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KEYNOTES AND SPEAKERS
FABIEN COUSTEAU
Explorer & Aquatic EnvironmentalistDiving since he was 4 and always seeking the thrill of discovery, he was part of the crew of his grandfather's storied ships, Calypso and Alcyone at the age of 12. Over the next 11 years he has been collecting priceless experiences during expeditions to exotic places. The combination of his fieldwork and a degree in environmental economics from Boston University has developed his strong belief that discipline can be the basis for innovative solutions that reconcile regional and global environmental problems with western market economies. A perfect example of such a resolution, he maintains, is the world wide growth of eco-tourism. "Take, for example, the Great White sharks in South Africa," he said. “These beautiful fish are protected and well respected in that part of the world mainly because an economic solution has permitted locals to make a living by preserving rather than killing. The future well-being of our planet rests in our convincing people that the environment is worth saving."
It is with this thought that he set out to show what could be done in the business world. Fabien successfully spearheaded new product development and new business project models for environmental sustainability over the next few years. Having proven his skills in business, he decided to return to his deep-rooted family passion for exploration. He joined his father, Jean-Michel, and Deep Ocean Odyssey, as the third generation to carry on the tradition of adventure and exploration in the deep ocean, pioneered by his grandfather more than half a century ago.
Recently he co-launched Natural Entertainment, which is working on numerous projects related to exploration and environmental awareness thru television and other media.
Currently, Fabien has partnered up with his father, Jean Michel Cousteau, and sister Celine to complete a three year multi hour series called Ocean Adventures for PBS starting in 2006 (http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures). Topics range from the Grey whale migration of the west coast of the Americas to the magical coral spawning of the Caribbean to diving with squadrons of goliath groupers to the ghost ships of the Great Lakes. Additional hours cover exotic places such as the Amazon, Samoa, Christmas Island, Papua New Guinea, the Arctic and so on. The most recent expeditions covering the topics of Belugas, Orcas and man will air on PBS in April of 2009.
Fabien is also embarked on several personal projects such as his new initiative to actively involve the public in undersea restoration initiatives coupled with government protection of the restored areas. He also partners with outside initiatives such as savebimini.org in an effort to impassion people into changing the tide of current events that threaten to blindly destroy the environmental wealth of our future generations.
During his “down-time” Fabien is working on designing and building and Oceans Educational Institute as part of several educational institutions around the United States.
An active writer, he is currently working on a children’s book trilogy. Other writings include articles in several international publications.
Fabien shares his time between France and the United States and when not conducting fieldwork he is riding the planet on a wind surfer, mountain bike or piloting a plane. His passion for vintage motorcycles sometimes takes him to the quiet of his garage where his cellphone does not work and he can dive into the zen of breathing life into these "basket cases".
VINCENT CAPRIO
COO, Water Innovations AllianceMr. Caprio is the Vice President of the national NanoBusiness Alliance (www.nanobusiness.org) and sits on the Alliance's Board of Directors, as well as the Board of Directors of the Emerging Industries Alliance of New York State. In November 2008, Mr. Caprio co-founded The Water Innovations Alliance (www.waterinnovations.org) with Mark Modzelewski. Mr. Caprio is one of the foremost advocates for government funding of emerging technologies at both the State and Federal levels. Mr. Caprio has testified before the state legislatures of New York and Connecticut, and has participated in the NanoBusiness Alliance's public policy tour of Washington, D.C. for the past seven years. Mr. Caprio is the founder and event director of the 8th Annual NanoBusiness Alliance Conference (www.nanobusiness2009.com) being held in Chicago in 2009. During the past four years (2006-2009), Mr. Caprio was an invited speaker and guest lecturer on Nanotechnology at, NanoBusiness Alliance Conferences, New York State Investors Conference 2007 & 2008, University of Pennsylvania, PMI, Chemical Week, RPI, Always-On Going Green, IMAPS-New England, New York Photonics & RRPC, Commercialization of NanoMaterials 2007, The Food and Drug Law Institute, The Nanotechnology Institute-Philadelphia, Empire State Pension Conference, Pharma MedDevice, Livingston Nanotechnology Conference 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008, Quantum Dots 2006 & 2007, 2008 MAC and The Water Innovations Conference (www.waterinnovations.org). In addition, Mr. Caprio has appeared on numerous Connecticut TV and radio stations discussing the impact of Water and Nanotechnology. Mr. Caprio graduated from Villanova University in 1979 with a B.S in Accounting and completed a MBA from Northeastern in 1987. Mr. Caprio is a member of Villanova University's Financial Club and serves as an active member of Villanova?s President Club. Mr. Caprio serves on the Board of Trustees for the Easton Community Center in Easton, CT. In the summer of 2008, Mr. Caprio was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Fabricators & Manufactures Association Communications, Inc. based in Rockford, IL.
