Steve Westly: California Leading The Climate Change August 19, 2008

Steve Westly: California Leading The Climate Change

Speakers: Steve Westly, Former California State Controller, Founder and Managing Partner of The Westly Group

California has a GDP of $1.8 trillion in 2007 and is the 7th largest economy in the world if it was an independent nation. Since early 1970's, California's economy has kept growing but Californians on average consume 40% less energy than other U.S. citizens. Per capita national energy consumption rose 50% in the past three decades while per capita California energy consumption remained flat.

California is not only leading the US on energy efficiency but also playing an important role in the battle of the global warming, leveraging its utilization of clean technologies and economic power. In April, California signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide a climate program model to Chinese provincial governments.

It is HYSTA's great honor to have Steve Westly, founder and managing partner of The Westly Group, to give us a grand overview of how California is leading the climate change.

Seats are limited and pre-registration is highly recommended. Refreshments are provided.

Admission:
Pre-registration online: $15
Walk-in: $25 (cash only)

Date & Time: 6:00PM – 8:30PM, Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Venue: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (1100 Marsh Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025)

Agenda:
6:00PM – 6:30PM Registration and Networking
6:30PM – 6:45PM Introduction by Jack Xu, VP of Cisco
6:45PM – 8:30PM The Program

Biography of Speakers:
Mr. Steve Westly is a Managing Partner of The Westly Group, a venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. The Westly Group invests primarily in clean technology companies, as well as in governmental-related industries such as health care and security.

Prior to founding The Westly Group, Steve Westly served as the Controller and Chief Fiscal Officer of the state of California - the world's sixth largest economy. As Controller, he chaired the State Lands Commission and served on 63 other boards and commissions, including CalPERS and CalSTRS, the nation's two largest public pension funds, which together invest more than $350 billion. During his four-year term, Mr. Westly spearheaded innovative tax programs that helped close the State's budget deficit and also led an effort to commit more than $1 billion to clean technology investments.

Before running for office, Mr. Westly helped guide the online auction company eBay through its period of most rapid growth, serving as the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Business Development, M&A and International. Mr. Westly helped bring eBay to Europe and Asia and developed the marketing and acquisition strategies that paved the path for the firm's exponential growth.

Mr. Westly began his career in Washington, D.C., where he worked first on Capitol Hill and later in the Office of Conservation and Solar at the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Westly returned to California to become special assistant to the President of the California Public Utilities Commission. While there, he published two books on alternative energy and the utilities. Mr. Westly also held senior positions at Sprint Communications, Netcom, and WhoWhere?.

Mr. Westly holds a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and an MBA from Stanford's Graduate School of Business, where he served on the faculty for five years. Mr. Westly and his wife, Anita, run the Westly Foundation, which provides education and health care services for children and underserved communities throughout California.

About HYSTA:
HYSTA (Hua Yuan Science and Technology Association, www.hysta.org) is a leading Chinese professional association in US. Founded in 1999 by a group of successful Chinese entrepreneurs, HYSTA aims at nurturing entrepreneurship and career development among Chinese technology and business professionals and facilitates networking and the exchange of business ideas between Silicon Valley and China. This event is organized by Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS), a HYSTA chapter.

Official Website: http://www.hysta.org/event_detail.php?id=218