FCC Panelists

Irene Li, Director of Energy Systems at Cissell Mueller - Foundation Power, is a transformative leader in corporate development and renewable energy finance. With over 15 years of experience in investment banking and corporate development, Irene has led M&A and equity investment deals totaling $2.3 billion across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Asia. At Peabody Energy (2022–2025), she spearheaded the valuation and execution of a $5.5 GW renewable energy pipeline with RWE, developing 10 solar and battery storage projects on reclaimed mining sites in Indiana and Illinois. Irene also led the $200M Wards Well acquisition valuation in Australia, extending the Centurion Mine’s life by 25 years, and drove a $7M NPV turnaround in the Bear Run Aggregates transaction, transforming a $2M expense into a $5M gain. At Chevron Renewable Energy Group (2020–2022), she executed $136M in M&A downstream deals in California, enhancing market presence. Her $1M SaNOtize investment at M.Y. Capital (2018) yielded a 300% ROI, showcasing her financial acumen. Irene’s expertise in financial modeling, due diligence, and cross-functional leadership has secured over $100M in private investment for clean energy projects, aligning with U.S. priorities like the Inflation Reduction Act and DOE’s Grid Resilience initiatives. Her innovative project tracker reduced decision-making timelines by 20%, accelerating clean energy deployment. Recognized as an honored listee in Marquis Who’s Who 2024 and a recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award in 2025, Irene’s contributions underscore her industry prominence.

Irene holds a STEM-designated Master of Advanced Management from Yale School of Management (2020), an MBA in Finance from the University of British Columbia. Her team won the 2020 Wharton MIINT Competition and was a finalist in the 2019 MIT Sloan Stock Pitch, demonstrating her strategic investment prowess. As a Teaching Assistant at Yale, she mentored MBA students in financial analysis and EMBA students in Entrepreneurial Finance, fostering the next generation of finance leaders.

Irene is deeply committed to the St. Louis community and beyond. Performed as a Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Women’s Energy Network Missouri, she drove financial strategy to empower women in the energy sector. She co-founded the YaleWomen STL Chapter, mentoring professionals and fostering networking opportunities. Irene volunteers with the Yale Alumni Schools Committee, guiding prospective students, and serves as a First Lego League (FLL) Project Judge, inspiring young STEM innovators. She has been invited to join the Solution Design Cohort – Inclusive Prosperity Partnership by the James S. McDonnell Foundation, contributing to collaborative efforts to address St. Louis’s public challenges through evidence-based consensus building. Irene is developing business cases for Washington University in St. Louis and Yale School of Management, sharing her expertise in energy finance to shape future leaders. By driving microgrid projects targeting 50–100 MW in the U.S., Irene enhances energy resilience and economic growth in St. Louis, creating a lasting impact.

I am a Senior Advisor at Moneta, having started my career here in 2012 after graduating from St. Louis University. I obtained my Certified Financial Planner designation in March of 2017.  I grew up in Carmel, IN but after 17 years, I now refer to the St. Louis area as where I’m from when asked. I love what I do, which I always think needs more explanation than saying “financial or wealth advisor or planner.”  I usually think of my role as helping individuals and families put some structure around what it is they’re trying to accomplish from a financial perspective, which is intertwined with and driven by their personal goals and dreams. I’ve found my career to be very rewarding – having client relationships turn into friendships, watching families put their children and grandchildren through college or make generous grants to their favorite charities, as well other things like a long-desired second home on the coast or an early retirement.  It’s fun to build relationships with people and be a small part of their success story.