Industry Insights Webinar

Event Details

How to Build an Authentic ESG Program

View the recorded webinar here.
Download the slide presentation here.

Join IPAA and our guest speakers from FTI Consulting Strategic Communications for a discussion on today’s shifting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) landscape and how independent oil and natural gas operators of all sizes can mitigate risk and capture opportunity through thoughtful ESG program development, stakeholder engagement, and authentic messaging. We will discuss the renewed focus on ESG in the sector, best practice in developing and executing programs that align with business objectives and stakeholder needs, and how – done right – a strategic approach can enhance reputation and drive value creation.

Panelists

Travis Windle – Pittsburgh, Energy & Natural Resources

Travis Windle is a Senior Managing Director in the Energy & Natural Resources sector within FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications segment. Mr. Windle advises clients on a broad range of matters, including crisis preparedness and response, transactions, investor activism as well as public affairs and corporate positioning programs. He also supports clients in managing regulatory investigations and related litigation matters that present reputational and financial risk. Prior to joining FTI Consulting in 2009, Mr. Windle served as Press Secretary for the U.S. House Republican Conference, as Communications Director for the House Financial Services Committee and as an advisor to two senior members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation. He received a bachelor’s in political science and master’s in government from Johns Hopkins University.

Ben Herskowitz – New York, Capital Markets

Ben Herskowitz is a Senior Director at FTI Consulting and is based in New York. Mr. Herskowitz has extensive experience covering multiple industries including greater industrials, FinTech, renewables, and energy. In these sectors, Ben’s experience encompasses optimizing investor messaging, capital-allocation-focused strategic repositioning, enhancing shareholder engagement, maximizing enterprise value around transformative announcements, sustainability/ESG program construction, and shareholder activism preparedness. Mr. Herskowitz has worked on multiple M&A deals in his career, perception due diligence studies, investor/sell-side targeting and NDR formation, in addition to IPO-readiness strategies. ​Mr. Herskowitz graduated Cum Laude from Wake Forest University in 2014 with a B.S. in finance.

Jess Roston – Chicago, Corporate Reputation

Jessica Roston is a Senior Director in the Strategic Communications segment of FTI Consulting, specializing in corporate reputation. Ms. Roston has more than a decade’s worth of experience developing and managing integrated corporate reputation strategies and public relations campaigns for a broad range of organizations across the Energy and Industrials sectors, including utilities and renewable energy companies. Ms. Roston frequently helps clients develop corporate positioning strategies, which aim to protect and enhance reputation and drive brand awareness. She brings a wide breadth of experience across different communications disciplines, which include developing and coordinating thought leadership platforms, media relations campaigns, CEO/executive positioning plans, integrated content strategies, corporate narrative and message development. Ms. Roston is increasingly focused on helping clients manage risk and leverage opportunities to enhance their license to operate through the development and execution of research-based environmental, social and governance/corporate social responsibility strategies. Jessica earned a B.A. in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.​

Moderator

Dana Gemmill – New York, Energy & Natural Resources

Dana Gemmill is a Senior Director with FTI’s Energy & Natural Resources team, responsible for developing comprehensive external and internal communication plans, public relations strategies and stakeholder engagements for companies in the oil and natural gas sector. Dana’s work focuses on crisis preparedness and response, public affairs, ESG-driven audits and campaigns, restructurings and litigation. Dana also leads the Energy & Natural Resources team’s employee ambassador and engagement trainings, a program offered to clients to help equip their employees with the tools they need to successfully communicate and advocate for the industry. Dana received her bachelor’s in Geology from Colgate University in May 2011 and completed her thesis on the Marcellus Shale in New York State.