SWAN 2026 Speakers

Georges Gonzalez is currently serving as the Hillsborough County Water Resources Enterprise Solutions Director. He is based out of Tampa Florida. Though Georges has only been with Hillsborough County for just over a year, he brings over 27 years’ experience in private and public sectors serving in senior and executive roles.

After 20 years at The Coca Cola Company, he joined the Otis Elevator organization as a special assistant to the CEO. At Otis Georges created and implemented a Shared Services Department where all finance, accounting and HR functions were centralized under one system.

After a short tenure, Georges decided to pivot and join the Public Sector as Pinellas County Utility Business and Customer Services Director. There he worked alongside his team to improve the Meter to Cash processes, upgraded to a new SAP version, improved reporting and enhanced the customer experience. After 5 years with Pinellas, he moved to Minnesota as the Deputy Regional Administrator & CFO of the Metropolitan Council the policy-making body, planning agency, and provider of essential services in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.

Keri Laine is the founder and CEO of Keri Laine Executive Solutions and the author of Infinite Return on Relationships and The 100-Year ROI. A former C-suite executive who has led organizations from $40M to $5.6B in revenue, through three IPOs and global M&A integrations, she now coaches boards and executive teams stewarding essential industries through accelerated change.

William Manzi Freitas, M.S. is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and experiential facilitator who helps leaders and teams turn complexity into clarity, align around strategy, and move into action.

With over 20 years of experience across higher education, public health, and nonprofit systems, he combines academic insight, executive leadership, and practical facilitation. As a former Extension Faculty and Leadership Educator at Washington State University, he designed leadership programs, built community partnerships, and expanded engagement initiatives.

William has delivered training and facilitation internationally across the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, Ireland, and Canada. He is a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, using hands-on methods to strengthen communication, unlock innovation, and solve complex challenges.

He has also led strategic planning and performance improvement initiatives at the Florida Department of Health, contributing to measurable gains in organizational effectiveness.

Dr. Kasi Lacey is a psychologist, keynote speaker, and executive consultant whose work sits at the intersection of leadership psychology and organizational trust. With a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and more than 15 years of C-suite leadership experience, she helps organizations navigate the human side of change.

Dr. Lacey works with leaders and teams across the country to build the clarity, consistency, and psychological safety needed to move from knowing change is necessary to trusting that it will work. She is the author of Your Confidence Comeback and founder of H & L Legacy Consulting. Today, she brings the psychology of uncertainty directly to the challenge this sector knows well: bridging the digital divide isn’t just a technology problem — it’s a trust problem.

Jamie Workman is a dynamic storyteller and entrepreneur whose work with hunter-gatherers on land and at sea has sparked new thinking about how we replenish freshwater, marine fisheries, and wildlands. Jamie founded AquaShares Inc., which pioneered online water savings credit trading in California & Morocco, and wrote Sea Change and Heart of Dryness, two award-winning books on building resilience through rights-based, incentives-driven conservation. He has advised political leaders from Nelson Mandela to U.S. Cabinet officials, studied at Yale and Oxford, and taught new courses in natural resource markets at Wesleyan & Whitman colleges. But his real education came from blowing up dams, releasing wolves, restoring wildland fires, guiding safaris, smuggling water to dissidents, breaking down in Africa’s Kalahari Desert, and becoming a husband and dad (not ranked in that order).

Silvia Amparano brings more than 25 years of public sector leadership experience to her role as Deputy Director of Tucson Water. She leads teams responsible for delivering reliable, high-quality potable and reclaimed water to more than 750,000 residents across southern Arizona, with a focus on affordability, sustainability, and operational excellence. Silvia’s expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and organizational development supports Tucson Water’s long-term financial stability and innovation in utility operations.

Reginal Joseph, MS, MBA, serves as the Assistant Commissioner for Digital Transformation at the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) within the Department of Environmental Protection in New York City. In his role, Reginal spearheads several large-scale modernisation initiatives across BWT’s infrastructure, including the upgrade of 14 wastewater treatment plants, 96 pumping stations, and over 500 regulators with state-of-the-art SCADA systems. Additionally, he oversees the implementation of advanced telemetry systems for climate monitoring, ensuring that BWT remains at the forefront of technological innovation and environmental sustainability.

Joana Araújo is the Operations Management Centre Coordinator at Águas e Energia do Porto (AEdP), the public utility responsible for water and energy services in Porto, Portugal, and since April 2025 has also served as Service Continuity Manager. She coordinates 24/7 operational management, incident response, and interdepartmental and external coordination, ensuring service continuity and operational resilience. With over 19 years of experience in public utility operations and communication, Joana works at the intersection of operations, crisis management, and business continuity, contributing to organisational resilience, service reliability, and continuous improvement in essential public services.

Armando is known for his commitment to continuous improvement and professional development. He frequently attends industry workshops and conferences to stay updated on the latest technologies and best practices in wastewater management. His proactive approach has led to the implementation of innovative solutions. He has played a key role in planning, procurement, and now implementation of the entire Advanced Meter Infrastructure/Smart Utility program. Phase I consisted of wastewater (Smart Utility) and Phase II consisted of Water (AMI), which is currently underway. With 13 years of experience in the Wastewater division.

Hamid Nikvan is the Director of Public Utilities for the City of North Miami Beach and the inventor of the Utility Modernization Framework, an award‑winning model now recognized nationally for transforming legacy water and wastewater operations into integrated, data‑driven, financially resilient systems. He leads NMB Water’s modernization strategy, including Capital Improvement Program, enterprise-wide digital transformation, and the development of governance, financial, and operational structures designed for long‑term sustainability.

Under his leadership, NMB Water has earned multiple national and international recognitions, including the FWRC Excellence Award, Smart Cities Connect Award, and WEF Utility Leadership honors. A frequent speaker at national and international forums, Hamid is known for bridging engineering, governance, finance, and technology into practical, scalable solutions for public utilities. His work focuses on breaking down data silos, integrating modernization frameworks, and designing governance models that protect communities while enabling innovation.

Lindsey is the Sustainable Resources Officer at Moulton Niguel Water District and supports water resource, energy optimization, digital innovation, and operational efficiency projects. Her career has been dedicated to developing sustainable, data-driven efficiency solutions and customer engagement strategies that can be replicated and adapted across the industry. She has a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Irvine and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton. She is the Co-Chair of SWAN’s Digital Twin Working Group and the recipient of the Switzer Fellowship from the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation.

Luiz Renato Fraga Rios holds a degree in Electrical Engineer (PUC Belo Horizonte), a postgraduate degree in Utilities Management (Fundação Dom Cabral-MG), and a MBA in Project & Business Management (Ietec-MG), with 36 years experience in Water, Energy and Gas markets.

As Revenue Assurance Director at Sabesp*, he is responsible for commercial losses, cash collection, metering, and the AMI Smart Meter Project, the largest and most important project in Digital Transformation in company. Until 2029, his team will deploy 4.4 million smart meters in São Paulo state, Brazil, making this the largest IoT and smart water metering project in the world.

*Sabesp (São Paulo State Basic Sanitation Company) is responsible for water supply and sewage collection and treatment in 375 municipalities in São Paulo state, serving approximately 30 million inhabitants. It is one of the largest sanitation companies in the world and the largest in Brazil.

Lisa Haney is a strategic leader in water and natural resources planning recognized for advancing innovative, collaborative, and future-focused solutions that integrate water supply operations with ecosystem stewardship. As Executive Director of Planning and Natural Resources at the Orange County Water District (OCWD), she oversees the Planning and Watershed Management Department and the Natural Resources Department, guiding development of the District’s Groundwater Management Plan, long-term water resilience strategies, environmental compliance and permitting, and programs for watershed planning, recharge planning, and natural resource management.

With more than 25 years of experience in public utilities and regulatory policy and compliance, Lisa has built a career at the intersection of science, infrastructure, and strategy. Prior to joining OCWD, she worked for Irvine Ranch Water District, Orange County Sanitation District, and Los Angeles County Sanitation District, developing a deep understanding of integrated water systems across wastewater, potable reuse, watershed, and groundwater management.

Niraj S. Patel, P.E., serves as Director of Public Utilities and Water Commissioner for the City of St. Louis, where he leads one of the nation’s largest municipally owned drinking water systems. He is responsible for ensuring the reliable delivery of safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents while overseeing system operations, long-term infrastructure planning, capital investment, and regulatory compliance across the city’s water utility.

A licensed Professional Engineer, Patel brings deep expertise in urban water infrastructure, utility operations, and large-scale public infrastructure management. Throughout his career, he has focused on strengthening system resilience, modernizing aging infrastructure, and advancing operational excellence in public-sector utilities.