MARK SHANNON
Director of the WaterCAMPWS Center, University of IllinoisMark A. Shannon is the Director of the NSF STC WaterCAMPWS, which is a multiple university and government laboratory center for advancing the science and engineering of materials and systems for revolutionary improvements in water purification for human use. He is also the Director of the Micro-Nano-Mechanical Systems (MNMS) Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a 2000 sq. ft class 10 and 100 cleanroom laboratory devoted to research and education in the design and fabrication of micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS & NEMS), microscale fuel cells and gas sensors, high-temperature microchemical reactors, micro-nanofluidic sensors for biological fluids. He chaired the Instrument Systems Development Study Session for the National Institutes of Health. He is the James W. Bayne Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and received his B.S. (1989) M.S. (1991) and Ph.D. (1993) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He received the NSF Career Award in 1997 to advance microfabrication technologies, the Xerox Award for Excellence in Research (2004), the Kritzer Scholar (2003-2006), the Willet Faculty Scholar (2004-2007), and received the BP Innovation in Education Award in 2006.
SCOTT LIVINGSTON
CEO, Livingston Securities, LLCMr. Livingston has been working on emerging technologies at Wall Street firms for over 18 years and has specialized in nanotechnologies since 2002. Mr. Livingston has been called "sharp and highly connected" by the Forbes Wolfe Nanotechnology Report (July 1, 2005) and has been a keynote speaker on advanced technology investment trends at MIT, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the Nanobusiness Alliance, Brookhaven National Labs, Rice University Center for Nanotechnology, the Lawrence Berkeley Labs, Albany Nanotech, Hillary Clinton's Jobs for New York, the US Congress Nanotechnology Caucus and the US Congress High Tech Caucus, and at conferences on economic development and job creation through investment in advanced technologies in over a dozen states across America. In addition, Mr. Livingston is also the creator of the annual "Livingston Nanotechnology Conference," Wall Street's largest annual nanotechnology investor conference since 2005.
From 2005 to 2009 Mr. Livingston was a Managing Director at Axiom Capital Management, Inc, and head of the Livingston Group, a division within Axiom focused on nanotechnology. From 2000 to 2005 Mr. Livingston was a Director in the Private Investment Management Division at Lehman Brothers. While at Lehman in 2002, Mr. Livingston began his focus on nanotechnology and started to cover the field for institutional and individual investors. From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Livingston served as a Director in the Private Client Group at Cowen & Co (later renamed SG Cowen Securities), where he was a member of the Chairman's Club from 1998 to 2000 the firm's highest honor for private client management. While at Cowen, Mr. Livingston focused on emerging technology trends, including genomics, Y2K preparedness and defense technologies. From 1993 to 1996 Mr. Livingston was a Senior Vice President in the Private Client Group at Smith Barney Inc. Mr. Livingston was named a Senior Vice President in 1993, at the age of 24, one of the youngest appointees for the firm at that time. While at Smith Barney Mr. Livingston focused on emerging technology trends, including biotechnology, data networking and telecommunications services. From 1992 to 1993 Mr. Livingston was a Vice President at Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc. Smith Barney Inc. acquired Shearson Lehman Hutton in March of 1993. From 1989 to 1992 Mr. Livingston was an investment representative with Citigroup Global Markets.
Mr. Livingston graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Economic Relations. Mr. Livingston is a Board Member of the Nanobusiness Alliance and a founding Board Member of the New York Nanobusiness Alliance. Mr. Livingston is also a founding member of the Water Innovations Alliance. Mr. Livingston sits on the Board of the Dolan DNA Learning Center of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the NanoEthics Group. Mr. Livingston's registrations include Series 4, 7, 24, 53, 55, 63 and 65.
KEVIN M. BROPHY
CEO, Meidlinger Partners, LLCMr. Kevin Brophy is a Founder and the CEO of Meidlinger Partners, LLC. A finance professional with a wide range of experience in the infrastructure sector ranging from utility operations to public utility rate design to mergers, acquisitions and strategic planning, Mr. Brophy brings a broad range of skills and training to Meidlinger Partners. He maintains responsibility for the daily operations of the firm, manages investor relations, works with the Advisory Board and Investment Committee, and oversees the financial review of potential investments. Mr. Brophy chairs the firm’s Investment Committee and also plays an integral role in strategic planning for portfolio companies. Prior to co-founding Meidlinger Partners in 2008, Mr. Brophy held roles in operations as well as director positions (Investor Relations, Corporate Development) with Aqua America, Inc. (Aqua) (NYSE: WTR), one of the nation’s largest publicly traded water utility companies serving approximately three million people in 13 states. The latter half of Mr. Brophy’s 13 year career with Aqua consisted of executive roles in mergers, acquisitions, business development, investor relations and strategic planning. He participated with special projects such as public utility rate case filings and follow-on equity offerings and occasionally managed aspects of Aqua’s securities portfolio, including equities and derivatives.
From 2004 – 2007, Mr. Brophy held full responsibility for Aqua’s ‘growth-through-acquisition’ program throughout the state of Texas. Residing in Austin with a target region spanning the state, Mr. Brophy directed the acquisition of numerous companies for Aqua and executed more than 12 real estate development growth ventures.
