Wisconsin Innovation Network: Virent Energy CEO Edwards to speak on energy industry at July 28 WIN-Madison

Lee Edwards, who came to Madison-based Virent Energy Systems early this year to lead the company to its next development stage, will speak at the Tuesday, July 28 luncheon meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network in Madison.

The luncheon will be held at the Sheraton Hotel on Madison’s John Nolen Drive. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon and the presentation at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $25 for WIN members, $35 for non-members; $10 for students and included with WIN corporate memberships. To register go to http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/events/win/.

Edwards joined Virent in January after a 25-year career at BP plc, most recently as president and CEO of BP Solar, a global solar technology provider with 2,200 employees and $1 billion in annual sales. Edwards has held a number of executive positions, including chief information officer for BP’s Downstream business, president for BP Pipelines North America, and global brand vice president, where he led the strategy for the BP Helios brand.

Virent’s BioForming technology converts plant sugars into a variety of hydrocarbon molecules identical in structure to the petroleum-based hydrocarbons used in modern fuels. The company will use the platform to develop green gasoline, then renewable jet and diesel fuel.

“Virent is among a number of companies that represent Wisconsin’s growing expertise in renewable energy,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Lee Edwards is also emblematic of the fact that Wisconsin-based companies can and do attract world-class, C-level talent.”

WIN is the membership arm of the Tech Council, the independent, non-profit science and technology adviser to the governor and the Legislature. It has chapters in Milwaukee, Madison, Northeast Wisconsin, Central Wisconsin, the Lake Superior region and Western Wisconsin.