Mexico Power & Renewables Forum

Mr. Katzew is the founder and CEO of Zuma Energia, the leading Mexican Independent Power Producer Zuma holds in operation more than 800 MWs of renewable energy projects, wind and solar, across Mexico. Zuma was recognized in 2017 by S&P Platts with the global “Raising Star” award for the energy sector, amongst other recognitions. For over 15 years, Mr. Katzew’s career has been dedicated to leadership roles in the financing, construction, development and management of renewable energy projects across multiple countries. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Honors BA in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. Adrián is committed to make a significant contribution to the energy transition into sustainable and cost competitive renewable energy resources, and to enable a future where the renewable energy industry is a relevant engine for investment, economic growth and job creation. He has participated and lead the development of multiple policy initiatives and dialogues with the authorities related to the energy industry.

Alejandro Moreno is Vice President and General Manager for Latin America in the Energy Group of Canadian Solar. Alejandro has over 20 years of international management experience, starting at Accenture where he worked on technology consulting projects in Greece, Israel and Hong Kong. He joined the Photovoltaic industry in 2006. Prior to joining Canadian Solar, he led his own PV consulting company, then worked for Suntech as Regional Manager for Spain, Portugal & LATAM, and then as Chief Commercial Officer for the Spanish PV manufacturer, Isofoton.
In the last six years at Canadian Solar, Alejandro has led the project development activities in Latin America, securing 2 GWp of projects awarded with PPAs in the region. He has had special success in national tenders in Mexico (where the company was awarded in the first and the third auctions) and Brazil (Canadian Solar is the only company awarded in the six tenders that have taken place in the last 5 years). Currently, Canadian Solar has more than 700 MWp in operation in Latin America and strong presence in the five main PV markets (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia).
Alejandro holds an Agricultural Engineering Master degree from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Leila Garcia is the responsible for Wind and Solar Operation & Maintenance market research for the American region within Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. Leila brings more than a decade of significant experience in the renewable energy industry. She's worked both in mature and developing markets, from Denmark to Brazil and Mexico. Prior to joining Wood Mackenzie Leila worked as Marketing Leader for Vestas, as well as Marketing Manager for GE Renewables in Mexico. She is Brazilian, currently located in Vancouver, Canada and holds an engineering degree from PUC University in Brazil and a Masters in Renewable Energy from German Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg.

Raquel Bierzwinsky advises clients in the areas of project development and finance, international finance and mergers & acquisitions, with a particular emphasis in Mexico and Latin America. Ms. Bierzwinsky represents project developers, sponsors, commercial lenders, and multilateral and bilateral agencies in the structuring and negotiation of complex, multijurisdictional energy and infrastructure project financings, as well as in acquisitions and dispositions of projects.

She recently advised Enel Green Power S.p.A. on the sale of a majority stake in a 1.7 GW portfolio of eight renewable energy projects, including 1 GW of solar projects under construction and .7 GW of wind projects, of which three are operating and two are under construction. Her recent experience also includes advising the Inter-American Investment corporation (IIC), International Finance corporation (IFC), The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Banobras and Bancomext as senior lenders in the US$235 million financing of the 150 MW Solem 1 and 140 MW Solem 2 solar PV projects, located in Aguascalientes, Mexico, which are the first solar projects under Mexico's long-term clean energy auctions to obtain project financing.

Ms. Bierzwinsky is admitted to practice law in Mexico and New York.

Mr. Katzew is the founder and CEO of Zuma Energia, the leading Mexican Independent Power Producer Zuma holds in operation more than 800 MWs of renewable energy projects, wind and solar, across Mexico. Zuma was recognized in 2017 by S&P Platts with the global “Raising Star” award for the energy sector, amongst other recognitions. For over 15 years, Mr. Katzew’s career has been dedicated to leadership roles in the financing, construction, development and management of renewable energy projects across multiple countries. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Honors BA in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. Adrián is committed to make a significant contribution to the energy transition into sustainable and cost competitive renewable energy resources, and to enable a future where the renewable energy industry is a relevant engine for investment, economic growth and job creation. He has participated and lead the development of multiple policy initiatives and dialogues with the authorities related to the energy industry.

Francisco heads the business development activities of Canadian Solar Energy Group in LATAM. He has been responsible for generating a regional pipeline of over 900 MWp, mainly guided by projects awarded in government auctions – including over 480 MWp in Brazil (from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd federal auctions) and 450 MWp in Mexico (from the 1st and 3rd federal auction) among others. Francisco leads Canadian Solar investment opportunities in LATAM, designing the regional strategy, managing project analyses, structuring and acquisitions, as well as conducting closings and executions together with an over 15-employee multi-national team. His background in renewables includes PV, wind, CSP and CPV energy technologies, having guided the strategy for regional markets, auction processes and key project partners (Developers, Advisors, EPCs, Lenders, Investors…) and overseen Due Diligence, EPC/O&M contracts, financial closing and sale processes. Proven track record in solar PV since 2009, covering energy deals all over EU and LATAM markets and holding international business development positions with leading players in the renewable energy industry. Executive skills focused on the management of a 10-member team, involvement in multi-cultural atmospheres within a rapidly-changing environment and intense interaction with multi-disciplinary teams (tax, legal, financial, technical…) Key deliverables aimed at resource allocation, return assessment, risk mitigation strategies and deal closings in time-pressure contexts. Francisco holds a Master’s of Business Management from Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid.

As Sr. Director of Business Development & Sales, Alejo Lopez leads NEXTracker’s business development and sales team for Mexico and Latin America. Alejo is an expert in the Latin American energy markets where he has worked extensively for over a decade.  Prior to joining NEXTracker in 2016, Alejo held the post of Country Manager for Hanwha Q CELLS in Mexico, with primary responsibilities of project development, M&A and PPA sales.  Alejo was also a key member of Siliken USA Distributed Generation managing project development and structured finance after working as an advisor with cutting-edge clean-tech ventures including Combined Power, ElectraDrive and others in Silicon Valley.
 
Alejo, a native of Argentina, started his career running large numerical models, fracking wells and poking at the Earth in what he calls being a Reservoir Engineer in Patagonia. He left the dark side after 6 years to pursue an MBA in Finance at the University of San Francisco where he graduated with honors. Alejo also holds an MSe in Petroleum Engineering from UNC Argentina and currently lives in Mexico City.

Guillermo es gerente del equipo de Strategy& PwC, especializado en el área de estrategia para el sector energía con más de 7 años de experiencia. Ha participado en participado en la definición de estrategia de entradas de empresas en el sector de energía en México, definición de estrategias de crecimiento del negocio de empresas en el sector eléctrico en México; ha tenido la oportunidad de apoyar a varias de las empresas que han sido adjudicadas en las pasadas subastas del sector eléctrico, así como en el análisis de los beneficios económicos, ambientales y sociales del despliegue de energías renovables en México. Recientemente ha participado asesorado a empresas en el cierre de PPAs corporativos.

Guillermo es Ingeniero Físico Industrial por el Tec de Monterrey, cuenta con maestrías en política y economía energética, y en ingeniería energética y ambiental por Sciences Po Paris y EPF, École d’Ingénieurs.