In recognition of his leadership and contributions to municipal engineering, Patel received the 2025 Outstanding Professional Engineer in Government Award from the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers.

Earl Wood is a water utility executive with more than 34 years of experience in municipal drinking water and wastewater operations. He currently serves as General Manager of Hurst Creek Municipal Utility District in Central Texas, overseeing water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.

Mr. Wood brings extensive hands on experience in surface and groundwater treatment, wastewater process control, system automation, and SCADA implementation. His background includes leading multi system utility operations, designing and managing control systems for water and wastewater facilities, city administration and public works, and supporting practical technology adoption in utility environments.

He has held leadership roles as General Manager, Plant Manager, City Administrator, and President/CEO of utility operations and automation firms, with facilities under his management receiving national and regional EPA awards for operational excellence.
Mr. Wood holds a Class A Water Treatment License and a Class A Wastewater Treatment License.

Sabrina is an environmental engineer with over 12 years of experience in water loss control at SANASA, a major Brazilian water utility. She is a specialist in managing and optimizing field operations focused on non-visible leak detection, pressure management, and distribution system performance. Her work integrates GIS, telemetry, and advanced analytics to support data-drivendecision-making and improve operational efficiency. She has played a key role in implementing AI-driven solutions for water loss reduction, including real-time monitoring and anomaly detection in district metered areas (DMAs). Currently, she focuses on advancing sustainable and resilient water systems by integrating data platforms and predictive analytics to enhance performance and reduce non-revenue water in large-scale urban networks.

Wouter Huisman is Program Manager for the SOFIA program (Smart Operations from Intelligent Assets) at Brabant Water, a utility serving 1.2 million customers in the southern Netherlands with a 19,000 kilometre distribution network. The SOFIA program aims to implement a Digital Twin of the distribution network, comprising several projects such as deploying sensors throughout the network, introducing smart water meters, implementing the Xylem Vue data platform with tools for the control room, and fostering a digital way of working.

Wouter holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Twente and has over 10 years of experience in drinking water and underground infrastructure. He began his career as a project management trainee, later participating in the Young Expert Program Water as a drinking water specialist in Benin, West Africa. Wouter has also served as a Senior Advisor Asset Management, overseeing tactical and strategic maintenance and replacement plans for Brabant Water’s distribution network. Since 2021, he has been leading the SOFIA program, driving the implementation of the Digital Twin and the digital transformation at Brabant Water.

Janalea Hembree serves as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Burleson, where she has worked since 2016. With a background in Economics and Statistics, she brings a data-driven approach to improving decision-making, operational performance, and infrastructure management. She previously served as Public Works Operations Manager, where she built a strong track record of practical, results-oriented leadership.

In her current role, Janalea leads citywide asset management initiatives focused on efficiency, sustainability, and long-term value. She works at the intersection of strategy and execution, helping guide resource allocation and support a resilient future for the community. Known for her collaborative leadership style and commitment to innovation, Janalea is passionate about helping local governments work smarter and maximize the impact of public investments.

Anthony Connerton is the Assistant Water Superintendent of Water Treatment at City of Paris Illinois. Anthony has been in the Water Industry for 12 years and 11 as an Operator. He started at Clark Edgar Rural Water district pumping 0.6 MGD with 800 miles of water line over 2 counties. While there he was involved in Water Treatment, Locating, and Maintenance and Operations for 3 Water Towers, 6 Pump Stations and 3,000 Customers. He has been with the City of Paris for almost 4 years watching over the Water Treatment Plants daily operations and maintenance. He has transformed the City of Paris from Clipboard to Digital. The City of Paris pumps on average 1.8 MGD per day serving Paris with a population of 8,200, City of Chrisman with a population of 1,200, and a portion of a Rural Water District serving 136 customers.

Yige has 17 years of experience in the water resources industry across both private consulting firms and public utilities. She currently serves as the Linear Assets Technical Service Manager with Gwinnett County Water Resources. In this role, she leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for collection and distribution system master planning, asset management, capital project planning, operations support, and the integration of digital water initiatives.

Yige is a licensed Professional Engineer in Georgia. She holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and bachelor’s degrees in Geographical Information System and Applied Mathematics from Peking University, China.

An accomplished leader in SCADA modernization and utility digital transformation, our moderator brings deep expertise in operational technology (OT) governance, program management and resilience planning. Mr. Montague has spearheaded landmark initiatives, including the creation of comprehensive SCADA Master Plans and most notably, he founded the Dekalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM), Watershed Intelligence Integration Center (WIIC), a visionary initiative advancing data-driven decision-making, OT network management and IT/OT integration.

As recognized authority on cybersecurity and resiliency planning, he has directed critical vulnerability assessments and disaster recovery frameworks that strengthen infrastructure against modern threats. Recent work has also included initiation and cosponsor of the DeKalb County DWM Analytics and AI Foundation Initiative, establishing the bedrock for intelligent water management through advanced analytics.

Zonetta has over 33 years of water and wastewater experience. Zonetta is the Strategic Initiatives & Project Director for Louisville MSD. In her capacity she serves as the Operations Liaison for the largest capital improvement project at the largest wastewater treatment facility in Kentucky. She also leads the implementation of Artificial Intelligence at the regional wastewater facilities within Louisville Metro area. In addition, she is the project lead for the Warehouse Operations Improvement project that is utilising business process modeling to develop processes and technology for managing capital spare parts for projects totally over $400M in total. Zonetta holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She has obtained a master’s in business administration with concentration in finance/management and has an Associate DBIA certification.

Nate Adams is the Director of Water Resiliency & Customer Service for Santa Margarita Water District, where he leads the District’s GIS, Customer Relations, and data analytics functions. His work focuses on integrating enterprise business systems and operational processes to support more efficient utility operations, improved customer service, and data-driven decision making.

With over 20 years in the water industry, Nate has worked across water efficiency, customer programs, and technology implementation at both municipal utilities and water districts. He is particularly focused on leveraging GIS, customer information systems, and data platforms to connect traditionally siloed systems and improve how utilities manage assets, customers, and water resources.

Nate holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Amanda Willis is a passionate water professional who began her journey in her hometown of Carlton, Georgia, as a city council member. Recognizing the challenges faced by rural water systems, she pursued certification as a Water Operator, eventually joining the City of Elberton as a Class 3 Water Operator for a surface water treatment plant serving multiple communities. Amanda’s dedication led her to obtain dual licensing in Water and Wastewater Operations, enabling her to support flexible operations across all city plants. She later chaired the Broad River Water Association board, fostering collaboration across the watershed. As Mayor Pro Tem of Carlton, she joined the Georgia Rural Water Association, where she provided technical assistance to rural systems, connecting them with funding opportunities and supporting clean water access statewide. At The Water Tower, she connects rural communities with innovations, training, research, and workforce development, embodying her belief that water is life.

Tim Silvers is a veteran of the water industry. Known for bridging the gap between traditional field operations and modern technology, Tim currently serves as a Water Operator for Rural Water District No. 1 (RWD1) in Douglas County, Kansas. Throughout his career, Tim has been a vocal advocate for digital transformation in rural utilities. He gained professional recognition for his work at RWD4, where he pioneered the use of GIS mapping and Digital Twin technology (via the Qatium platform) to manage expansive underground networks.

Tim remains a regular contributor to the Kansas Rural Water Association (KRWA) community, often sharing insights on how small utilities can leverage big-picture technology to ensure water resilience for rural residents.

Kylie Yanchula, Ph.D., is the Natural Resources Director for Indian River County and a passionate advocate for science‑based stewardship across Florida’s most critical ecosystems. With a decade of public service experience, she leads diverse programs including coastal management, Indian River Lagoon initiatives, stormwater quality, UF/IFAS Extension, and soil and water conservation. Her work centers on building resilient communities and strengthening the connection between natural resources and public well‑being.

Dr. Yanchula earned her Ph.D. in Entomology, where she conducted research on Aedes aegypti and transgenerational effects that influence vector biology and public health. She began her career in mosquito control, serving as Martin County’s Mosquito Control Manager before advancing to Field Operations Administrator, a role in which she oversaw mosquito control, field operations, and stormwater programs for five years.

Known for her practical expertise, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to community-focused environmental solutions, Dr. Yanchula brings a broad, systems‑level perspective to natural resource management.

Andy is Head of Smart Water at Anglian Water Services, which provides water and water recycling services to almost 7 million customers in the East of England. Over the past 35 years, he has worked both within the UK and on several overseas projects specialising in Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and network management. Andy leads with a focus on people and has a passion for cross-sector collaboration and innovation. His current role combines his core strengths of disruptive thinking and tenacity to drive digital transformation within the water sector, with the aim of creating the water utility of the future.

