Mr. Ash Shepherd
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) & Head of Strategy
CarbonCycle
Ash Shepherd is President of CarbonCycle, a portfolio company of Grey Rock Investment Partners. There he leads the organization with a background in commercial negotiations for CCS transactions that align with our mission to help decarbonize American industry. Previously, Ash founded Talos Low Carbon Solutions, a CCUS business that was sold to TotalEnergies in 2024. Ash has previously been named by Oil & Gas Investor to their “Thirty Under 40” list and is a former appointee of President George W. Bush in the Department of Energy. Ash earned his BA from St. Edwards University, JD from South Texas College of Law and his Executive MBA from Rice University.
About CarbonCycle
CarbonCycle partners with industrial emitters, such as natural gas processors, power plants, or other industrial facilities with high concentrations of CO2, to provide capture, transportation, and permanent sequestration solutions. We collaborate with landowners, midstream companies, and regulators to ensure our transportation solutions are successful, safe, and efficient. For sequestration, we complete extensive geologic studies to ensure the subsurface reservoir is safe for permanent sequestration of CO2. We work directly with the EPA and state authorities to secure the required permits for permanent sequestration to provide customers full value chain solutions for their decarbonization goals.
CarbonCycle is a portfolio company of Grey Rock Investment Partners, a private equity firm based out of Dallas, Texas. The firm invests across the energy value chain focusing on investments in natural resources, carbon capture, industrial electrification, and power optimization.
Mr. Steve Everley
Senior Managing Director, Energy & Natural Resources
FTI Consulting
Steve Everley is a Senior Managing Director in FTI Consulting’s Energy & Natural Resources practice. He has more than a decade of experience working within the energy industry, shaping public policy and helping clients navigate the risks and opportunities of the energy transition.
Mr. Everley focuses on high-profile issues such as carbon capture and storage (“CCS”), nuclear power, hydraulic fracturing, climate policy, pipelines and energy infrastructure. He has developed impactful communications plans for companies throughout the energy sector, including upstream oil and natural gas, utilities, refining and chemicals. Additionally, he has developed investor engagement and ESG strategies for the nuclear power industry. Mr. Everley serves as an advisor to several energy industry coalitions, including Energy In Depth, a nationally recognized research and education program of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Mr. Everley's clients have operations around the world and include oil and natural gas companies, industry trade associations, chemical manufacturers, pipeline companies, and utilities.
Prior to joining FTI Consulting in May 2011, Mr. Everley served as an energy policy advisor to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich at the American Enterprise Institute and American Solutions. While working for Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Everley developed and managed grassroots campaigns focused on federal regulatory issues and legislation impacting the utility sector and offshore energy development. Additionally, he co-authored the energy chapter in Mr. Gingrich’s 2010 book, To Save America.
Mr. Everley holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in U.S. History from the University of Kansas.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting is the leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation. Our Strategic Communications professionals work closely with clients to manage change, mitigate risk and enhance their market position by combining decades of deep subject matter expertise with functional and disciplinary experience. For more information, visit.
Mr. Zach Liu
Director of Subsurface CCUS
Harvestone Low Carbon Partners
Zach Liu, PE, PG, CGA, is the Director of Subsurface CCUS at Harvestone Low Carbon Partners, where he oversees one of the few active Class VI CO2 injection operations at the Blue Flint CCS site in North Dakota. With over 25 years of experience in oil and gas, including 15 years focused on CCUS at Kinder Morgan and Harvestone, Zach has built a strong track record of success, having drilled more than 100 CO2 wells.
He is a licensed Petroleum Engineer, Professional Geologist in Texas, and a CFA charter holder. In 2018, he served as President of SPWLA International. Outside of work, Zach enjoys golf and once hit a 202-yard hole-in-one with a 5-iron.
About Harvestone Low Carbon Partners
Harvestone Low Carbon Partners (HLCP) is a leading U.S. renewable fuels company focused on decarbonizing ethanol production. We operate three ethanol plants in North Dakota and Indiana, each producing over 60 million gallons annually. By integrating carbon capture and using steam from nearby power plants, we deliver cleaner energy with a clear path to net-zero.Learn more at: www.harvestonelcp.com
Register Now