Mr. Brophy’s experiences with Aqua provided a strong foundation from which to launch a private equity firm focused on sustainable, clean technology investing with a focus on water resource management, alternative energy, energy efficiency, pollution reduction and waste management. The knowledge and skills required to succeed, such as strategic planning, capital budgeting, regulatory pricing and rates, business development, operations management and integrating technological advancements can be applied to each field.
Mr. Brophy studied finance and business administration at Villanova University, attended the NARUC Utility Rate School program, NCEE’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Business Valuation curriculum and London Business School’s Private Equity Program. Mr. Brophy is a member of Investors’ Circle, a leading network of private and institutional investors using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. Mr. Brophy competes in running events, triathlons and adventure races and has his sights set on competing in an Ironman triathlon in 2009.
MARK LECHEVALLIER
Director Innovation & Environmental StewardsDr. LeChevallier received his Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in Microbiology from Oregon State University in 1978 and 1980. He worked as a Research Associate at Montana State University where he received his Ph.D. in Microbiology in 1985. Since 1985 he has worked for American Water, a water utility operating in 32 states, and Canada; serving over 16 million people. Dr. LeChevallier is currently the Director of Innovation & Environmental Stewardship at the American Water Corporate Center in Voorhees, NJ. In this capacity he directs a staff of 18 for both the research and environmental compliance programs.
Research areas have included bacterial regrowth, disinfection of biofilms, corrosion, bacterial nutrients, AOC measurement techniques, biological treatment, Mycobacterium, microbial recovery and identification, modeling and impact of pressure transients on water quality, and detection, treatment and survival of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. He has authored or coauthored over 100 research papers, most in peer-reviewed journals. Several of his papers have received awards from the American Water Works Association for outstanding contributions to the science of water treatment. He was the recipient of the George Warren Fuller award in 1997 from the New Jersey section of the American Water Works Association, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. Dr. LeChevallier has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on over 60 research grants totaling nearly $27 million from the US Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association, Awwa Research Foundation, WateReuse Foundation, and State agencies. Dr. LeChevallier was named by Public Works magazine as a 2005 Trendsetter to “recognize leaders in the public works community who have defined policy, brought their community or an issue into the spotlight, or set the standard within the industry.”
Dr. LeChevallier also directs environmental compliance programs for American Water including the development of environmental management plans for more than 1,000 operating centers, environmental audits to ensure compliance, development of a national cross connection control program for American Water, and implementation of environmental stewardship and greenhouse gas control programs. Dr. LeChevallier is a frequent speaker at regional, national and international conferences. He has provided consulting services to a number of water utilities on issues dealing with biofilms, coliform monitoring, disinfection and chloramination, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and corrosion control.
Dr. LeChevallier currently serves as the chair of the AWWA Water Science and Research Division, and chair of the AWWA Total Coliform Rule Technical Action Workgroup (TCR TAW). He was a negotiator representing the National Association of Water Companies on the USEPA Federal Advisory Committee for revisions to the Total Coliform Rule and currently serves on the Research and Information Collection Partnership panel for research to develop the Distribution System Rule. He is the distribution system section editor for the Journal of the American Water Works Association and a member of the Research Advisory Committee for the WateReuse Research Foundation. He was a member of the Distribution System Committee for the National Academy of Science, National Research Council. He has served on a variety of professional committees and is the past-chair of Division Q of the American Society for Microbiology, and a past member of the Applied and Environmental Microbiology editorial board. He has served several terms as a member and subgroup chair of the AWWA Research Foundation Research Advisory Committee and is currently a member of the Strategic Initiative group that is directing $5 million, 5-year program on distribution system research. He is the chair of the Unsolicited Proposal Review Committee for the Water Research Foundation. He has been an active participant in a number of USEPA committees, the Disinfection By-Product Council Technical Advisory Group, the STAR peer review panel, and the Drinking Water Advisory Committee. He is a member of the American Water Works Association, the American Society for Microbiology, the World Health Organization drinking water revision committee, the International UV Association, and the International Water Quality Association.
SIMON STRINGER
CEO, Becatech Security Solutions & TechnologiesSimon Stringer, C Eng, MRAes, MIoD, is the Managing Director at Becatech Security Solutions & Technologies and Senior Advisor to Good Harbor Consulting. Simon started his professional career in 1984 joining the then British Aerospace as a test engineer on the Harrier and Hawk programmes. He undertook a number of different roles for the company including Assistant Chief Engineer Harrier and Operations Director for Tornado and Harrier aircraft. Leaving the purely technical world in late 1997 Simon took the position of Site Director for Dunsfold Aerodrome managing all experimental test and development for the Harrier programmes as well as the manufacture and delivery before re-locating the production facilities to Lancashire in 1999. Here Simon took on the role of Head of Test Engineering and Development running all of the development facilities for the military and aerospace programmes.
In 2000 Simon took on the role of Project Director for the Ventures Organization, set up to maximize the use of BAE's technology in parallel markets before being appointed Director Homeland Security leading BAE's involvement in the counter terrorism and security areas.
