Sean Newsum is Managing Director for Environmental Affairs at Airlines for America (A4A), where he leads the A4A work to support the US airline industry on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and other environmental issues. Sean joined A4A after an extensive career at Boeing, with the last 12 years focused on aviation’s environmental strategy, including amongst other responsibilities leading Boeing’s SAF program that focused on partnering and collaboration to catalyze the availability of SAF for the aviation industry.

He has been an active member in various industry groups including serving on the board of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) and Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA), serving as Vice Chair of the Environment committee at Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), and a designated observer to the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP).

Tom Michels has been a leader on United’s Government Affairs team since 2018, where he focuses on both Federal and State policy and leads all advocacy related to energy and sustainability issues.  

Previously, Tom led the ONE Future Coalition, a group of natural gas companies focused on reducing their methane emissions. Prior roles included serving as a Senior Advisor in Shell’s Washington office, as Legislative Director to a U.S. Senator, and work with two trade associations.  

Tom earned an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a BA in Philosophy from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. 

Michael AuBuchon joined Southwest in 2000, serving in various facilities and legal affairs positions. In 2015, Michael accepted a new role as Director of Fuel Supply Chain Management. After being promoted to Senior Director in 2018, he now serves as Managing Director – Fuel Strategy & Management.

Michael’s Team manages billions of dollars and billions of gallons of jet fuel, including planning, scheduling, logistics, on- and off-airport storage/fuel consortia management, into-plane management, fuel quality and compliance, and fuel automation support/fuel accounting. Michael’s Team is also responsible for Southwest’s exploration, planning, and ultimate deployment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – helping further Southwest’s goal to replace 10% of total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030 and to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Michael is a 1995 graduate of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma (Bachelor of Science, Aviation Sciences, with honors) and a 1999 graduate of Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa (Juris Doctorate). He has been a Texas-licensed attorney since 1999.

Tim Pohle is Of Counsel and leads the Aviation practice at Beveridge & Diamond, a U.S. law firm focusing on environmental law and litigation. 

With over 30 years of experience encompassing virtually every facet of environmental impact and regulation at the international, federal, state, and local levels, Tim helps companies develop and implement strategies to ensure regulatory compliance and advance sustainability goals while growing their businesses. 

Tim joined B&D in March 2024 after 18 years at Airlines for America, most recently as VP – Environmental Affairs. Tim led litigation and regulatory strategy, representing airlines before administrative agencies and courts to rationalize U.S federal, state (particularly California) and local actions affecting aviation. Tim also represented airlines at the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization and its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection on various matters, including negotiations to establish international CO2 and noise standards for aircraft, particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) standards for aircraft engines, amending the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and adoption of the Long-Term Aspirational Goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

A major focus of Tim’s work has been to support the sector’s transition to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).  At B&D – in addition to advising clients on issues arising under the broad array of environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and NEPA – Tim continues to represent a wide variety of aviation and other clients regarding laws, regulations and policies affecting renewable fuels. 

Tim is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Michigan Law School.