Q&A - Christina Simeone: Woman of Renewable Energy & Climate

PennFuture’s 2018 Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards will honor Christina Simeone for her leadership as director of policy and external affairs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. A Philadelphia native, Simeone studied economics and the music industry before returning to graduate school for environmental studies. She began her career in financial management and the music business, but found her calling in environmental policy after working at an environmental consulting firm during graduate school.

In her role at the Kleinman Center she spends her days reading, researching, analyzing data and writing about energy policy. She values the opportunity to engage with industry leaders, regulators and academics, and is inspired by the young students around her. Simeone credits her husband, daughter and close-knit family for keeping her grounded, and cites trailblazing women like Katie McGinty, Cheryl LaFleur and Gina McCarthy as role models for combining policy leadership with motherhood.

Simeone believes women have a special role to play in shaping a sustainable energy future, arguing that cooperation and nurturing instincts may be better suited to complex global challenges than the old competitive model. She says Pennsylvania must pursue economic development and energy affordability while improving environmental outcomes and helping communities adapt to changes in the energy system. Instead of polarized positions, she advocates for compromise and pragmatic solutions that honor both environmental stewardship and the needs of workers and families.