Annual HCU Business Awards Dinner and Brown Distinguished Lecture

Table of Ten: $1,000

Registration Closes: Friday, April 17th

About the Brown Distinguished Lecture Series

In 1972, the Brown Foundation, Inc. established the Herman Brown Endowed Chair of Business and Economics at HCU to honor the memory of one of Houston’s great pioneers. With his brother, George R. Brown, Herman Brown created Brown & Root, which evolved into one of the largest engineering and construction firms in the world. Generous philanthropists, the brothers together founded the Brown Foundation, which has awarded more than $1.35 billion in grants since its inception. The Herman Brown Endowed Chair, and the activities associated with it including the Brown Distinguished Lecture, have enriched the academic life of the University and the resources of the Houston business community for more than 20 years.

This Years Guest Speaker

Alexandra “Alie” Pruner

Independent Director & Senior Advisor

Alexandra “Alie” Pruner serves as an Independent Director on the Plains All American (NASDAQ: PAA/PAGP) and NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) boards of directors, and also serves as a Senior Advisor to the global investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners (NYSE: PWP), where she previously served as CFO before her retirement in 2018. Ms. Pruner was a co-founder in 2007 of the energy investment bank Tudor, Pickering Holt & Co. (TPH&Co.) where she served as the CFO and on the Management Committee until the company’s combination with PWP, where she assumed the CFO role of the combined company.

Ms. Pruner currently serves as Chair of the Audit Committee of NRG, and was Chair of two privately held energy companies until their respective sales in 2025, including Encino (E&P) which sold to EOG, and Malta Inc., which had spun out of Google X and recently sold a majority stake to Cox Energy.

Her earlier career includes roles as Publisher of World Oil, Vice President of Government Relations at Shearson Lehman Brothers, and head of Investor Relations for two NYSE-listed companies.

Ms. Pruner has been recognized for her leadership and contributions with numerous awards, including being named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce in 2024, as one of the “25 Most Influential Women in Energy” by Oil & Gas Investor in 2018, as well as CFO of the Year (midcap) by the Houston Business Journal in 2013.

An advocate for community and industry engagement, Ms. Pruner currently serves as Vice Chair of the Texas Medical Center board. She founded the Women’s Global Leadership Conference in Energy, which has been held annually for more than 20 years, drawing hundreds of attendees each year.

Ms. Pruner earned an AB in Economics from Brown University. In her personal life, Ms. Pruner enjoys painting, with her work showcased at AlexPrunerArt.com. She and her husband reside in Houston, Texas, and have two married children and a grandson.