In 2004 Simon left BAE SYSTEMS and joined QinetiQ as Managing Director of the Security and Intelligence Division leading the pan company initiatives in this area and overseeing a 40% growth in business in the first year.
In mid 2006, post QinetiQ's flotation on the London stock exchange, Simon left QinetiQ to undertake a consultative role for a number of key international clients before joining BECATECH as Managing Director in December of 2006.
During his career Simon has undertaken a number of large programme trouble shooting roles and led deployments with the UK MoD and armed forces as well as various foreign forces including the USMC. He is a respected figure in the Counter Terrorism and Security world and a Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute Homeland Security Programme and on the advisory board of Eden Intelligence with close ties to the CSTPV - Centre for Studies into Political Violence and Terrorism at St Andrews University. He is also a trustee of the Royal Naval Historic Flight and the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Mary Ann Dickinson
Executive Director, Alliance for Water EfficencyMary Ann Dickinson is the founder and Executive Director of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water in the United States and Canada. Based in Chicago, the Alliance works with water utilities, water conservation professionals in business and industry, planners, regulators, and consumers. Prior to joining the Alliance in July of 2007, Mary Ann was Executive Director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, a non-profit organization composed of 387 urban water supply agencies, environmental groups, and other entities managing statewide water conservation in California and implementing the nation’s first set of Best Management Practices.
Mary Ann has over 35 years of experience, having worked at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in environmental planning, she has authored numerous publications on water conservation, land use planning, and natural resources management, and has co-produced two films which have aired on public television and community cable stations. She is a fellow at the Water Resources Center at the University of California at Santa Cruz, a Trustee and past Chair of the American Water Works Association National Water Conservation Division, and has presented numerous papers on water conservation in Spain, France, Australia, Korea, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Chile, China, Romania, Canada, and all across the United States.
Laura Shenkar
Principal, The Artemis ProjectLaura is one of the leading experts on advanced water technology and its potential for the commercial and institutional markets. With over 20 years of experience launching game-changing technology into emerging markets, Laura was one of the first to focus upon the business opportunities for integrated product offering for water management. With over a decade of business experience outside of the US, Laura works with a diverse group of leading water technologies from stormwater filtration to microbial fuel cells to speed their market introduction. She also works with a limited number of large corporations, such as Wal-Mart and Novozymes on their water management strategies.
As a member of Environmental Entrepreneurs ( www.e2.org), Laura co-authored their water policy paper that has informed California state policy. She is an active member of the NSF Onsite Water Think Tank, the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the Water Reuse Association. She has organized industry forums at WEFTEC, and presented at research conferences at Ben Gurion University in Israel, The University of California at Los Angeles and The University of California at Berkeley. Laura has written widely on investment opportunities in advanced water technology, and organizes events at Going Green, the VC Taskforce and Astia.
Laura works closely with the Denmark Innovation Centre, the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Water Netherlands Partnership.
Minna LeVine
President, CEO, H2oAlliance
Advantages International LLCMinna LeVine created H2oAlliance in July 2006. Since then, H2oAlliance has grown to a global network of bright, creative and knowledgeable water market experts and leaders from diverse industry backgrounds. H2oAlliance is a strategic global initiative, and a business venture, for integrated water quality and resource management, research projects, technology, innovation, and science.
Minna has more than two decades of leadership experience in managing companies and brands. She has built and established businesses and organizations, and acted as a liaison between corporate, financial, government and NGO management teams worldwide. As an accomplished corporate strategist, marketer, investor, and entrepreneur, her vision in business performance has driven H2oAlliance growth. She has lived in 15 countries, several regions across the USA, earned her business degrees in Europe and USA, and speaks several languages.
Minna has served in many business organizations, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and has been a featured speaker in numerous trade events worldwide. She moved to the United States in the early 80’s and lives now in Atlanta.
Lisa M. Farmen
Ms. Farmen is the Founder and President of Crystal Clear Technologies, Inc., which is developing nanotechnology capable of removing biological and chemical contaminants from water at a cost affordable to the majority of the world’s population.
Ms. Farmen received her B.S.-M.S. from Colorado State University and Executive M.B.A. in International Business from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. As a chemical engineer, she built an OEM engineering and manufacturing company specializing in water, wastewater and chemical recovery systems for the electronics industry. She built revenue to $8M then sold the company to a group of investors.
Crystal Clear Technologies was started after graduating from GGU in 2000 as a consulting engineering company and then incorporated with a Phase 1 Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant with the National Science Foundation (NSF). CCT won a Phase 2 SBIR grant of $1MM for commercialization of the technology developed in Phase 1. A third SBIR Phase 2 (r) SBIR grant for $220K was won with a NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) to model the nanocoatings. CCT won a $225K ONAMI Gap Grant with the Univ. of Oregon. Crystal Clear Technologies won the 2006 California Clean Technology Open (CCTO) for the best emerging “Clean-green” technology for Water Management. The CCTO competition is a business plan competition in California for clean green emerging California companies.
Ms. Farmen was a guest speaker at the Water Finance & Investment Summit and the NanoBusiness Alliance 2007& 2008, both in NYC and a panelist for the American Bar Association conference on Nanotechnology and the Clean Water Act.
