Connect | New York // Major Panel: Fission Accomplished? Bridging energy gaps as nuclear power takes center stage

John Hilt is a highly-regarded executive with a distinguished career in data center operations, consulting engineering, and corporate real estate. With a specialized focus on digital infrastructure and critical facility management, he has successfully led large-scale data center construction, operation, and optimization projects. His expertise spans the full spectrum of design, construction management, and space planning, positioning him as a leading figure in the fast-paced, mission-critical world of data centers.

John is highly qualified in client relationship management, portfolio leadership, and performance enhancement, and excels in budgetary planning and team leadership. He has a proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar, fast-tracked programs and high-stakes data center projects that demand precision, scalability, and operational efficiency.

As an innovative problem solver, John is known for his ability to manage large, cross-functional teams, establish and control yearly budgets, and drive critical infrastructure projects to success. He communicates effectively with all stakeholders, including executive leadership, shareholders, clients, integrators, and vendors, ensuring seamless coordination and alignment

John’s relentless drive for excellence ensures a results-oriented, committed approach focused on operational resilience, future-proofing solutions, and sustained growth.

John is a Licensed Professional Engineer that holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Delaware. He is also the recipient of multiple global awards for innovation.

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Phill Lawson-Shanks has more than 25 years of experience identifying new opportunities for further growth of leading data center infrastructure, network architecture, and cloud solutions in the U.S. and abroad. As Chief Innovation Officer at Aligned, Phill is responsible for the management of revenue generation and profitability objectives, as well as championing key innovation, technology, and sustainability strategies aimed at maximizing new business development.

Prior to joining Aligned, Phill served as Chief Innovation Officer at EdgeConneX, where he was instrumental in driving strategies focused on creating the next generation of network edge-based data centers for the digital content ecosystem. Throughout his career, Phill has also served in numerous senior executive-level positions at Virtacore, Alcatel-Lucent, Savvis (now CenturyLink Technology Solutions), and MCI (now Verizon Digital Media Services). He currently holds eight active technology patents and serves on the Board of Directors for Netrality Data Centers as well as the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) Advisory Board.

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Peter Panfil is the Vice President of Global Power at Vertiv. He leads strategic customer development for the Power business and works to apply the latest power and control technology to proven and emerging topologies to provide the availability, scalability and efficiency levels customers demand. A thirty year data center veteran, he has held executive positions including VP Engineering and VP/GM AC Power prior to his current responsibilities. He is a frequent presenter and spokesperson for industry trade shows, conferences and media outlets serving the IT, facilities and engineering industry.

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Mr. Worn has been involved with industry-leading enterprises and clients around the world for over 25 years as an Industrial FMS and ICT Network and Facilities Engineer; with over eight years in Asia, across the Americas and again back on a pan-European level.

Mr. Worn was the Head of Technology Services for Dimension Data UK, where he was also their acting Practice Manager for Data Centres and Intelligent Buildings. Stephen has held senior management roles in Nortel Networks as their EMEA Senior Director of Datacentres, at Japan's Nippon Suisan International, China's National Center for Industry and Technology, as well as with the Center for Special Economic Zones.

Mr. Worn has supported DatacenterDynamics since its first conference as Chief Technical Advisor and Guest Conference Chairman. He is currently CEO of North America, Managing Director of AsiaPacific, as well as Global CTO for Data Center Dynamics. Mr. Worn holds two Masters Degrees. 

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Thomas is the Global Director of Data Center Power Generation at INNIO Jenbacher. He is globally responsible for all customer interactions in the data center industry. In this role he ensures that the data center industry is aware of the benefits of gaseous fueled power generation, which spans from emergency backup, bridging or continuous power solutions, to support the growth and decarbonization goals of the industry. He leads strategic customer developments and support customers from initial technical feasibility assessment of gaseous fueled power generation till final handover of the power generation equipment.

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Brian Gitt leads business development for Oklo, a start-up developing next-generation nuclear technologies to deliver reliable low-cost clean energy 24/7. He spent over two decades building companies in the clean energy industry—first as executive director of a green building trade association, then as CEO of a consulting firm specializing in clean energy. More recently Brian founded UtilityScore, a software start-up that estimated utility costs and savings for 100M+ homes, and he led business development at a hard tech company developing wireless power. He now writes and speaks about the need for energy that’s clean, reliable, and affordable.

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