Joana Ramirão Costa is a Hydraulic Modeling Engineer at EPAL – Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres (Portugal’s oldest water utility) working within the Asset Management Department and Innovation Committee. She holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. Her work focuses on developing hydraulic models and leveraging data to support efficient urban water management, including the exploration of digital twins and AI-driven decision making. With over a decade of experience, Joana has been involved in water and wastewater projects, reclaimed water quality modeling, real-time monitoring and forecasting, numerical modelling in estuarine environments, as well as project management and construction supervision. She has contributed to research and innovation projects, authored journal and conference publications, and actively fosters collaboration between academia and the water sector.

Dan Martin has worked in the water utility industry since 2007, beginning his career in field operations where he gained hands-on experience installing, maintaining, and servicing water meters. This field background provided a practical understanding of distribution system operations and metering infrastructure. When Tacoma Water committed to deploying an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, Dan transitioned into a data analyst role and became part of the leadership team responsible for guiding the system’s planning, deployment, and implementation. Following the successful completion of the AMI rollout in early 2024, he has played a key role in developing Tacoma Water’s SmartWater program and performs much of the program’s technical and analytical work, focusing on using data, analytics, and new technologies to improve system operations, water use insights, and customer service.

Emily Eichholzer serves as a Project Manager for the City of Naperville’s Sanitary Sewer Utility, where she oversees Capital Improvement Projects and streamlines in-house operations. With 8 years of GIS expertise and 5 years in project management, Emily leverages a data-centered approach to optimize municipal infrastructure goals. A hands-on leader, she is NASSCO certified, a Class C Water Operator in Training, and a CITCA Authorized Water Tower Climber. Her unique blend of technical data analysis and field experience—ranging from manhole entries to tower inspections—allows her to bridge the gap between planning and execution. She is dedicated to modernizing municipal systems through precise data and technical field expertise. Outside of the utility, Emily is an avid softball player, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and home chef.

Nate Tillis is a water industry professional who considers water as both a natural resource asset and philosophical model for life. He has completed his four-year degree with UW-Parkside where he majored in Sustainable Management. In his role as Executive Director for the Racine Wastewater Utility, he is responsible for budgeting, planning, service delivery, management, and performance of the wastewater utility.

Nate has been featured on the cover of Treatment Plant Operator national magazine and with 25 years of experience in the water field, Nate has risen to executive-management, chairs 3 professional organizations and considers new operator development and workforce development as priorities. His goal is to remain in management within a large municipal system bringing sustainable practices and systems thinking to a progressive organization. Nate spends his time involved in martial arts, spoken word poetry, reading, and transforming his two boys into fine young men.

Nadine’s role as a Planning Engineer includes condition assessments and prioritization of system upgrades to maintain compliance and improve operational resilience. Her role requires working closely with other engineers, utility operators, regulators, and local governments to analyze system capacity, population growth, regulatory requirements, and asset conditions to develop master plans, capital improvement programs (CIPs), and infrastructure expansion strategies.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering with over 14 years of experience in Water and Wastewater industry.

Matthew has spent over 20 years in the municipal utility industry, starting his career right out of high school with a small town in central Illinois. Throughout his career, he’s been committed to professional development and currently holds Class A SC certifications in Biological Wastewater Treatment, Water Treatment, Water Distribution, and Physical/Chemical processes, along with Class 1 IL Wastewater Treatment and Class A IL Public Water Supply licenses.

Today, he serves as Chief Operator at the City of Monticello, Illinois Wastewater Treatment Plant, where he’s responsible for ensuring reliable, compliant operations that protect our community and environment. He also works as a backup operator for Weston and Sampson Services Inc., which allows him to support multiple utilities and stay connected to the broader water industry. His journey from an entry-level position to chief operator has reinforced his passion for this field and his commitment to operational excellence in water and wastewater management.

Cristi C. Bickham has extensive leadership experience across utilities, policy, and public engagement. She serves as Deputy General Manager of External Affairs at WSSC Water, where she leads Communications, Strategic Partnerships & Community Impact, Intergovernmental Relations, Supplier Diversity & Inclusion, and Procurement. Her work focuses on strengthening stakeholder engagement and securing external funding to support major capital initiatives and customer assistance programs. Cristi previously served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as legal counsel at Eversource Energy in Connecticut, advising on regulatory and operational matters. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law.

Robert has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa and a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of Denver. He spent four years farming organic vegetables in New Mexico, five years as a data analytics consultant in agribusiness, and the past two years as data analyst in wastewater. Robert is passionate about the environment and working on sustainability initiatives. He loves any opportunity to use data, automation, and statistics to improve the lives and physical spaces within his community.

Eduardo is an Electrical Engineer with a career dedicated to industrial automation. He began his professional journey working for system integrators and distribution companies before shifting his focus to industrial communications, including protocol integration and wireless technologies. In 2017, Eduardo turned his attention to Industry 4.0, helping machine builders innovate their offering with the addition of digital services that transformed conventional equipment into higher-value assets for end user. During this time, the rising importance of cybersecurity and its influence on the adoption of internet-based technologies inspired him to transition into the field of cybersecurity. Eduardo spent three years at SSH Communications Security, where he led business development in the OT segment across the United States and international markets. His responsibilities also included managing technology partnerships, strategic marketing, and messaging development. Most recently, Eduardo joined Schneider Electric as a Business Developer for the EcoStruxure Automation Expert platform, covering the Southeastern U.S.

Kirsten is a GIS Supervisor with the City of St. Petersburg Water Resources Department, where she leads enterprise GIS initiatives that support water resources operations across multiple divisions. Her focus is on data integrity, GIS for field operations, and web and mobile GIS solutions. Kirsten plays a key role in modernizing asset management workflows, improving field access to critical data, and strengthening collaboration between GIS, engineering, and operations teams. She is an Esri ArcGIS Pro Professional with a passion for advancing geospatial innovation in the water sector.

Jeff Diaz is Chief Information and Services Officer at SJWD Water District, where he leads innovation, strategic direction, digital transformation, and operational execution. His core responsibilities/departments include communications and outreach, field services, IT, asset management, risk management, and customer service. With more than 18 years at SJWD, he has helped modernize utility operations by aligning technology, service delivery, and organizational strategy. Jeff also served as an adjunct professor at Furman University, teaching management information systems, operations management, IT project management, and systems design. His current work emphasizes climate action planning, sustainable operations, and the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies in the water sector. Jeff contributes to industry advancement as a WRF Project Advisory Committee member for AgenticAI and as a contributing author to WEF’s AI in the Water Workforce report as part of the Water AI Nexus. He is also currently serving on AWWA Utility Benchmarking committee and contributing to the M71 standard (Climate Action Plans). He brings a distinctive blend of utility leadership, business insight, and technology expertise to conversations about the future of water and public service.

Kody Tompkins serves as the Assistant General Manager for the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA), providing executive leadership for finance, HR, engineering, environmental compliance, operations, maintenance, IT, and E&I. He collaborates with the General Manager and Board of Commissioners to ensure reliable wastewater treatment operations, regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibility, and long term infrastructure sustainability for the High Desert region.

Tompkins oversees agency wide initiatives that support operational excellence, capital planning, workforce development, and environmental stewardship. A Barstow native, he began his wastewater career in 2002 as a laborer at the Barstow Wastewater Treatment Plant, later becoming Chief Plant Operator and Assistant CM. He successfully managed Phase I of the plant’s EPA supported Improvement Project.

A former Army National Guard Sergeant with two tours in Iraq, Tompkins holds multiple industry certifications, a specialist certificate from CSU Sacramento, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Sherri Bailey is a seasoned local government professional with 19 years of experience, including five years as a City Manager and eight years as a Finance Director. Her expertise includes accounting, grant administration, capital project management, employee development, and community and economic development. Prior to public service, she spent over five years in corporate finance and tax accounting.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, from Columbia Southern University, and an Associate’s degree in Accounting from Augusta Technical College. Sherri is certified as a Level I and Level II Government Finance Officer through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and is a 2021 graduate of its Public Finance Leadership Academy.

She is an active member of the Government Finance Officers Association, the Georgia Government Finance Officers Association, and the Georgia City-County Management Association.

Farayi Chiro is the Enterprise Asset Management Systems (EAMS) Manager at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), where he leads the strategy, governance, and delivery of enterprise asset management capabilities across water, wastewater, drainage, and solid waste. With over 20 years of experience spanning engineering, systems integration, and digital transformation, Farayi focuses on advancing data-driven decision-making and enabling utilities to shift from reactive operations to proactive, reliability-centered asset management.

He is currently leading SPU’s Maximo Application Suite (MAS) modernization program and the development of an Asset Management Center of Excellence, embedding AI-enabled insights into core workflows to improve asset performance, risk management, and lifecycle cost optimization.

