New York Chapter
Mission Statement
The mission of the New York Chapter is to build a regional WCS community of professionals that connects, cultivates, and creates new opportunities for participants through events focused on the northeast region of the U.S.
Description
The New York Chapter organizes virtual and in-person events that cater to people living in the northeast region of the U.S. and feature topics important to the region’s environment and residents. We collaborate with a variety of community organizations, industry leaders, and volunteers to host regular events.
Chapter Leadership
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Mikaela Ringquist NY Chapter LeadMikaela Ringquist is a sustainability and corporate responsibility leader with more than 12 years of experience driving impact at the intersection of people and planet. A former UN Global Compact strategist, she led global partnerships and launched the organization’s flagship campaign, mobilizing 1,800+ companies around climate action, water stewardship, labor rights, and gender equality. Her background spans diplomacy, academia, and community-building, including serving on the NYC Fair Trade Coalition board and helping open the city’s first Sustainable Fashion Community Center. Mikaela holds an MA in policy and public health from Boston University and brings a multicultural perspective shaped by her Swedish-Venezuelan heritage. Now pivoting into AI governance, she applies her strengths in stakeholder engagement, storytelling, and systems-level strategy to advance responsible, equitable, and sustainable approaches to emerging technology.
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Camila Arzola Events Lead
Camila is a strategic communications professional focused on energy technology, climate solutions, and social impact. She partners with organizations to craft compelling narratives and stakeholder engagement strategies that drive adoption, shape decision-making, and accelerate the clean energy transition and behavior-driven climate action.
She holds an MA in Climate and Society from Columbia University’s Climate School and a BA in Psychology and Environmental Sustainability from the University of British Columbia. -
Ava Clarcq Partnerships Lead
Ava brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and communications expertise to the clean energy sector. At EnergyHub, she collaborates across internal teams to translate complex energy technologies into compelling, competitive proposals that drive the deployment of demand response and distributed energy solutions. She has also played a key role in internal knowledge-building, leading trainings and cross-functional initiatives on renewable energy systems and grid-edge innovation. Ava holds a Master of Arts in Global Environmental Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University School of International Service. She is also a LEED Green Associate, with a strong interest in sustainable design and corporate supply chain transparency. A committed leader in the clean energy community, Ava is passionate about scaling equitable, technology-driven solutions that advance the global energy transition.
Upcoming Events
Empowering the Grid: The Strategic Role of Battery Storage in the Clean Energy Transition
From September 22, 2026, 5:00 pm to September 22, 2026, 7:00 pmMore Information
Empowering the Grid: The Strategic Role of Battery Storage in the Clean Energy Transition
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Doors at 4:30 pm)
Location: NineDot Energy @ NYU Urban Future Lab 370 Jay Street, 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Join WCS and NineDot Energy at NY Climate Week for a discussion on the critical role battery technologies play in the clean energy transition. Refreshments and networking to follow.
Ticket price:
- Free
- Interested in becoming a member? Learn more here
Please note: photos and videos will be taken during the event.
As the global transition toward renewable energy accelerates, it comes with increasing demands for energy solutions that are reliable, affordable, and foster energy independence.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are uniquely positioned to address these demands and are experiencing an unprecedented period of growth, being adopted worldwide to rapidly increase energy availability and expecting to reach a global market value of $150 billion by 2030. In the United States, battery storage is forecasted to add a record-breaking 24 GW of new capacity to the grid this year. And in a dense urban environment like New York City, batteries are becoming even more critical given land constraints.
Join Women in Cleantech & Sustainability (WCS) and NineDot Energy during NY Climate Week for a discussion exploring how battery storage has emerged as the backbone of a resilient renewable electricity system. This session will bring together industry leaders, investors, and policymakers and cover key themes including scalability, supply chain resilience, financing, and deployment barriers.
Agenda:
4:30 pm: Doors Open
5:00 pm: Program
6:00 pm: Refreshments and Networking
Full speaker lineup to be announced soon!
This event is co-hosted and sponsored by NineDot Energy.
Co-Host:
NineDot Energy creates innovative energy solutions that make the urban grid cleaner, more equitable, more resilient and less costly. They are the leading developer of community-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the New York City metropolitan area.
EVENT SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE! Please email us at info@womencleantechsustainability.org if you have any questions.
Steps Toward Sustainability: NY Climate Week Stroll Along the Hudson River
From September 24, 2026, 8:00 am to September 24, 2026, 8:00 pmMore Information
Steps Toward Sustainability: NY Climate Week Stroll Along the Hudson River
Date: Thursday, September 24th
Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Location: Maman cafe (located at 375 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014 | Ending at The Whitney Museum of American Art)
Join Women in Cleantech & Sustainability and Careers for Social Impact for a morning stroll along the Hudson River during NY Climate Week.
Ticket price:
- Free
- Interested in becoming a member? Learn more here
Please note: photos and videos will be taken during the event.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of NY Climate Week to join us and your fellow sustainability leaders for a morning stroll along the Hudson River.
Meet us at Maman cafe at 375 Hudson Street to grab a coffee and pastry. Around 8:15 am we’ll walk over to Hudson River Park before heading north along the river. The walk will end at the Whitney Museum, located at 99 Gansevoort Street.
The stroll will take approximately 40 minutes, wrapping up around 9 am, with the option to stay longer if you wish.
Bring a friend, connect with like-minded impact-driven leaders, and recharge with a beautiful view!
About the hosts:
Women in Cleantech & Sustainability (WCS) fosters an influential network of professionals to further the roles of women in growing the green economy and making a positive impact on the environment. With chapters in over 10 cities worldwide, the WCS community spans more than 10,000 professionals.
Careers for Social Impact offers coaching and events to help social sector professionals clarify what they want most in work and life, grow as leaders, and build careers that are both meaningful and sustainable. Learn more about their work and upcoming events.
EVENT SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE! Please email us at info@womencleantechsustainability.org if you have any questions.
Past Events
NYC Chapter Virtual Meeting
From January 29, 2025, 12:00 pm to January 29, 2025, 1:00 pmMore Information
En-ROADS Virtual Climate Workshop
From February 19, 2025, 12:00 pm to February 19, 2025, 1:00 pmMore Information
Impact Communications for The Great Realignment - Navigating ESG & DEI Messaging in 2025
From March 13, 2025, 1:00 pm to March 13, 2025, 2:00 pmMore Information