Events

Students are invited to a lunchtime discussion of environment and policy and the intersection of industry and climate change with Nicole Verdi, New England Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Orsted, a clean energy company. 

At Orsted, Verdi is responsible for working with the New England Congressional delegation, governors’ offices and state and local officials to advance Orsted’s vision of a world run entirely on green energy and support successful development of Orsted’s New England project portfolio. Previously, she worked for Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio as his Chief Legal Counsel and Senior Energy Advisor. In this role, she provided strategic leadership and oversight on senate legal matters and leadership priorities. Before working for the Senate President, she worked for Governor Gina M. Raimondo as her Deputy Chief of Staff. It was her job to support the Governor and lead the Governor’s efforts to combat climate change, ensure Rhode Island’s roads and bridges are safe and reliable, improve transit, and work with the state’s public safety professionals to keep Rhode Islanders safe.

Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Ms. Verdi worked as an attorney at Adler Pollock & Sheehan (AP&S). At AP&S, she represented clients in complex regulatory and permitting proceedings, including energy, environmental, public utilities, land use and water transportation. Ms. Verdi also clerked for Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice, Maureen McKenna Goldberg. Ms. Verdi presently serves the City of Providence as a Commissioner on its City Plan Commission. She is also the RI Chapter Co-Lead for the New England Women in Energy and Environment Association and serves on the Board of PASA, the Providence After School Alliance.