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Megan Henderson is a distinguished leader in strategic public relations, stakeholder engagement, and integrated communications, with a notable focus on energy, science, and technology sectors. As a collaborative leader and DEI champion, Megan has earned a stellar reputation as a trusted resource for crisis communications and business transformation. Her expertise spans managing high-profile projects, developing comprehensive branding strategies, and executing innovative marketing tactics. Her dynamic approach and passion for her work have consistently positioned her as a go-to professional for strategic communications programs.
With nearly nine years of experience as a business owner, Megan has a deep understanding of turning strategy into success and managing complex relationships, projects, and budgets. Her tenure as a communications manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory highlights her ability to lead strategic communications for the Electricity Infrastructure and Grid Sector, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium. Megan’s role involves enhancing stakeholder engagement, crafting thought leadership initiatives, and influencing policy and business outcomes in the energy sector.
Megan’s career includes significant contributions to Duke Energy Corporation, where she spearheaded business transformation and internal communications for the Distributed Energy Group, focusing on decarbonization goals and advanced distribution planning technologies. Her prior experience as a public relations consultant and director further showcases her ability to manage crisis communications, develop strategic messaging, and lead successful public relations campaigns. Megan’s diverse portfolio includes work with prominent clients such as the U.S. Department of Energy, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, and Novozymes North America, underscoring her versatility and impact across various industries.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) advances the frontiers of knowledge by addressing some of the world’s greatest science and technology challenges. As a U.S. Department of Energy national lab, PNNL excels in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology, and data science, driving innovations in sustainable energy and national security. Through collaborations with academia and industry, PNNL ensures the transition of groundbreaking technologies from research to market.
Laura: Welcome to the Women’s Roundtable podcast, powered by the Think Factory, where we learn how women think big and grow their business. My name is Laura Siclari, a partner with Outside General Counsel Solutions, and I’m the host of today’s episode. Today, I’m very excited to have with me Megan Henderson, who is a dynamic energy storage communications lead at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is a leading center for scientific discovery in chemistry, data analytics, earth science and technological innovation and sustainable energy and national security. And it’s one of 17 national labs funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Welcome, Megan.
Megan: Thank you, Laura. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and share some of my personal opinions and perspectives on things.
Laura: Perfect. Okay. So tell me about your role as a communications lead and about what the lab does over there.
Megan: Sure. So, I’m the communications lead for the electricity infrastructure and grid sector at PNNL. And that means spearhead strategic communications to advance the lab reputation and visibility, emmission and energy storage. And also the communications manager for the US Department of Energy’s Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium. And that’s a collaboration ourselves, and that’s a collaboration among the Department of Energy and 14 national laboratories. And we’re trying to modernize the electric grid. And so in my role, I’m fortunate I get to use all of my communications capabilities from writing to speaking to crafting strategy to work with stakeholders and industry. And so we’re really trying to make sure that the work we do is impactful and it modernizes the grid so that we all have resilient, reliable and secure electricity.
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