Natalie Bannerman, senior reporter, Governance Intelligence
Natalie is a former telecoms and infrastructure journalist, a role she held for nearly seven years. Before this, she worked in the B2C startup space, covering lifestyle, arts and culture reporting. As senior reporter for Governance Intelligence she leads on the editorial content on governance, risk and compliance.
Laura Franconi, head of issuer and broker solutions, BetaNXT
Laura Franconi is Head of Issuer and Broker Solutions at BetaNXT, responsible for the strategic planning and execution of the company’s corporate and fund issuers and broker products. Earlier in her career, Ms. Franconi spent 10 years with JPMorgan Chase, supporting custody and investment banking operations with a focus on corporate actions, depositary receipts, class actions and income processing. She is a graduate of the Love School of Business at Elon University.
Jeffrey Taylor, vice president, chief SEC counsel and secretary, American Water Works Company
Mr. Taylor is the Vice President, Chief SEC Counsel and Secretary of American Water Works Company, Inc., where he is responsible for American Water’s securities law, corporate governance and corporate law compliance, and leads the corporate secretary function. At American Water, Mr. Taylor serves as a trusted advisor to the Board of Directors and the executive leadership team, and as a legal and strategic business partner to the company’s accounting, communications, human resources and executive compensation, finance, investor relations and treasury functions. Throughout his three-decade career, including 14 years within the in-house corporate secretary function, Mr. Taylor has advised clients in various securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and capital raising, corporate governance, executive compensation and business and corporate law matters.
Mr. Taylor is a frequent speaker, presenter and panelist covering topics pertinent to securities law, corporate governance and the role of corporate secretaries. Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northwestern University and his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Mr. Taylor is a member of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania bars, and holds a limited license to practice as in-house counsel in New Jersey.
Amanda Thrash, senior counsel & assistant corporate secretary, The Williams Companies
Amanda Thrash is Senior Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for The Williams Companies, Inc., a Fortune 500 energy infrastructure Company. Prior to that, she was Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Laredo Petroleum, Inc. now called Vital Energy, Inc., a publicly-traded mid-cap exploration and production company. Before moving in house, Ms. Thrash was an associate for a mid-size Oklahoma law firm. She received her JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law, and a BA in Journalism from Oklahoma State University. Amanda Thrash is Senior Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for The Williams Companies, Inc., a Fortune 500 energy infrastructure Company. Prior to that, she was Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Laredo Petroleum, Inc. now called Vital Energy, Inc., a publicly-traded mid-cap exploration and production company. Before moving in house, Ms. Thrash was an associate for a mid-size Oklahoma law firm. She received her JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law, and a BA in Journalism from Oklahoma State University.