UltraPure Water magazine profiled Ms. Farmen in their March/April 2008 publication.
Crystal Clear Technologies, Inc. was highlighted to Congress in 2007 by the National Science Foundation and the Senate in 2008 showcasing the success of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. Ms. Farmen was awarded the Rising Star alumni award from GGU in 2007.
Michael J. Reardon
Water Industry Executive
Board member, Miox CorporationMike Reardon draws upon his extensive experience as an operating and financial executive in the water business, and leading entrepreneurial growth ventures. Previously, he served as President and COO of Culligan and Everpure, the world?s leading brands in consumer and commercial water treatment. Culligan and Everpure built multi-channel distribution systems, including a global network of franchised Culligan dealers along with independent water dealers, major retailers and OEMs. Prior to Culligan, he was one of the founders and operating executives of USFilter, a former Fortune 300 company that led the consolidation of the global water treatment industry. Serving as a member of the Board of Directors and in various senior executive roles, he played a key role in the growth of the company?s revenues from $17 million to more than $5.5 billion. During that time, USFilter acquired and integrated over 200 companies before it was acquired by Vivendi (Veolia) and later Siemens. Mike was actively involved in acquisitions and divestitures, leading and integrating many of the acquired businesses covering industrial, municipal, consumer and commercial markets.
He has served on a number of boards and is a consultant and adviser for both private equity and early stage ventures and currently serves on the board of Miox Corporation, the leader in safe water disinfection. He is also an advisor for Imagine H2O.
He is a CPA, with a Business degree from California State Polytechnic University and is a graduate of the Kellogg Management Institute at Northwestern University.
F. MARK MODZELEWSKI
Co-Founder & Executive Director, WIAMark is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, executive, investor and visionary, currently focused on developing several early stage ventures in cleantech and health 2.0.
Mark is the former managing director and co-founder of Bang Ventures, an investment firm focused on technology investments including Web 2.0, new energy innovations and medical devices. He recently launched You Be the VC, a groundbreaking entrepreneurial competition. He also co-founded New Europe Ventures, a Polish-based venture capital firm, as well as the Benet Group, Leonardo BioSystems, Lux Research and the NanoBusiness Alliance. He has served as a senior executive at NanoDynamics (and continues to advise the company), Opion, GolinHarris and NRW. In addition, he has consulted for companies ranging from NanoSys to Engelhard to Mastercard to Yahoo to eSpeed to Pixar to DaimlerChrysler.
Mark is a member of the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group to the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST). He was recognized by Forbes as a "powerbroker" and has been featured in Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, ABC, BBC, N.Y. Times, Business Week, Fortune and the Wall Street Journal, among others. Mark also appears regularly as a Fox Business News and CNBC technology commentator and on occasion serves as a co-host of SquawkBox. He was also a featured columnist for the Boston Herald's Hub 2.0 column.
Before entering the private sector, Mark was an appointee in the Clinton Administration developing policy, legal and communication strategy efforts on issues including Y2K preparedness, U.S. mortgage and banking systems, the online transformation and integration of HUD and FHA programs, digital divide efforts, biotech and organic food standards, and regional economic development programs. He is a graduate of the U. Denver College of Law (JD) and Boston U. (BFA, Painting). He is an avid supporter of the arts and also funds numerous animal charities, in particular pit bull rescue organizations and groups that combat breed specific legislation.
PETER WILLIAMS
IBM Distinguished Engineer, CTO, Big Green InnDr Peter Williams is the Chief Technology Officer for IBM's Big Green Innovations incubator, whose role is to create environmentally focused businesses for IBM - he is personally responsible for assembling, maintaining and developing the portfolio of businesses included. His particular focus areas have been PV technologies; developing green house gas reduction solutions and services for all types of organization, both public and private; and, in greatest depth, water management solutions, covering entire water resources (for example entire rivers or aquifers), utility infrastructures responsible for water supply, water quality and waste water management, and enterprise water management.
Dr Williams holds the title of IBM Distinguished Engineer. By background, he is a management consultant with well over 20 years experience of bringing technology and business issues together to develop novel solutions and business models. A native of the UK, he has lived in California since 1999, and is married with three children. His PhD was awarded by the School of Management at the University of Bath, England, in 1986.
DR. RISHI SHUKLA
Archer Daniels Midland CompanyDr. Rishi Shukla is a technology leader at ADM. Dr. Shukla has been involved for over 14 years in the pilot scale process development of novel processes for biofuels processing. At ADM since 2000, he has extensive technical experience with the production and recovery of ethanol and other related biofuel transportation fuels. He is a member of ADM’s Water Sustainability Committee and oversees ADM’s membrane applications research. He is a graduate of University of Illinois and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
MICHAEL HOLMAN
Research Director, Lux ResearchMichael Holman is a Research Director at Lux Research. He leads a team of Analysts and Senior Analysts responsible for providing ongoing intelligence and strategic advice to clients in a variety of emerging technology areas, including nanomaterials, solar energy, alternative power and energy storage, water technologies, and biosciences. He and his research team provide the information and insight to help clients -- ranging from Global 500 corporations to leading institutional investors -- make better decisions about emerging technologies. Michael is also deeply involved in technology public policy issues. He is a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group, and was invited to address policymakers from the U.S. and EU at the Perspectives on the Future of Science and Technology program. He has helped the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) organize its Nanomanufacturing for Energy Efficiency Workshop, and helped draft a roadmap document for the DOE, guiding hundreds of millions of dollars in spending.
