Kelly has more than 35 years of public policy and international development experience. She has extensive experience in public policy, market analysis, regulation and reform at national, state and local levels. She has worked and lived in developing Asia since 2005.

Kelly served for 6 years as Chief of Party USAID in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Before that, she worked for private public-stock companies and for major law firms as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, focusing primarily on infrastructure transactions, including formulating power purchase and transmission access/interconnection agreements.

She also served as legal advisor to the Office of Administrative Law Judges at the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and as a regulator (Regulatory Economist) in the Maryland Public Service Commission.

In August 2011, Kelly joined the Asian Development Bank. Her primary focus has been non-sovereign and sovereign clean energy sector projects, programs, and sector development strategies.

Kelly serves as the Lead for ACEF 2026, guiding the overall strategic direction and program development of the Forum. In this role, she shapes the thematic framework, ensures alignment with regional energy priorities, and drives the design of sessions that highlight innovation and impact.

Her leadership is instrumental in enabling ACEF to continue serving as a regional platform for advancing energy security, sustainable growth, and investment opportunities across Asia and the Pacific.