2026 Energy, Resources, and Industrials Outlooks

Kate Hardin is the executive director of the Deloitte Research Center for Energy & Industrials. In tandem with the center leadership, Hardin drives energy research initiatives and manages the execution of the center’s strategy as well as its eminence and thought leadership.

Ann is the Vice Chair and US Energy, Resources & Industrials industry Leader at Deloitte. In this role, she oversees a segment of the firm that serves clients across the energy, industrial products, power, utilities and renewables sectors. Ann leads a team of Deloitte professionals serving these indispensable companies that form the backbone of modern society—powering cities, enabling mobility, fueling economies, and providing the raw materials that make progress possible.

In both the US and around the globe, Deloitte connects these indispensable companies to a network of ideas, knowledge, and experiences, providing audit and assurance, tax, consulting, and risk and financial advisory services to help them address today’s complex challenges and identify tomorrow’s opportunities. A partner in Deloitte Tax LLP with more than 30 years of experience in both accounting and tax, Ann is also actively engaged as a client service partner for US and multinational clients, advising them in dynamic business environments.

Ann is passionate about driving growth, enabling collaboration, shaping strategy, building trust and fostering the next generation of talent. This includes time spent mentoring client leaders in and outside of the Lab, as well as guest lecturing at her alma mater, the University of Georgia. She is also a proud mother to her four sons.

Zillah Austin serves as vice chair and US energy and chemicals leader for Deloitte LLP. In this capacity, she brings a global perspective and deep industry expertise to shape and execute Deloitte’s strategy for the energy and chemicals sector. Austin is committed to advancing growth and transformation for clients by fostering innovation, collaboration, and trust—helping to build a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

Tom Keefe is the vice chair and US power, utilities, and renewables sector leader, with a keen understanding of sector trends. His focus areas include utility generation and distribution, gas transmission–related midstream activities, and storage, as well as nuclear generation, independent power production, and renewable energy. He is also a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he has led many large energy clients.

Steve Shepley is the vice chair and US industrial products and construction sector leader. With more than 26 years of experience in the industrial products space, he understands and has insight into the trends that can impact highly engineered product manufacturing companies and help drive performance improvements through the use of advanced techniques and technologies.