Farayi is an active contributor to industry forums including SWAN and Maximo Utility Working Group (MUWG), where he shares practical insights on digital transformation, AI in asset management, and the future of smart utilities.

Dr. Ellie Graeden is Chief Data and Product Officer at Metron. She spearheads Metron’s work in the emerging field of water intelligence, helping municipal leaders, enterprises, and property owners to leverage AI and big data to drive cost-savings, conserve water, and enable smarter and more sustainable growth. She is leading Metron’s expansion into the Canadian market and launching a subsidiary based in Vancouver BC.

Peter Simms is a utility operations leader with 18 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, serving both as a utility owner representative and engineering consultant. As a Director responsible for utility operations, he leads multidisciplinary teams responsible for critical infrastructure, operational performance, workforce development, and service reliability. His work focuses on digital transformation, process improvement, data-driven decision-making, and modernizing utility operations through scalable technology and operational strategies. Peter has led initiatives involving workflow modernization, inspection and maintenance program development, and enterprise operational analytics. He is passionate about bridging the gap between utility operations and emerging technologies to create practical, sustainable solutions that improve efficiency, accountability, and customer service across utility organizations.

Elizabeth Keddy has 19 years of experience leading the planning, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, reclaimed water, energy, sustainability, and resiliency projects. She currently serves the Capital Projects Section Manager for Hillsborough County’s Water Resources Department. Previously, she held positions as Senior Associate at Hazen and Sawyer, Energy Manager of the North American business unit of SUEZ, and Environmental Engineer at CDM Smith. She is Chair of the FWEA Utility Management Committee and Vice Chair of the FSAWWA Region IV Technical & Education Committee. She has her Bachelors and Masters in Environmental Engineering from University of Florida.

Juan Vega has been the District’s Assistant General Manager since October 2022, after serving as Finance Director (2017–2022) and Accountant (2013–2017). He oversees daily operations and maintenance for the Agricultural and Municipal Divisions, manages the Engineering Division, and leads IT infrastructure and planning. He directs all division managers and acts as General Manager when needed. He holds an MBA from Bellevue University and a BA in Economics from UC Davis.

Nitin Joshi is a seasoned leader in digital transformation, data strategy, and smart water innovation, with a strong track record of helping utilities modernize operations and improve decision-making. With extensive experience in geospatial intelligence, advanced analytics, and enterprise system integration, he has been instrumental in driving initiatives that enhance water quality, optimize infrastructure performance, and support sustainable resource management.

Nitin brings a practical, outcomes-focused approach to leveraging data and technology, bridging the gap between strategy and implementation. His work emphasizes real-time insights, operational efficiency, and cross-sector collaboration to address complex challenges facing water utilities today.

At SWAN, Nitin shares perspectives on evolving business models, adaptive data management, and the role of digital ecosystems in shaping the future of water. He is passionate about enabling organizations to unlock value from data while building resilient, forward-looking utilities that better serve their communities.

Ms Tau is a Civil Engineer with over 14 years of experience across State‑owned Entities and all spheres of government, currently serving as a Water and Sanitation Specialist at SALGA. She holds a Master’s Degree in Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, specializing in hydrology and water resources, a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering from Wits, and is a Wits Business School graduate recognized for excellence in Strategic Management. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she has contributed to Water and Sanitation Data Insight initiatives, including digitizing provincial master planning in KwaZulu‑Natal through the KZN Digital Transformation Strategy and supporting synthesis and analysis of priority infrastructure programmes via the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent.

She applies systems thinking and prioritizes quantifiable data to drive informed decision‑making and sustainable infrastructure design in local government. Additionally, she pairs her technical expertise with capacity‑building efforts as Chairperson of the Transformation Forum, demonstrating her commitment to sector transformation.k

Greg is leading Central San’s efforts to advance data-driven decision-making, applied artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the development of BIM-centric digital twins that support operations, maintenance, and lifecycle asset management. A central focus of his work is maximising lifecycle value from major capital programs by integrating digital twin capabilities directly into program delivery—from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and long-term asset handover.

His approach emphasises moving digital twins beyond visualisation toward practical, utility-owned capabilities that improve reliability, enable predictive maintenance, inform capital investment decisions, and strengthen alignment between engineering, operations, and maintenance. He has also been closely involved in shaping the organisational structures, governance models, and workforce roles needed to sustainably adopt and scale digital twin and analytics capabilities across the utility.

Mr. Brian Bradley is a dedicated engineering professional with a strong background in water resource management. He began his career with the City of Grand Rapids in 2016 as a Traffic Engineer and has since advanced through various roles, including Project Engineer for Stormwater Management. In 2023, he was promoted to his current position as Hydraulic Engineer for the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). Prior to his time with the City, Brian was with the United States Air Force serving for 10 years.

In this role, Brian oversees the department’s capital budget, manages the sanitary and stormwater collection systems, and provides engineering support for the WRRF. Passionate about optimizing infrastructure and processes, he continually seeks improvements that enhance both system efficiency and project execution.

Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan and holds NASSCO certifications in pipe, lateral, and manhole assessment.

Patrick Williamson is a Technical Sales Manager at Badger Meter, helping U.S. water utilities implement smart water solutions. He has served as a volunteer in various roles with the Florida Section AWWA and is currently the FSAWWA Manufacturers/Associates Council Chairperson. With over 20 years of technology leadership experience across various industries, he brings expertise in IT, project management, and technology integration. Patrick holds a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, and a PMP® certification. He has developed his presentation skills at the Dale Carnegie Institute, the Ziglar Speakers Institute, and Toastmasters International, and delivered presentations at over 100+ speaking engagements.

Retired USEPA federal executive. More than 40 years of water related experience working in all sectors; drinking water, wastewater, storm water, biosolids, groundwater. Expertise in policy, regulation, research and technology at the state and federal levels.

Dave Moody is the Process Improvement Manager for Charlotte County Utilities, where he uses data analysis and project management to drive continuous improvement. He serves on the stakeholder committee for Charlotte County’s Resiliency and Modernization Initiative, which evaluates and scores capital improvement projects. Dave has presented at the 2025 AWWA Water Infrastructure Conference and authored multiple Standard Operating Procedures for the utility.

Before joining Charlotte County, Dave spent 11 years at Gulfstream Aerospace managing safety and risk programs in aircraft manufacturing and served 14 years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.

Dave holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Operations Management, is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and is completing his Certified Public Manager credential through Florida State University. Outside of work, Dave enjoys long motorcycle rides into the sunset with his lovely wife and is an avid fisherman.

Derek has nearly 20 years of experience leading sustainability digital innovation and advising large public and private organizations on environmental, health, safety, and sustainability (EHS&S) data management strategy and analytics. Derek leads EY relationships and innovation with strategic technology partners, including the design and delivery of digital solutions across emissions tracking, water management, and the financial impact assessment of environmental initiatives. He supports clients with advanced sustainability measurement and analytics in areas such as carbon pricing and offsets, green chemicals, circular economy programs, and social impact assessment.

With 18 years of experience, Liz is a Professional Engineer that specializes in data analysis and data management services to support wastewater collection evaluation studies. Her specific expertise lies with verification and analysis of collected flow and rain data. She is currently the Senior Vice President of Operational Support Services at RJN Group, Inc., managing data, equipment, and field support departments for the company.

Liz graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX with Bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering.

David L. Disney is a controls and automation professional with over 30 years of experience in SCADA, PLC programming, instrumentation, calibration, and industrial electrical systems. He has worked across water, wastewater, manufacturing, and process industries in roles ranging from field engineer to engineering supervisor and SCADA superintendent. Known for his hands-on expertise, leadership, and project execution, David specializes in automation design, troubleshooting, plant system optimization, and technical oversight of complex industrial operations.

Naisargi Dave is a hydraulic modeler at HDR where she helps utilities in design and optimisation of collection and distributions systems. She has a civil and environmental engineering background and has experience in performing data analysis and modeling for several industry sectors including environment, water & natural resources, and agriculture. As a constant learner, Naisargi looks forward to engaging the Rising Water Professionals community by exchanging ideas, trends, lessons, and opportunities so that together we can better plan, manage, and improve this critically essential water and sewer infrastructure.

Michael Flanigan serves as Director of Public Utilities for the City of Clearwater. In this role, he oversees, supports, and monitors daily operations, planning, and coordination for the generation and distribution of water and reclaimed water, as well as the collection and treatment of wastewater. Michael previously served as Wastewater Coordinator and brings experience as a Trainer, Adjunct Professor, Laboratory Technician, and Wastewater Operator. He holds an M.S. in Strategic Management from Indiana University, an M.B.A. from the University of Florida, and a B.B.A. from Saint Leo University.

