Meet our speakers
Sam Salustro leads Oceantic Network's government affairs, policy development, and strategic positioning. In this role, Sam directs a department of six, managing both in-person and remote staff, and oversees hiring and consultant budgets. He is the primary architect behind Oceantic’s thought leadership and messaging, regularly engaging with C-suite executives and national partners to advance industry priorities—efforts that have earned the organization consistent recognition from the White House, federal agencies, state governments, and leading think tanks.
Sam authors and oversees Oceantic's quarterly market updates and other strategic publications. In 2022, he co-authored Advancing Policy Measures to Drive Development of the Domestic Offshore Supply Chain for the Labor Energy Partnership (LEP) Offshore Wind Workforce, a report analyzing policy barriers and opportunities to strengthen the U.S. offshore wind industry and supply chain.
He also leads market analysis and advises both large and small corporations on U.S. offshore wind policy, market entry strategies, and supply chain opportunities, while facilitating B2B connections.
Prior to joining Oceantic, Sam spent more than a decade on political campaigns and in state government, including serving as a senior advisor to Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland during his administration and presidential campaigns. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago with concentrations in economics, finance, and strategic relations, and a B.A. from Boston University, where he double majored in History and International Relations.
Georges Sassine is the Senior Vice President for Large-Scale Resources at New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) leading the advancement of land-based renewable energy, offshore wind, bulk energy storage, transmission and nuclear infrastructure. He has also worked at General Electric (GE), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Middle East, think tanks in Washington, DC., Deutsche Bank’s Energy & Climate Change Advisors in New York and Man Group in London. Georges sits on the board of the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) and holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut, and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University.
Rhys previously worked at RenewableUK for 12 years as Head of Technical Affairs with a strong focus on offshore wind, health, safety and wellbeing, and regulatory compliance. He developed various industry good practice guidance documents and run many industry committees associated with this.
Prior to joining RenewableUK, Rhys worked for Petrofac Training Services as bringing the added benefit to IMCA of a strong safety, competence and training background.
Rhys joined IMCA in June 2022.
Dustin has 20 years of experience in offshore energy and marine operations. He spent fifteen years offshore as a ship’s officer working internationally on large-scale projects in Asia, the Gulf of Mexico, and Brazil.
He is a Master Mariner, an experienced Dynamic Positioning operator, and holds many industry credentials and certifications. His shipyard and vessel construction experience include projects in Japan, Singapore, and various locations in the United States.
Dustin has construction and operational planning experience in the developing U.S. offshore renewable energy industry and is passionate about the implementation of marine technology to improve safety.
He joined IMCA in 2022.