Michael holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Columbia University, where he performed cutting-edge research as a part of Columbia’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center and authored numerous scientific articles and reviews. He also holds a B.A. in Chemistry and Philosophy from Rice University.
MICHAEL LOCASCIO
Sr. Analyst, Lux ResearchMichael LoCascio is a Senior Analyst at Lux Research, and leads the Lux Water Intelligence service. He brings over ten years of corporate R&D and entrepreneurial start-up experience in the defense and advanced materials industries. Prior to joining Lux Research, Michael spent eight years as the CTO of Evident Technologies, a leading nanomaterials application development company. He has overseen the development and launch of over two dozen products in fields as diverse as life-sciences, optoelectronics, and anti-counterfeiting technologies, and has been awarded with over twenty patents and patents pending. Michael has also managed over a dozen projects in conjunction with leading national labs, academic institutions, and Fortune 500 companies in the areas of solar cells, thermoelectrics, nonlinear optical devices, and printed electronics. Michael spent two years as a research engineer at Lockheed Martin where he conducted research on advanced optical filter and thermophotovoltaic technology.
Michael holds a B.E. degree in Engineering Physics and a Master Degree in electrical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. His graduate work focused on the development of novel ion beam sources used to deposit semiconductor thin film layers.
CHRIS SPAIN
Chairman of the Board & Chief Strategy Officer, Hyd/p>Chris Spain is chairman and chief strategy officer of HydroPoint. Mr. Spain co-founded HydroPoint in 2002 with the vision of providing smart water management for sustained conservation and cost savings. Today HydroPoint is regarded as a proven leader in clean technology, with top-tier venture and strategic partnerships.
Mr. Spain has over 20 years of experience successfully managing cutting-edge technology, media and information services companies. Previously, he headed Shaman Corporation, which he co-founded in 1996. Shaman Corporation provided mission-critical IT data services to such leading companies as Hambrecht & Quest, DLJ, Lockheed, Department of Education and Intuit.
In early 2000, Mr. Spain successfully sold Shaman to Corporate Software and Technology, one of the country's largest corporate software resellers. Prior to Shaman Corporation, Mr. Spain was president of Accelerated Media, a broadcast and interactive media company that produced the Discovery Channel's science- and technology-based "Know Zone" program, for which Mr. Spain received an Emmy award. Accelerated Media created one of the first interactive TV/website systems, later adapted by the Discovery Channel for other programs. In addition, Mr. Spain led multimedia projects for NBC, Apple, Pacific Bell and Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Studios, among other clients. Prior to Accelerated Media, Mr. Spain won numerous awards for direction and design as a Special Projects Producer for Chronicle Broadcasting in San Francisco. His work on live, national television shows blended complex technology integration with large-scale project coordination, honing an ability that serves him well at HydroPoint, where he leads the Company in delivering enterprise-wide water management solutions for a wide variety of industries.
DAVID HENDERSON
Managing Director, XPV Capital CorporationDavid draws on his extensive investment and business development experience to help portfolio companies achieve their strategic and financial goals. His extensive international business dealings in Europe and Asia have helped XPV portfolio companies successfully completing valuable M&A transactions and strategic partnerships. With his broad industry knowledge and networks he supports his companies through the complexities of building a successful global enterprise.
Before founding XPV Capital Corporation, David was one of the first employees of the private merchant bank Kinghaven Capital Corporation (now VRG Capital). At Kinghaven, he led or was involved in over 20 fundraising, M&A, and direct investment transactions. As the Vice President of Finance at GENSEL Biotechnologies, a Kinghaven Capital portfolio company, he helped the company raise multiple rounds of financings and enter into strategic partnerships with three leading multi-nationals.
David is an Advisor for the US Strategic Water Initiative and Imagine H2O, has been published in several leading water magazines, and is a frequent speaker on the topic of water investing. He is a Director of Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship and is a founding member of the National Angel Capital Organization.
David was educated at Ryerson University’s School of Business where he specialized in the Enterprise Development program, and was awarded the Ryerson Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Research Award.
Peter Frykman
Founder & CEO, DriptechDriptech inc. produces low cost drip irrigation systems for use by small farmers in developing countries. The innovative design and proprietary, automated manufacturing system improves upon current drip systems by eliminating a large number of parts, reducing installation time and dramatically lowering costs. It has the potential to become the most cost effective and easily used drip irrigation system for small plot farmers in developing nations. Through pilot tests with farmers in India, Driptech has gained valuable insight into how to help the developing world's rural farmers produce food for consumption and sale in the face of water scarcity. Through novel manufacturing and distribution Driptech can profitably reach the hundreds of millions of people who have been unable to use drip irrigation until now, and in the process, save tremendous amounts of water.