Benjamin Resnik is the founder of BSTS labs and a technology innovator working at the intersection of digital twins, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure systems. His work focuses on helping utilities better understand and manage complex infrastructure by combining spatial data, documents, and sensor information into a single operational context.

Before founding BSTS labs, he worked at a public utility where he led the development of a solution that transformed fragmented operational data into an integrated leak management hub. By combining 3D reality capture, AI-powered document analysis, and sensor data, the system enabled teams to locate leaks faster and improve field operations.

He is currently developing 3DplusA, a platform that integrates 3D reality models with AI-driven insights to support infrastructure operators in decision-making, asset management, and loss reduction.

His focus is on practical, field-ready applications of emerging technologies that help utilities modernize operations and build more resilient water systems.

Ljiljana Zlatanović is a Senior Digital Water Consultant at Arup, with a PhD from Delft University of Technology and over fifteen years of experience across research, policy, and applied innovation in the water sector. She specialises in transforming drinking water and wastewater systems through digital tools, data-driven insights, and sustainable design, combining strong technical water expertise with systems thinking and a clear understanding of utility operations.

Before joining Arup, she led and supported programmes on sustainability, circularity and the energy transition within Dutch water utilities, and worked with the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions and Delft University of Technology on Living Lab and co-creation initiatives. Ljiljana supports clients in translating complex water challenges into resilient, future-proof solutions that strengthen environmental performance, operational efficiency and long-term system reliability.

While Chris received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering, after being a leader in water/wastewater engineering and technology systems for 20+ years, he left his coat and tie behind in 2017 to found Waterly. Waterly is an asset and data management platform designed to affordably support the many stewards that manage water in over 1,000 systems across the globe. In his spare time, Chris is a musician and loves time in their family garage, where he builds and teaches as a right to repair advocate of things that aren’t quite broken.

Dr. Carolina Venegas Martinez is a senior strategy and growth leader in the global water infrastructure technology sector, with over 20 years of experience driving transformation across the industry. As Autodesk’s Senior Manager Business and Industry Strategy for Water, she specializes in the global go-to-market strategy, portfolio expansion and integration, and scaling digital solutions across complex, multi-stakeholder environments, driving adoption of advanced technologies across utilities and public and private entities. She partners closely with executive leadership to shape strategic direction and accelerate growth globally, with a focus on unlocking value through end-to-end digital workflows spanning planning, design, modeling, asset management and operations. Dr. Venegas holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering, along with advanced degrees in Environmental Technologies and Sanitary Engineering, and a BS in Civil Engineering.

Ifeanyichukwu Alika is a Senior Director of AI Strategy & Solutions at Sand Technologies, where he leads enterprise AI engagements for public sector organizations, including water utilities, city governments, and critical infrastructure operators. His work focuses on applying advanced analytics and machine learning to improve operational decision-making across complex infrastructure systems.

Ifeanyi specializes in translating AI into practical, operational tools for utilities working with sparse and imperfect data—conditions common across aging water networks. He has led AI programs spanning burst detection, predictive asset risk, digital twins, non-revenue water reduction, and capital investment prioritization.

Prior to Sand Technologies, Ifeanyi served as an Associate Director in Bayer’s global Strategy & Business Consulting group, advising senior leaders across Pharma, Consumer Health, and Crop Science on transformation and analytics-driven decision-making. He holds a Master of Advanced Management from Yale School of Management, an MBA from IE Business School, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science.

Sydney Samples serves as a Research Principal at The Water Research Foundation. Sydney received her master’s degree in International Environmental Policy with a specialization in Natural Resources Policy and Management from the Middlebury Institute. At The Water Research Foundation, she manages a variety of research projects covering topics such as intelligent water systems, water resources planning, and finance.

Shawn Dent is a vice president and a chief technologist for CarolloDIGITAL. Over the past 36 years, he has worked with clients, both nationally and internationally, to leverage their enterprise data and various software tools to develop innovative integrated solutions. Shawn works across the breath of the industry in water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater.

He is a national expert in planning for water resources and published and presented over
40 papers/presentations and a WEF book chapter integrating engineering with cutting edge digital water solutions.

Mitch Donnelly is CEO of FIDO Tech, a company at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to tackle global water loss. With a strong background in B2B utility, digital transformation, and SaaS innovation, Mitch has held senior roles at EXL and SUEZ UK. He is passionate about applying AI to solve urgent infrastructure challenges, particularly water leakage, a critical issue for utilities worldwide. Known for his strategic leadership and purpose driven approach, Mitch is helping accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge digital solutions that deliver measurable impact. He is based in Oxfordshire, leading FIDO’s mission to transform water management globally.

Dr. Jennifer Baldwin is Jacobs Digital OneWater Director and an expert technologist specializing in wet-weather conveyance and storage. She has 24 years of experience in collection system management, working on several multi-million and billion dollar wastewater collection and treatment programs. Dr. Baldwin holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Civil (Environmental) Engineering from Purdue University. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute within American Society of Civil Engineers, representing the Pipelines Division, and is also the Member Engagement Vice-Chair for the Collection Systems Community in Water Environment Federation.

Josh leads the AMER Central region delivering power, water and carbon free energy to support AWS growth in the central region of the continental US. Josh joined AWS after spending years as a renewable energy executive spanning wind energy, PV, BESS and carbon capture.

Josh has previously served on the National Marine Sanctuary Board foundation as a Trustee so facilitating technology solutions to develop resilient scalable surface water management systems aligns with his values around preservation of ecosystems and sustainability. He holds a BS and MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Mason Throneburg combines his background in hydraulic modeling and project management with a passion for data analytics and visualization. In 2019 he co-founded Confluency, which applies agile software development principles to water and wastewater engineering challenges, with a focus on repeatability, system optimization, and environmental outcomes. In his free time, he enjoys reading, biking, and exploring the Chicago outdoors with his family.

Cynthia Chemello is an Associate Principal at AECOM, specializing in digital and organizational transformation for municipal water and wastewater utilities. With a keen focus on practical “building blocks” that align data, systems, and people, she delivers measurable improvements in reliability, compliance, and operational efficiency. Cynthia brings a unique workforce change perspective, emphasizing how digital transformation is not just about technology, but also about empowering teams, upskilling staff, and fostering a culture of innovation. In this session, she distills lessons from real-world programs, highlighting strategies that help utilities move from pilot initiatives to scalable programs while ensuring the workforce is engaged and prepared for the future.

Freddie Guerra is a senior digital water and innovation leader with more than 35 years of experience helping utilities modernize operations through data, analytics, and intelligent infrastructure. Currently as a Vice President and Digital Water Lead for Accenture, Freddie focuses on large‑scale transformation programs that bridge advanced metering, digital twins, enterprise data platforms, and AI‑enabled decision support.

He has supported and governed some of North America’s largest smart water initiatives, including multi‑year AMI programs, utility‑wide digital twin strategies, and enterprise operating model transformations. His experience spans strategy, procurement, delivery governance, and long‑term performance management—ensuring digital investments deliver measurable operational and financial outcomes.

Freddie is an active industry speaker and thought leader, regularly presenting at conferences and webinars on topics such as operational digital twins, analytics‑led procurement, and the shift from dashboards to decision intelligence. He brings a practical, utility‑focused perspective grounded in real‑world implementation and change management.

Jan-Terje Sørlie is CEO and CTO of Guard Automation, a technology company delivering industrial automation and digital solutions for the water and environmental sectors.

With a background as an automation engineer and a master’s degree in Technology Management from Seoul National University, he brings an OT-native perspective to digital transformation.

He is the architect behind Guard’s data-driven solutions designed to improve operational efficiency, support a more sustainable water sector, and reshape how water infrastructure is monitored and managed.

Driven by a passion for technology and problem-solving, he focuses on combining engineering insight with modern data methods to unlock the real value of Industry 4.0 in water infrastructure.

Caroline Holt is a business developer at Guard Automation, working at the intersection of technology, strategy, and market development in the water and environmental sectors.

Her work focuses on translating technological capabilities into practical value for utilities and industry. She collaborates closely with customers, researchers, and partners to explore how new analytical approaches and digital tools can support better decision-making, operational improvement, and more sustainable water management. Motivated by curiosity and a strong interest in how innovation reshapes real-world systems, she focuses on helping organisations turn complex technological possibilities into meaningful change.

She holds a background in international marketing and business and a master’s degree in Management from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

Miguel Soares is a Senior Product Manager for Bentley Systems’ water solutions, supporting users across Europe, the Middle East, and Americas in advancing productivity and implementing efficient digital workflows. He contributes directly to the development of Bentley’s Digital Twin technologies for water utilities, bringing expertise grounded in a master’s degree in civil engineering with a specialization in Hydraulics and Water Resources. Before joining Bentley, Miguel was driving network efficiency and information systems projects for a Portuguese utility group operating 13 water utilities in Portugal and Brazil, and has supported additional water‑sector projects in Chile and the Philippines.

