Agenda Announced for the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum
Speakers include Duke Energy President Harry Sideris and IBM Global Leader for Responsible AI Phaedra Boinodiris.
The Institute for Emerging Issues is thrilled to announce that Duke Energy President Harry Sideris and IBM Global Leader for Responsible AI Phaedra Boinodiris will be among the speakers at the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy, taking place on Feb. 19, 2025, at the NC State University McKimmon Center.
This year’s forum will explore North Carolina’s rapid population growth driving unprecedented demands on the state’s energy infrastructure, with a focus on affordability, resiliency and workforce development.
The morning keynote, “Our Evolving Energy Landscape,” will feature Sideris and Christopher Chung, CEO of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. They will address the critical factors changing North Carolina’s energy landscape, such as the influx of energy-intensive businesses, an aging electrical grid and the transition to clean energy. In the afternoon keynote, “AI and North Carolina’s Energy Future,” Boinodiris will examine the key challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) poses for our state’s energy future.
Attendees will also hear from community and industry leaders including CLEAResult, E&V Strategic Communications, NC Clean Energy Fund, NC Electric Cooperatives, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality, as well as local government leaders including the Land of Sky Regional Council and more. Topics include:
- North Carolina’s growing population and its effect on infrastructure needs
- The resiliency of our state’s energy grid in response to extreme weather events
- Current efforts to react to new energy challenges
- Community concerns about local energy infrastructure projects
- Expanding energy careers preparing a local workforce
- Ways to promote household energy affordability
- Streamlining access to energy opportunities for communities
General tickets for the forum are $325 and discounted rates are available for groups of six. Student tickets are $50. To learn more, view the full forum agenda and register, visit go.ncsu.edu/2025forum.
About the Emerging Issues Forum
Since 1986, the Emerging Issues Forum has been recognized as the landmark annual event for leaders in business, education and public policy to discuss issues with profound implications for North Carolina’s future prosperity. The critical conversations held at the forum have helped catalyze the policy reforms, public investments and other proactive responses required to build an enduring capacity for progress in North Carolina.
The 2025 Emerging Issues Forum would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Duke Energy Foundation (Platinum), Hitachi Energy (Gold), NC Electric Cooperatives (Gold), NC Rural Center (Gold), NC Clean Energy Technology Center (Silver), Public Consulting Group (Silver) and more.
The 2025 Emerging Issues Forum is part of the 2025-2027 Forum Series: Future Forward Infrastructure. Thank you to our series sponsors: Civic and Local Government Federal Credit Union (Platinum) and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (Gold), as well as The Duke Endowment for their continuing support.