Peter Frykman, founder and CEO of Driptech inc., received his BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, where he focused on manufacturing and design. He is vitally concerned with the challenge of water scarcity, especially in developing countries. His professional interests include mechatronics, medical devices, and design for extreme affordability. He is an avid rower and two time national champion for Stanford.
John Kaestle
President & CEO, HaloSourceJohn joined HaloSource in 2004. Prior to joining, he was executive vice president and general manager of the Global Resins Business of Borden Chemical. This $900 million business included 37 operations in nine countries across the world. His career also includes 20 years with Weyerhaeuser Company. John is a graduate of Haverford College, where he received a degree in economics and quantitative methods. He received an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Paul O'Callaghan
CEO, O2 Environmental, IncPaul is CEO of O2 Environmental Inc., a Director with Ionic Water Technologies, and an industry expert reviewer for both Sustainable Development Canada and the Innovative Clean Energy Fund.
Paul recently completed a cutting edge analysis of BlueTech investment opportunities in the water sector for Global Water Intelligence, “Water Technology Markets – key opportunities and emerging trends’. Paul provided a critical analysis of the game changing technologies currently undergoing commercialisation. Paul is currently tracking game changing technologies based on analysis of how issues such as the water-energy nexus, water scarcity & resource depletion are changing how water is managed and creating opportunties for a smarter, more efficient water system.
Paul has worked with technology start-ups including Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, Microsludge, MicroDynamics UV and Aquacritox to take technologies from proof of concept through to commercialization. Paul’s comprehensive technical and market expertise gained in both Europe and North America provides a unique international perspective on the emerging technology opportunities.
Paul has carried out work to identify investment opportunities for funds such as the Renaissance Fund, Frog Capital & the Four Winds Aqua Fund. He has also carried out work for large water PLC’s to help identify opportunities for acquisition and internal technology development.
Paul has been an invited speaker at water technology events such as the Blue, Green & Gold and the Saudi Water & Power Forum. Paul holds a Masters Degree in Water Resource Management and lectures on sustainable energy at the BC Institute of Technology and was a technical expert for the Artemis Project ‘Water Top 50’. Paul is a regular contributing writer for Green Options Media sites Ecopreneurist and Cleantechnica.
Finn Nielsen
Chairman, VWS North America, Veolia WaterFinn Nielsen is Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors for Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (VWS) and Chairman of the Board of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies North America.
Mr. Nielsen was CEO and President of Kruger Inc., now a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, from 1989 to 2000. He then moved to Denmark and was CEO and President of Kruger A/S with responsibility for Spain and the Nordic countries. In 2003 he became Executive Vice President for Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies responsible for the UK, Poland and the Nordic countries, and returned to the US in 2004 where he was CEO and President responsible for the Americas and Australia. Since January 2008, he has been on special project for the CEO of Veolia Water and the CEO of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.
Prior to 1989, Mr. Nielsen held various engineering, sales and management positions in Denmark and Europe for Kruger A/S and was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Volund USA.
Mr. Nielsen is a native of Denmark and a graduate of the Danish engineering college, Odense Teknikum.
Tripat Mangat
Water Resources Management Corporation25 years leading multi-disciplinary teams to create environmentally appropriate and context sensitive solutions for the built environment in the US, Britain and Africa. As prime consultant on prestigious, internationally bid design projects for water resource management, housing and industrial development, he has engineered water and urban infrastructure projects that serve over three million people. These range from ultra low energy water supply systems, treatment plants and environment conservation systems, to communities with low environmental footprints. Practicing in California for the past 7 years he has worked with Silicon Valley cities and Bay Area developers to build adaptive re-use, transport oriented, multi-use projects and urban infrastructure.
In all this work, the triple bottom line of financial viability, environmental sustainability and context sensitive design is a guiding principle and an evident signature. These projects have been executed through funds provided by the World Bank, German Aid Bank (KfW), the African Development Bank, Sovereign governments and private enterprise. The aggregated value of work successfully designed, procured and executed to date through direct responsibility is over US$ 200 million.?
Tom Cooper
Corporate Water Programs Manager, IntelIn this capacity, Tom’s responsibilities include wastewater policy and program development, long range goal setting and related water conservation initiatives. He has been with Intel for ~12 years and has 24 years of experience in EHS programs with major industrial corporations/institutions including Lockheed-Martin, GE, PG&E, NASA-Ames Research Center and Chemical Waste Management. He has a BS in Environmental & Systematic Biology from California Polytechnic State University, and an MS in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.
Victor HwangcManaging Director, T2 Venture Capital
Victor Hwang is the co-founder and Managing Director of T2 Venture Capital, a venture fund focused on breakthrough technology spinning out of government and academia. He is a Kauffman Fellow, a member of a selective program to groom leaders of the venture capital industry. He is the immediate past President of Larta Institute, one of the nation's leading organizations helping to commercialize technology from key federal agencies, a network of universities, and global partnerships with numerous countries. Victor was the founding CEO of Stonybrook Purification, a water filtration company. Victor was Chief Strategy Officer of Veatros, a video search company, where he led the company's acquisition by DivX. He has mentored over 200 companies and has structured venture capital and technology transactions as a corporate attorney in world-class law firms.