A Professional Engineer with over 20 years’ experience working in the water industry, James leads Business Development at StormHarvester. Leveraging technical knowledge and industry insight, James develops strategic partnerships with customers, guiding engagements from initial discussions through to implementation and ongoing relationship management.

Ms. Petke is a senior management consultant specializing in providing business advisory and strategy and transformation centered services for domestic and international clients in utilities across multiple sectors. Her prior experience working for a local water and wastewater utility has translated into firsthand knowledge about the common pain points faced by utilities today, as well as how best to visualize and utilize data to drive business decision making at the executive and departmental level through the use of dashboards. She has significant experience leading continuous improvement efforts, utilizing business process improvement techniques in tandem with digital transformation and workflow automation to streamline and improve work efforts in alignment with overall organizational strategies.

Mr. Parson has more than 20 years of experience delivering information technology (IT) and digital transformation projects for private and municipal clients. As a Solutions Architect specializing in data strategy and system design, he helps organizations modernize and optimize their data management, analytics, and business intelligence ecosystems. He serves as a technical implementer, leader, and mentor across multiple platforms, including the Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric, Dataverse, SQL, Azure Synapse, program information management systems (PIMS), enterprise GIS, ERP, CMMS, and other cloud technologies.

Alex has experience across many different aspects of the water sector, from watershed management research to bio-sensing hardware for wastewater treatment, to equipment supply and procurement for industrial processes. In her business development role with SUEZ, she works with an incredibly talented team to support utilities and engineering consultants in implementing advanced optimization software for more effective asset, capital, and operational planning decisions.

Tacoma Zach, P.Eng, A55K, MASc ChemE, is co-founder and CEO of MentorAPM, an asset lifecycle management solution built for water/wastewater agencies and process industries. Having spent most of his career in the operation and management of process operations, Tacoma is an expert on the application of asset management best practices, risk management and ISO 55000 standards. He is a contributing member of the US Technical Advisory Group to ISO 55000 and the author of Criticality Analysis Made Simple. Tacoma speaks frequently at leading asset management conferences and is passionate about asset management for water and wastewater infrastructure.

Baker is the Director of Flowless. Flowless helps water utilities in improving daily operations through AI-aided analytics and control automation. Leak managers and network operators use Flowless software app to analyze field data and gain actionable insights for reducing water losses and optimizing network operations. Our AI agent walks you through all steps needed to detect and reduce water losses, from data quality assessment to water balance & NRW analytics, all the way to suggesting the best intervention for loss reduction.

Flowless has been working with utilities in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, with a vision to support communities on building resilience through sustainable & context-aware tech solutions.

Chris Skehan is a seasoned water and wastewater information systems and commercial specialist dedicated to helping cities operate smarter, safer, and more sustainably. With a 20-year career rooted in advancing smart infrastructure, Chris has built expertise across flow and level monitoring, GIS, asset management, and IoT enabled Smart City technologies for ADS and IDEX Intelligent Water. Chris is passionate about creating solutions that deliver long term value for the communities they serve. His commitment to innovation and collaboration has made him a trusted advisor in the water industry and a respected voice in the smart wastewater technology space.

Craig Yokopenic is an Executive Vice President at EMA, Inc. He has over 35 years of experience in designing and implementing business process improvements, change management design and implementations, and maintenance management business technology implementations for municipal clients. As Principal-in-Charge for EMA, Craig has overseen significant information technology, SCADA, and process control system projects where he has also contributed as Project Manager to assist in the planning and implementation of technology solutions for water and wastewater utility clients. He has extensive experience guiding information technology change management projects from planning through implementation to reach optimized system and department performance for his clients. Craig balances technical expertise with a senior management perspective.

As a civil engineering intern, Amanda used to manually review sewer pipe inspection videos for 8 hours a day for Sydney Water. In 2018, with fellow engineer Michelle Aguilar, she started VAPAR to use deep learning to help solve this problem. Last year alone, VAPAR’s AI technology has powered investment decision making on over 2 million metres of pipe in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States and continues to scale globally through partnerships with Autodesk and Microsoft.

Mark Zito is the VP of Product & AI at Trinnex with 2 decades of experience in the water utility industry. He started his career as a GIS analyst with a passion for automating repetitive tasks. He brings that same mindset to the products Trinnex builds.

Olivia Bergmann is a Water/Wastewater Engineer at HDR in Tampa, FL, specializing in water infrastructure and environmental engineering. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida in May 2024. During her undergraduate studies, Olivia participated in a winning design project in the University Student Design Competition, where she developed an AI-based solution to optimize stormwater clarification systems and improve nutrient-reduction performance.

At HDR, Olivia supports resiliency and modernization initiatives within the firm’s expanding water, resilience, and climate service practices. She contributes to major water treatment plant expansions and Integrated Master Planning projects designed to meet Florida’s growing water demands. With a strong interest in data analysis and visualization, Olivia focuses on applying analytical tools to enhance natural resource management, improve system performance, and guide sustainable water infrastructure solutions.

Jay Boyd is the Market Development Director for Grundfos. He is a subject matter expert with over 40-years of technology experience including two decades in water. Jay has particular interest and a passion for process improvement solutions development.

Over the past five years, Jay has presented at more than 50 international, national, state, and provincial conferences on such topics as Smart Technology, I&I, Cleaning Optimization, and Odor & Corrosion control. He has published in leading industry journals including WE&T, Municipal Water and Sewer, and more, on these same topics.Jay holds a degree in biology.

Additionally, he has been heavily invested in business and technology development graduate studies. He’s a Water Environment Federation member and is active with the WEF Intelligent Water Technology Community serving as the WEF liaison to SWAN. Additionally, he is a member of the WEF Collection Systems Community and the California WEA.

Christina Merwin is a licensed Professional Engineer and strategic business development leader with more than 15 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. She currently serves as Sales Manager at NJBSoft, where she leads growth for a compliance and operational data-management platform serving municipal utilities across the U.S. Christina began her career in utility operations and municipal engineering at San Antonio Water System and MWH Global before moving into sales at Autodesk Water (formerly Innovyze), where she spent eight years building client relationships across the U.S., UK, and Australia. She holds degrees in Civil/Environmental and Industrial Engineering, is a Six Sigma Green Belt, and is an active member of AWWA and WEF.

Andrew Swirsky has over a decade of experience in the utility space including smart sensors, software, and field services. He has led teams for design and delivery on dozens of smart utility projects to reduce waterloss, prevent flooding, and improve operations across municipal and industrial drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and treatment. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in five states and certified by Microsoft and Amazon for cloud services.

Nadia Abboud is a passionate marketing and business development executive with 25 years of experience in the water and wastewater environmental industries. She has established herself as a dynamic professional with her natural storytelling abilities, creative thinking, and optimistic mindset. Nadia’s devotion to helping businesses thrive led her to create the ENAY Group, where she designs and implements marketing and business strategies to support the growth of existing companies and the successful launch of new ones.

Travis Kennedy is a leader in digital marketing and media strategy for the water industry, currently serving as the Chief Industry Officer at Water Online with a focus on connecting solution providers to municipal and industrial leaders.  His work focuses on helping organizations share practical insights, real-world applications, and lessons learned across the industry. In the water sector, he is recognized as a leading expert in B2B marketing, brand strategy, and digital transformation for manufacturers and service providers.  As a speaker and thought leader, he focuses on bridging the gap between complex engineering solutions and effective market engagement.  He also hosts The Water Online Show, which is currently the most downloaded podcast in the water industry across mediums.

Shirley serves as SWAN’s Senior Advisor, guiding staff and volunteers along an outcome-driven culture. Since 2016, she has led innovation and strategic activities, supporting SWAN’s regional and global expansion. She has developed strategic plans, established smart water frameworks, curated unique workshops, facilitated global innovation sessions, and managed strategic research projects. A certified PMP, she is the CEO & Founder of Bird Eye Consulting, an impact-driven project management firm working with public, private and non-profit clients across water, smart cities, digital transformation, and sustainability. Prior to SWAN, Shirley completed an MSc. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University focused on water resource management and sustainable cities.

Amir joined SWAN in 2013 and has been instrumental in growing the organisation into the leading global hub for the smart water sector. Throughout his time, he has helped engage members, develop in-depth research reports, and create innovative tools such as the SWAN Interactive Tool and Knowledge Hub. Amir also helped launch and grow regional SWAN Alliances in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. He holds a PhD focused on the impact of the Data-as-a-Service model on water and wastewater utilities. Before joining SWAN, Amir completed a dual-master’s degree in Environmental Science and Public Affairs at Indiana University.

