Speakers

Don McDonnell is a leader in the global energy and utilities technology sector, currently serving as a global partner leader in Amazon Web Services' (AWS) Energy & Utilities Industry Center of Excellence (https://aws.amazon.com/). With over 25 years of experience, Don has been instrumental in shaping the digital transformation of the power and utilities industry, from pioneering outage management systems to today's cloud-enabled grid modernization initiatives. As CMO at CES International, Don helped transform the utility software landscape by driving the company to become the global market leader in outage management (OMS) and energy delivery management systems. Under his leadership, CES International's Centricity platform became the industry standard, eventually becoming a cornerstone of Oracle Utilities' Network Management System through strategic acquisition. He later co-founded McDonnell Group, Inc., building a renowned energy technology strategy and communications firm that served more than 100 leading global enterprises, including industry giants such as ABB, GE, and Hitachi. McDonnell Group achieved a 78 NPS rating while supporting the launch of numerous industry-shaping initiatives, NGOs, and over 30 successful technology startups. Throughout his career, Don has demonstrated a unique ability to identify and accelerate transformative technologies in the utility sector, from his executive role at KWI leading global strategy in energy trading and risk management, to his current position at AWS, where he continues to drive innovation by helping power and utility companies worldwide modernize their operations through cloud technologies. His blend of entrepreneurial success, deep industry knowledge, and technology expertise makes him a trusted advisor and thought leader in the ongoing digital transformation of the energy and utilities sector.