LEADING WITH PURPOSE.
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Anders Laursen holds a Ph.D. in surface science from the Technical University of Denmark. He has conducted extensive research in catalysis and electrolysis for hydrogen production and CO₂ conversion for over 15 years. His expertise in these areas forms the basis of his vision for the company’s impact in reimagining the chemical industry as a renewable and circular solution. He possesses a deep technical understanding of the company’s products and the existing market’s opportunities and challenges. With a track record of successful leadership and innovation, he is adept at guiding the team through early-stage growth and development challenges while maintaining a strong focus on their core mission. His passion for sustainability and technical expertise was recently acknowledged by his introduction into the highly competitive Breakthrough Energy Fellowship cohort, making him a valuable asset to the industry and the team.
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Karin Calvinho has over eight years of experience innovating in catalysis to convert CO₂ to value-added chemicals. She has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Rutgers University and published numerous papers on understanding reaction mechanisms at the catalyst surface. As CTO, Karin drives technological innovation and leads our R&D efforts to develop new system designs, novel catalysts, and electrolyzers. She contributes to the product development roadmap by accelerating research and building partnerships. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture and applying technology to solve real-world problems. Karin was part of Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Lab and is now a Breakthrough Energy fellow.
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Before joining our team, Tess had extensive experience in environmental consulting and project management. Her professional journey has been marked by a focus on research, data analysis, reporting, and effective management practices. During her consulting years, she played a pivotal role in the development of renewable solar energy initiatives in multiple counties across New Jersey. This experience ignited her passion for clean technology, driving her commitment to sustainable practices. Tess holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Dickinson College. Her undergraduate studies were enriched by numerous research opportunities in diverse locations such as Alaska, Australia, and Hawai’i, laying a solid foundation for her career in the environmental sector.
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Masaaki Toma holds a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Kyoto University and spent 39 years at Sumitomo Chemical, where his work spanned fine chemicals commercialization, petrochemical process optimization, and serving as Deputy Project Manager for the Naphtha Reformer and Aromatics Complex in Saudi Arabia. He led Sumitomo's CO₂ Separation Membrane Business and developed CFP-TOMO, a Product Carbon Footprint tool recognized with Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award. At the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, he led the development of a business concept utilizing formic acid as a carrier for hydrogen and CO₂. In June 2026 he joined RenewCO₂ as an Advisor.
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Prior to joining RenewCO₂, Peter Shepard held senior management positions at NBD Nano (SVP Business Development), Aramco Performance Materials (President), Novomer (Chief Business Officer), and Nylon Corporation of America (President and CEO). Earlier in his career, Peter spent 16 years with Cabot Corporation in a variety of technical and business roles, his career culminating as founder Vice President, and General Manager of Cabot Corporation's Inkjet Pigment Business. Peter earned a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Babson College.
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Srushti Parhar holds a B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Her career spans electrochemical technologies, engineering systems, and product development, with experience in advanced materials, solid oxide fuel cells, and program management. Prior to joining RenewCO₂, she spent eight years at Bloom Energy, where she worked on the development and reliability of solid oxide fuel cell systems, and later served as Principal Scientist at Teknobuilt, helping establish engineering and program management processes for multidisciplinary product teams. At RenewCO₂, she serves as Director of Engineering for India, leading engineering operations at the Chikkaballapur facility and supporting the development, testing, and scale-up of the company's CO₂ electrolyzer technology.
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Charles Dismukes is a RenewCO₂ co-founder and Chair of the Advisory Board. He is a Distinguished Professor at Rutgers, with over 30 years of experience in inorganic materials characterization, catalyst design, enzymology, and electrochemistry. With a strong record of research and scholarship in these fields, he brings exceptional expertise to the advisory board. He has worked extensively with industry partners, serving as a bridge between academia and the private sector. In addition to his technical expertise, he is known for his exceptional leadership and extensive fundamental knowledge, making him an effective collaborator and mentor. With his commitment to advancing cutting-edge research and innovation, he is well-positioned to help guide the startup toward success.
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Chockkalingam 'Chock' Karuppaiah holds a B.Tech in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from the Central Electrochemical Research Institute and a PhD in Electrochemistry and Fuel Cells from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Over 27 years he has led the design, development, and manufacturing scale-up of seven electrochemical products spanning polymer electrolyte fuel cells, flow batteries, and solid oxide fuel cells at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Plug Power, Case Western Reserve University, and Bloom Energy, where he served as Vice President of Engineering. He holds 50 published US patents and currently serves as Chief Science and Technology Officer at Ohmium and Founder of Vetri Labs.