Isaac Pellerin is 120Water’s SVP of Corporate Strategy and has invested nearly 2 decades into building organizations and data-driven technologies that impact local communities. Isaac has a never-ending curiosity to understand how technology impacts people’s work and produces good for the communities they serve. He sees the complexity of drinking water regulations as an opportunity to align the value of 120Water’s platform with the needs of the water workforce today and grow with the needs of the future.

Anne Mushow is the CEO of Subeca and a seasoned utility and technology executive with more than 16 years of experience leading operational transformation and customer-focused innovation. Prior to Subeca, she served as Business Development Operations Lead at Amazon Web Services and multiple leadership roles at Xylem.

Ross Volkwein, PE, GISP is a civil engineer based in Pittsburgh with a focus on hydrologic & hydraulic modeling, GIS, and data solutions for water and wastewater systems. He holds both a BS and MS in Civil & Environmental engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and has built a career leading technical work that bridges engineering practice with innovation. At Wade Trim, Ross serves in roles that combine hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, GIS expertise, and technology leadership, including on an AI Task Force and leading the Optimization & Data Science team. Ross is known for translating complex technical challenges into usable solutions, leading teams, and advancing innovation within his organization. His work reflects a blend of engineering rigor, curiosity, and a commitment to improving infrastructure through smarter use of data and technology.

Avi Atias is a Product Manager specializing in smart water infrastructure and IoT-based monitoring solutions. He leads the development and deployment of ARISENSE, a smart air valve monitoring system designed to provide operational visibility in water and wastewater networks.

With a background in computer science, data, and product management, Avi enjoys solving complex problems and working at the intersection of technology and business. He collaborates closely with utilities and field teams to turn real-world challenges into practical, data-driven solutions that improve network reliability and enable smarter operations

Drinking water and innovation expert with 25 years of experience across utilities, consultancies, association, and software companies. Educated as a civil engineer, with a PhD from Delft University. Joined Timeseer this year to bring the power and value of data validation to the international water sector.

Adam Sharpe is a Utility Planning Practice Lead in HDR’s Raleigh, NC office. He specializes in the application of a systems thinking approach to help utilities navigate complex challenges, identify and manage risks, and strategically plan for the future. Adam’s expertise lies in connecting technical analysis with broader organizational and community goals, enabling clients to anticipate future needs, strengthen decision-making, and build adaptable pathways for growth, regulatory compliance, and reliability.

Sanitation Engineer with project management experience in the water and sanitation sector since 2021. Experience leading and coordinating projects across Latin America, working closely with major public and private sanitation companies as well as key stakeholders. With strong analytical and statistical capabilities, applying data-driven approaches to identify challenges, optimize processes, and deliver effective solutions. Experienced in managing multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timelines, quality standards, and client expectations are consistently met. Adept at building professional relationships and facilitating communication between technical teams and clients. Currently working in the private sector, providing services to both public and private utilities, with a focus on efficiency, innovation, and sustainable outcomes in sanitation projects.

Dillon McCormick is a data scientist and environmental engineer focusing on the intersection of water systems and data systems. His work focuses on integrating domain knowledge from environmental engineering with modern data science techniques to improve understanding, monitoring, and decision-making in water and wastewater systems. He has experience building end-to-end data solutions, including machine learning models for environmental datasets, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems for knowledge management, and scalable data pipelines that support operational insights. Dillon is particularly interested in applying generative AI and data-driven approaches to better model complex hydrologic and treatment processes.

Matt is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the planning, design, and construction of civil engineering projects. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in business from DePaul University. He has played a key role in helping communities develop capital plans, manage budgets, and oversee community infrastructure programs.

At Farnsworth Group, Matt leads the company’s municipal engineering group in the Chicagoland area, overseeing a diverse team of planners, engineers, technicians, and construction staff who provide comprehensive services to communities.

Chase Mendell is the Marketing and System Operations Manager at InfoSense. He works closely with municipalities across the country to turn real-world data into clear, actionable insights. With experience in marketing, business development, and product strategy, Chase focuses on making complex information practical for InfoSense’s community partners. He is a Venture for America Fellow and a graduate of Claremont McKenna College, bringing an entrepreneurial approach to advancing wastewater innovation.

Thomas has over 25 years of international experience in general management, strategic planning, business development and project management within the infrastructure, utility, and environment sectors.

He focuses on delivering real-time, predictive digital solutions to assist water utilities in their digital transformation journey. He helps them ensure regulatory compliance and optimize revenue management, energy efficiency, leak reduction, while also mitigating floods risks and enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction.

He worked in Singapore and Bangkok where he managed complex infrastructure deals, including a desalination plant and various industrial water and energy projects across Asia. He has a solid experience of concessions, Build-Operate-Transfer schemes, and other Public-Private Partnership business models. Thomas holds a degree in Business Administration from ESCP Europe, a leading business school in Europe.

Patrick is a wastewater treatment process engineer with Black & Veatch. An industry leader in wastewater treatment modeling and digital treatment solutions, he brings extensive experience on the application of process simulation to support planning, design, and optimization projects, and is proficient in all commonly used commercial treatment process simulators. In recent years Patrick has been active in applying both physics-based and data-driven models in the industry for use as soft sensors and operational support tools. An active contributor to the global process modeling community, he has authored manual of practice chapters on wastewater treatment and modeling and serves as chair of the 2nd IWA Task Group on Good Modeling Practices.

Ellie White is a Water Resources Data Scientist at EKI Environment & Water, where she develops interactive decision-support tools and data workflows for water resources management. Her areas of expertise include groundwater sustainability analysis, geospatial data visualization, and scientific software and dashboard development using R and Python. Ellie’s work supports utilities, groundwater agencies, and regional planning efforts through the development of accessible, collaborative technical tools and analyses. At the 2026 SWAN Conference 2026, she will present work supporting the North Shore Water Resilience Task Force, highlighting the development of an interactive regional decision-support framework.

Vito is a licensed hydraulic engineer, technical program manager, and digital twin lead specializing in the design, development, and deployment of digital twins. His expertise spans hydraulic modeling, energy management, and pump optimization, with a core focus on complex data integrations and cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. By bridging the gap between physical engineering and secure digital architecture, he enables utilities to enhance system performance, mitigate cyber risks, and drive informed, data-driven decision-making.

Neil is an economist with experience delivering water resilience programs in 30+ countries across LAC, Africa, and Asia. He is the Manager of the 50L Home Coalition, a public-private platform, where he is leading the coalition’s North American expansion strategy to reduce household water footprints and mitigate future Day Zero crises.

Neil specializes in infrastructure transaction advisory, having consulted for utilities, governments, and the private sector on structuring, procuring, financing, and managing water and desalination infrastructure projects valued at over $1B. He also served as a technical project manager on a $231M portfolio of USAID-funded water security programs. He holds a master’s in Data, Economics, and Development Policy from MIT and a bachelor’s in Business Honors & Plan II from the University of Texas at Austin.

Vince is an Enterprise Sr. Account Manager with Esri’s Global Water Practice, supporting large utilities across the United States in the strategic application of ArcGIS technology. He partners with organizations to align geospatial solutions with business priorities, improve operational workflows, and advance best practices across the water utility industry. Vince brings experience as both an Esri Solution Engineer and GIS Analyst with New Jersey American Water, and holds a Master of Science degree in Geography.

Alex Bedig, the original developer and current Chief Innovation Officer at OptiRTC, has spent 15 years leading IoT innovations in stormwater management. He and his team created software and hardware that autonomously manages storage releases across 30 states, enabling property owners and communities to achieve multiple regulatory, aesthetic, water quality, and flood protection goals with new and retrofit stormwater facilities. Alex’s present focus areas include the connection between the maintenance of stormwater assets and the resulting value and performance they deliver, and ways in which information can allow wet weather risk and benefits to be managed across multiple facilities, projects, and jurisdictions.

Mr. Lazzarotto is a graduate electrical engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the Smart City and Innovation sectors. He was a major contributor and driving force in the foundation of the Wibree standard, which later became known as Bluetooth Low Energy. He also played a pivotal role in the creation and development of the wireless PC peripherals market, delivering fundamental innovation bricks and remains co-owner of several key patents still in use today.

He was appointed President & Executive Director of the DLMS UA in 2019, where he is fostering member collaboration and driving innovation through standardization to deliver world leading specifications and certification programs that support interchangeable devices and secure data exchange for electricity, water, gas and heat strategic infrastructures.

Since January 2025, he has served as an expert member of the European Commission’s Smart Energy Expert Group. As of 1 January 2026, he serves as President of the DLMS User Association, following the separation of the President and Executive Director roles.

