Our Staff
President
Florence Lowe-Lee
President and Founder
Ms. Florence Lowe-Lee is Founder and President of the Global America Business Institute (GABI) in Washington, DC. As President of GABI, she oversees the organization’s fellowship programs and education/outreach activities on nuclear and renewable energy issues. Since its establishment in May 2011, GABI has sought to inform policy circles in Washington, DC on various policy-relevant energy topics, with a focus on Korea’s energy situation, international civil nuclear cooperation, renewable energy R&D collaboration, and nuclear fuel cycle issues.
Florence Lowe-Lee
Ms. Florence Lowe-Lee is Founder and President of the Global America Business Institute (GABI) in Washington, DC. As President of GABI, she oversees the organization’s fellowship programs and education/outreach activities on nuclear and renewable energy issues. Since its establishment in May 2011, GABI has sought to inform policy circles in Washington, DC on various policy-relevant energy topics, with a focus on Korea’s energy situation, international civil nuclear cooperation, renewable energy R&D collaboration, and nuclear fuel cycle issues.
Previously, Ms. Lowe-Lee served as the Treasurer and Director of Finance and Publications at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) for 19 years. At KEI, she was frequently interviewed by the U.S. and Korean media on current issues concerning U.S.-Korea bilateral relations. Ms. Lowe-Lee also organized and supervised programs involving senior officials from Korea and the United States, as well as visits by Korean government officials and National Assembly members.
Ms. Lowe-Lee also worked as Deputy Director of Operations for the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee, where she participated in the senior committee decision-making process. She served as an adviser to the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment in its efforts to launch missions to Korea. She successfully organized and facilitated the first visit by a Massachusetts governor to Korea.
Earlier, Ms. Lowe-Lee worked as a research assistant at the Neuroanatomy and Neuroendocrinology Laboratory of Rockefeller University in New York City. She co-authored several articles that were published in Science, Neuroscience, and other scientific journals.
Ms. Lowe-Lee holds a B.A. in Neuroscience from Mount Holyoke College and received an M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Columbia University.
Staff
Bryan Cheong
Bryan Cheong is the Director of Programs and Strategy at GABI. His primary focus is the development, planning, and execution of GABI’s programs and all other related activities, covering a wide range of clean energy R&D and related policy issues. Mr. Cheong has an extensive background in research, data analytics, and writing reports on various subjects including U.S.-Korea civil nuclear energy cooperation, advanced nuclear, space nuclear, hydrogen, wind & solar, electric vehicles, blockchain, etc. He has strong knowledge and experience in developing, designing, conducting survey projects and analyses on various topics. Mr. Cheong joined GABI as Research Associate after graduating from the University of Virginia in 2014 with a B.A. in Psychology Research and a Minor in physics.
Victor K. Der
Dr. Der retired after more than 37 years with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Energy R&D Administration (ERDA). Under the AEC and ERDA he worked on nuclear fast-breeder reactor systems, components, materials, and N-47 codes and standards. Subsequently, he served as a manager in DOE’s civilian radioactive waste management program in the area of site characterization analyses, underground geologic testing and monitoring, engineered repository facility, waste package design, and performance assessment, including the Yucca Mountain repository site. Dr. Der concluded his extensive DOE service as Acting Assistant Secretary with the office of Fossil Energy programs before retiring. While at DOE, he was twice recipient of the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive. Prior to joining the AEC, he worked as an analyst on the NASA- Apollo 15 moon mission project and on modeling the density of the earth’s upper atmosphere for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Der is currently Adjunct Professor, Department of Earth and Environment Engineering at Columbia University in New York. He received his BS, MS, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland.
Paul Murphy
Paul focuses on multiple aspects of the nuclear industry – from legal and policy matters, including international regulatory and treaty frameworks and issues regarding nuclear liability, to strategies for creating and financing nuclear power programs and the identification and mitigation of associated risks – representing developers/owners, investors, lenders, and contractors on nuclear projects internationally. Paul regularly teaches financing, contracting, and project development for the IAEA, Argonne National Laboratory, and Texas A&M University for their international training programs. Paul has served (as a five-time appointee) to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s Civilian Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee, and he serves on ASME’s Clean Energy Technology Advisory Panel. He is a three-time selection to the Who’s Who Legal / Energy and a member of the International Nuclear Law Association. He is Board Member of the United Nuclear Industry Alliance, and he is an Affiliate of Nuclear Economics Consulting Group. Paul is a graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs and a graduate of Harvard Law School.
Barbara Tyran
Barbara Tyran is Director, Macro Grid Initiative, at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). She is also a Senior Advisor at the Global America Business Institute (GABI) and is recent General Chair of the IEEE Power & Energy Society 2021 General Meeting Local Organizing Committee, hosting approximately 2000 delegates from around the world in July 2021. She also serves as Past President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Council on Energy & the Environment (WCEE). She brings outstanding federal / state government relations experience, following two decades as Director, Washington & State Relations, in EPRI’s Washington DC office. She was the principal liaison between EPRI executive management, and Congress, the Administration, the national trade associations, state legislators / regulators, and the Washington policy community. Her background includes federal advocacy for utilities and management consulting for public / private / non-profit sector clients, with engagements involving strategic communications and external engagement, marketing, policy analysis, and financial / economic analysis. In recognition of her technical expertise and knowledge, she was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Energy and Energy Services, advising the Secretary and USTR on international trade matters. She was elected and re-elected as Chair. She holds a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Yale University.
Dr. Sanggil Park
As an expert in the field of energy technology, including nuclear and hydrogen, Dr. Park advises clients on a wide array of complex technical issues relating to nuclear power plant safety and accident-prevention systems as well as development of innovative technologies, including Advanced Reactors and Nuclear Fusion Reactor. He has advised various state-owned and private enterprises on Korea’s nuclear export market opportunities and new build projects globally.
Dr. Park’s expertise has been recognized by the nuclear community in Korea as he was the recipient of “Top Excellent Award” presented by the Korea Nuclear Society two consecutive years. He also authored more than 40 papers and articles that were published in highly regarded scientific journals both in Korea and Switzerland.
After graduating from Kyungbuk University with Electronic Engineering degree, he transferred to Seoul National University and received BSc in Nuclear Engineering. While getting his MSc and PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, he developed a safety system control code modeling module currently being used by many nuclear regulatory agencies around the world, including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Dr. Park also received J.D. from Korea University and currently serves as special advisor on energy technology, engineering and safety matters at Lee & Ko law firm. Currently, he is completing MS in Economics from Yonsei University.
Interns
Hayeon Shin
Hayeon Shin is a student at Dankook University where she majors in economics. Her minor is in software science. Hayeon’s research interests include environmental economics, hydrogen energy, and eco-friendly energy.
Minkyung Kim
Minkyung Kim is a student at Korea University where she majors in Health and Environmental Science. Minkyung’s research interests consist of renewable energy, safety in energy industry, and international relationships surrounding energy.
Michael Parks
Mike is pursuing an MA in Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Georgia. His interests include nuclear nonproliferation and the impact of conflict resolution on the global energy market. He is primarily interested in the Middle East, Cyprus, and the former Soviet Union as well as the Korean Peninsula.