. Prior to joining CRSI, Rick served as CEO of the Foundation for Climate Restoration and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
NULIFE GreenTech uses a process called hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to efficiently transform wet and dry waste biomass into a bio-oil, that is injected into underground geological storage for permanent carbon removal. Our Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) Plant is operational and generating bio-oil. We will be delivering durable, high quality, on-registry CDRs into the market in 2025. I am happy to engage with anyone interested in discussing purchasing our credits, business development opportunities or anything else relevant to the CDR space.