Maddy joined SWAN in 2024 as the Americas Manager. She is responsible for supporting and coordinating the SWAN Americas Alliance and looks forward to working with SWAN members to achieve their smart water goals. She holds a BS in Environmental Studies and a Master’s of Environmental Management from Yale University. Prior to joining SWAN, she worked in education, where she helped her students critically tackle global problems at the intersection of environmental science and social justice.

Alexander Ubl is the co-founder and CTO of STREAMETRIC. In his 10+ years of industry experience, he has spearheaded many innovations and filed patents in Water, SCADA, and IoT. As CTO of STREAMETRIC, Alexander has successfully built a SCADA solution for utilities of all sizes that is secure, affordable and easy to use.

James Byrne is Director of Strategy & Policy for The Nature Conservancy in Florida. A senior conservation and strategy executive with 20+ years of leadership across the U.S. and Caribbean, and Pacific Islands, he specializes in scaling impact through strategic execution, public policy, and executive leadership. He leads teams advancing integrated land, water, climate, and marine conservation strategies. His work convenes public agencies, communities, water resource experts, and innovators to translate site-level data into watershed-scale action—advancing smart watersheds that improve water quality and reduce flood risk.

Jon Grant leads business development at OTS, focusing on building partnerships and helping utilities find practical solutions to operations & maintenance challenges. He has worked across the Smart Water space, supporting companies as they grow and bring new technologies to market.

His experience includes leading commercial efforts in sales, marketing, and partnerships, as well as helping both an AI and Sensor companies in the water sector expand internationally. Jon’s strength is in taking complex technical ideas and making them relevant and usable for utilities.

Early in his career, he worked with 30–40 water technology companies in Ontario, helping them identify the right markets, clients, and partners for growth. Through this, he developed a strong understanding of emerging technologies and how they apply in real-world environments.

Ryan is a professional Engineer for DHI based out of Leadville, Colorado where he supports the Leadville Sanitation District as a board member. With background in chemical engineering and process engineering for oil refineries, Ryan has demonstrated over 10 years of expertise and leadership in the wastewater treatment process engineering space. At DHI, Ryan leads a small team of wastewater specialists and manages, executes, and delivers projects in collaboration with municipal utilities to make the most out of existing assets through process optimization and value engineering studies, custom controller development and deployment, and digital twin applications.

A Professional Engineer registered in Florida, Georgia, and Texas, he brings over 18 years of dedicated experience serving the water utility industry. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with municipal and regional water systems, helping them address aging infrastructure, stringent regulatory requirements, and increasing operational demands.

For the past 10 years, his focus has been increasingly software-driven, assisting utilities in achieving their vision of streamlined workflows and integrated data decisions. He specializes in integrating disparate data sources across treatment, distribution, and compliance functions to deliver a clear, holistic view of system performance. By translating complex operational data into actionable insights, he enables utilities to improve efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and build more resilient water systems.

As an Infrastructure Asset Management Consultant at Freese and Nichols, I focus on asset management and decision intelligence for water, wastewater, stormwater, and transportation infrastructure systems. My work involves coordinating with regional leaders and technical teams to develop and implement effective strategies for asset management programs. With over 15 years of background in master planning and system design, I bring expertise in asset management, risk-based planning, performance monitoring, and condition assessment.

Technology & Product Executive with over 20 years of experience delivering transformational impact through innovation.

Principal Controls Engineer, expertise in Physical AI & Reinforcement Learning based process control, PhD, Univ. of Michigan

Jack L. Canfield Jr. is a senior public infrastructure and water-sector executive with more than 23 years of leadership experience across municipal utilities, global water technology, and public-sector operations. He currently serves as USA Country Director for FIDO Tech, leading initiatives that advance data-driven, resilient, and sustainable water infrastructure solutions throughout the United States.

Previously, Mr. Canfield served as Executive Assistant Director of Wastewater Operations for the City of Houston Public Works, managing one of the nation’s largest utility systems, including 39 Water Resource Recovery Facilities, 383 lift stations, and over 6,000 miles of collection infrastructure, and playing a key leadership role in post Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

His career also includes service as Director of Operations at the South Florida Water Management District, where he supported large-scale water resource and flood control operations, and as Global Application Manager for Grundfos, leading international initiatives focused on water innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
Mr. Canfield holds a Master of Public Administration, has multiple FEMA Incident Command System certifications, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Barry University, mentoring the next generation of public infrastructure leaders.

Improving access to safe water for everyone and reducing the environmental impact of water and wastewater treatment are Michael’s professional passions. A bilingual entrepreneurial scientist, Michael is a respected member of the global water community, a well-regarded and respected water industry expert who fuses academic excellence with business acumen.

Michael is the chairman of SWIG in the UK, a former SWAN ambassador and works for Halogen Systems Inc. He is passionate about water and especially the way that combining water quality sensors and domain expertise helps us on our journey towards a world where everyone has equal access to water and sanitation with a minimal environmental impact.
A father of three young children, Michael see water issues as a key part of the world they will grow up in.

Joey Mitchell is a recognized leader in smart infrastructure and digital water transformation, with nearly two decades of experience helping utilities modernize operations through strategic planning, smart network deployment, and data-driven decision-making. He has worked alongside utilities of all sizes across North America and internationally, supporting initiatives ranging from foundational metering programs to large-scale smart water network strategies.

Throughout his career, Joey has helped bridge the gap between utility operations, technology providers, and executive leadership by focusing on practical implementation, operational outcomes, and long-term value creation. His experience spans advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), customer engagement, system integration, infrastructure modernization, and the evolving role of analytics and AI within utility operations.

As Co-Chair of the SWAN Smart Metering Group, Joey is focused on expanding the industry conversation beyond meters and technology platforms toward a broader vision of connected Smart Water Networks. He is helping lead the development of practical learning paths, global collaboration initiatives, and utility-driven discussions that support organizations at every stage of their digital transformation journey.

Michael is a Principal for Moonshot Missions where he works to help small and medium sized utilities improve sustainable performance. Before joining Moonshot Missions, Michael worked as an executive and public works director throughout the country. Michael brings his skills as an educator and facilitator in governance, infrastructure, climate mitigation/adaptation, and leadership.

Bharat has 25 years of experience and currently working with GHD Limited as Director – Digital Water Solutions. Over the years he has worked with clients & partners in the areas of Digital Transformation, Enterprise Architecture, reducing Non-Revenue Water, Advanced Metering Infrastructure and more recently for Digital Twin, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.

Ken Wendtland is the Director of Information Technology for the Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southern Nevada Water Authority. In this role, Ken is responsible for overseeing the deployment and management of IT and Cybersecurity solutions across the organization and providing strategic oversight of tech-integrated products in the ever-changing water utility landscape. Prior to joining the Water District in 2021, Ken spent more than 15 years working within the private sector in gaming where he oversaw key functions including human resources, hospitality, food and beverage, information technologies, revenue management and gaming operations.

Dr. Emily Zechman Berglund is a Professor and Associate Head for Faculty Development in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. After earning her B.S. and M.S. at the University of Kentucky, she completed her Ph.D. at NC State in 2005. Emily’s research integrates agent-based modeling, theories of behavioral change, mathematical optimization, and engineering analysis to enhance the resilience of water resources, infrastructure, and communities. Emily received NC State’s Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award in 2018 and the ASCE 2026 Margaret S. Petersen Award. She was awarded a 2026 Dean’s Applied AI Faculty Scholarly Fellowship by the NC State College of Engineering. Her research program has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and state water and transportation research institutes.

Mr. Cooper serves as Senior Vice President and Global Director for Water at Arcadis with 20 years experience as a Certified Change Management Professional, certified operator, professional engineer, and utility manager. Jim brings a passion for people enabled by technology, with an education background in Civil Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. He brings deep industry relationships as Chair of the American Water Works Association Engineering & Construction Division, Advisory Board Member of BAYWORK, Chair of the AWWA Artificial Intelligence Committee, Inaugural Chair of the AWWA Digital Twins Committee, and Council Member of SWAN.

Mr. Carter serves as the Senior Vice President and Business Advisory and Innovation Growth Director. For over 28 years, he has worked with water sector utilities studying emerging issues and developing best practices in fields such as strategic planning, operational optimization, treatment development and utility management. He facilitates a network of over 130 utilities globally developing best practices in utility management. Over the last ten years, this group has published the industry guidance for fostering innovation and building future-ready utilities. He also serves as AWWA’s Chair for the Strategic Management Practices Committee.

Eric currently serves as Senior Manager of Strategic Insights at Xylem. His areas of expertise include digital water technology, company strategy, water finance and investment, and water and climate policy. Prior to joining the SWAN Council, he led the SWAN Americas Alliance Research Group for three years, for which he was awarded an Outstanding Leadership Award by industry peers and professionals. Eric holds an MA in Global Development Policy from Boston University.