Elizabeth A. Kócs, Ph.D.

Program Manager, R&D | Stakeholder Engagement
Hydrogen Technology Center
GTI Energy

As Program Manager at GTI Energy's Hydrogen Technology Center (HTC), Dr. Elizabeth Kocs manages key initiatives to assess the environmental impacts of hydrogen technologies, development of integrated hydrogen networks and the broader hydrogen ecosystem to advance the role of hydrogen as a low carbon fuel in energy systems. She serves as the subject matter expert overseeing the development of environmental, energy and climate justice (EECJ) components for hydrogen initiatives including development of metrics that measure Justice 40 (J40) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) success. With a focus on human centric approaches, Elizabeth manages industry and community stakeholder engagement for hydrogen programs to ensure disadvantaged and EJ communities receive measurable benefits from clean energy solutions.

Dr. Elizabeth Kocs has over 27 years developing and managing environmental projects and leading stakeholder engagement and community participation for applied research, planning, and policy initiatives locally, regionally, and globally.

Prior to her current role, Elizabeth served as Director of Partnerships and Strategy at UIC Energy Initiative, where she led strategic energy, sustainability, transportation electrification, and environmental and climate justice programs. She authored the report "Guiding Principles for Beneficial Electrification of Transportation: A Framework for Transportation Electrification in Illinois," which has been foundational for local and statewide agencies in planning for EV infrastructure since the passing of IL CEJA. Elizabeth was also co-Founder of the Illinois Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES) where she led strategic directions on energy focused stakeholder engagements and leveraged tools for implementing integrated solutions to address environmental disparities across urban and rural communities.

Recently she has received the Chicago Area Clean Cities (CACC) Community Leadership Award for her work in transportation electrification, and the COP26 Climate Challenge Cup for the climate justice research project.

Elizabeth holds an executive MBA, a PhD in Environment Behavior Science, and a 5-year professional B.Arch.