Deeana Ijaz, PhD, is Founder and Managing Partner of Ijaz Partners, a strategy and capital advisory firm working with companies across battery manufacturing, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing. She also serves as an Operating Partner at Birch Lake, advising on special-situations and private-credit investments in advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

Previously, she was Chief Strategy Officer at Our Next Energy (ONE), a U.S. battery manufacturer, where she led business development, corporate strategy and capital formation — raising more than $700M in public and private capital.

Deeana is a Presidential Appointee to the U.S. Department of Energy's 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board and Vice Chair of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. She holds a PhD from Columbia University.