Before joining Larta Institute, Victor was an attorney in the Corporate Securities and High Technology groups of Irell & Manella in Los Angeles. Victor practiced in a variety of legal areas, including negotiating venture capital investments, public and private equity and debt structurings, and mergers and acquisitions. Victor has also counseled on a range of new technology matters, including software development, telecommunications, multimedia, and the Internet. Prior to joining Irell & Manella, Victor practiced corporate and finance law with the international firm of Mayer, Brown & Platt.
Victor graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. with Honors, studying Government plus additional studies in Computer Science, Computer Architecture, and Operating Systems Design. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Chicago with a J.D. He was appointed as a Law Clerk in the General Counsel’s office of the U.S. Agency for International Development in 1997 and served in national politics from 1995 to 1997.
Victor has reviewed grant investments in startup technology businesses for the National Science Foundation and the State of California. He has testified on technology policy for both the California Senate and Assembly. Victor was appointed to the California Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology. Victor was awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship, a program for emerging trans-Atlantic leaders. His opinions have been cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, among others. He served on the Steering Committee of the International Banking and Finance Committee of the American Bar Association. He is the co-author of “Selected Developments in Federal Securities Law and California Corporate Law,” Business Law Section of the State Bar of California; Hollywood Unstrung (Entertainment in a Wireless Age); Sand Dollar Report (An Analysis of Venture Investing); and numerous other publications.
Jeffrey J. Mosher
Executive Director, National Water Research InstituteJeff Mosher serves as Executive Director of the National Water Research Institute located in Fountain Valley, CA, a non-profit research organization with water and wastewater agency members. He is responsible for advancing NWRI’s mission of creating new sources of water through research and technology while protecting public health and improving the environment. Mr. Mosher manages NWRI’s research and education programs and related activities, which have included advances in water reuse, desalination, innovative technologies, and water policy. Prior to joining NWRI, Mr. Mosher worked for the WateReuse Foundation and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. He has 10 years of experience as an environmental consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the areas of water quality, regulation, and policy. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary and a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the George Washington University.
Elsie Mann
Water industry decision makers rely on Optimatics’ technologies to optimize the planning of their water and wastewater networks, from daily operations to 50-year master plans. Founded in 1996, Optimatics has completed over 200 optimization projects with more than 60 water and wastewater utilities and irrigation authorities around the world. Since joining Optimatics in 2004, Elsie has worked on numerous projects, applying optimization to water system problems in the Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, and Canada. Elsie relocated to Chicago in 2007 where she now works with Optimatics in their North American head-quarters.
Kate Bachman
As an award-winning editor of manufacturing trade publications STAMPING Journal® and The FABRICATOR®, Ms. Bachman witnessed the awakening of interest among her readers for advice, instruction, and guidance on energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, environmentally sound resource use and waste disposal, and sustainable manufacturing processes and facilities. This interest prompted the genesis for Green Manufacturer®. Ms. Bachman currently is launching the magazine’s premier issue, bringing green technology to North American manufacturers eager to incorporate it into their businesses.
Ms. Bachman has edited and written hundreds of articles on manufacturing practices, techniques, and machinery technology for nearly 10 years, published in Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Communications (FMAC) print and electronic magazines and Web site, www.thefabricator.com.
She serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Illinois Solar Energy Association and welcomes nanotechnology’s role in solar energy and other renewable energy forms.
Sally C. Gutierrez
Director, National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development,
United States Environmental Protection AgencySally C. Gutierrez is the Director of the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) in Cincinnati, Ohio. NRMRL is one of three Federal research laboratories within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development. The Laboratory is responsible for conducting engineering and environmental technology research to support the Agency in development of policy, regulations and guidance to further environmental protection in the U.S. The research staff consists of 400 environmental and chemical engineers, chemists, microbiologists, economists, hydrologists and other scientists and support staff. Key areas of research include: treatment and control of contaminants in drinking water, restoration of ecosystems, control of air pollutants, remediation of contaminated sites, environmental sustainability and environmental technology testing and development.
Mrs. Gutierrez was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She received a Master of Science degree from the University of Texas, School of Public Health in Houston. Her area of expertise is water resource management. She was appointed NRMRL’s Director in 2005. Prior to this appointment she was the Director of the Water Supply and Water Resources Division with the Laboratory. During her tenure as Director of the Water Supply and Water Resources Division, she was responsible for leading a national technology demonstration program for control of arsenic in drinking water. Prior to coming to U.S. EPA, she was responsible for administering several water programs for the State of Texas environmental agency in the areas of drinking water, water monitoring, wastewater treatment permitting, and utility rates.
She is a member of the American Water Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers and is past President of the Texas Environmental Health Association. She is a member of the Board of Directors for AIDIS U.S.A.