Welcome to the WIA website.

FABIEN COUSTEAU
Explorer & Aquatic Environmentalist

Diving 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 Alliance

Mr. 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 Illinois

Mark 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, LLC

Mr. 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.

MICHAEL DEANE
Executive Director, NAWC

Michael Deane is executive director of the National Association of Water Companies. Mr. Deane previously served as Associate Assistant Administrator for Water in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2007 to January 2009. Prior to being appointed to this position, he served as Senior Policy Advisor, Infrastructure Finance, for the Agency’s Office of Water. Before joining EPA in 2006, Mr. Deane was an executive at several water management companies, including United Water and its parent company Suez and the U.S. operations of Vivendi (now Veolia), focusing on innovative financing and infrastructure policy. He began his career in water at the EPA, working on the state revolving fund and public-private partnership programs.

A regular contributor to the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-deane), Mr. Deane holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University and a Bachelor’s degree in biology and geography from Gustavus Adolphus College.

RALPH EBERTS
Executive Managing Director of Client Accounts, Black & Veatch

Ralph Eberts is currently serving as the Executive Managing Director of Client Accounts for Black & Veatch’s global water business. His main responsibilities include management and sales of the company’s core water business in the Americas, United Kingdom and Asia Pacific. Eberts and his team develop and maintain client relationships, manage the portfolio of projects that Black & Veatch executes for key clients, and lead client-facing activities.
Prior to assuming this role, Eberts was the Managing Director for Black & Veatch’s Asia-Pacific water business where he was responsible for overseeing a business that spanned 12 offices in six countries. During his tenure he successfully managed Black & Veatch’s re-entry into the Australia water market. He played a significant role in ensuring the successful execution of the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant. The plant was an integral part of the $ 2.2 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Project in SE Queensland, Australia which received numerous accolades and awards from the global and regional engineering community, including, in November 2009, being named as one of the Top Ten Engineering Wonders in Queensland.
Through his long association with Black & Veatch Eberts has held a number of important leadership positions that include Director of Project Services and Deputy Director of Client Services for Black & Veatch’s water business in the Western United States. His project management experiences includes an important role on the full secondary expansion of the City of Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant, a 15-year, $1.1 billion wastewater treatment and reclamation project, which was named one of the ten most outstanding public works projects of the 20th century by the American Public Works Association.
Through these experiences Eberts has been able to provide important insight into the global and Asia Pacific water industry and has been interviewed by international and local media to provide comment about developments and trends in the industry.
Eberts has been an active member of the Water Environment Federation, American Water Works Association, American Public Works Association, Structural Engineering Association of California and an officer of the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering - College of Fellows.

KELLY CARNES
President & CEO, TechVision21

Kelly Carnes is an entrepreneur, and nationally recognized technology policy expert and thought leader. She has served the high tech industry for over 20 years, holding leadership positions in technology business, law and government. She is President and CEO of TechVision21, a Washington, DC-based technology strategy firm. TechVision21 leverages technology, business and government expertise to help companies: pinpoint and secure research and technology funding; forge critical alliances with business and government leaders; and promote and protect their interests in Washington. TechVision21 clients include global companies, leading U.S. research universities, government, and science and technology non-profit organizations. Before founding TechVision21, Ms. Carnes served eight years at the highest levels of the U.S. government, working first as an aide to then First Lady Hillary Clinton, and later, as a senior technology policy advisor to four Secretaries of Commerce. Most recently, Ms. Carnes served four years as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy. As a Presidential appointee, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Carnes represented the Administration before Congress, and was a liaison to, and advocate for, the technology business community. Ms. Carnes also represented the United States in negotiations with foreign governments, and in multi-lateral fora, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Ms. Carnes also provided strategic direction and management oversight for a large Federal agency; spearheaded sophisticated, highly-leveraged public-private partnerships to promote technological innovation; and led numerous Presidential and Cabinet-level technology initiatives. Private sector partners—including Warner Brothers, Scientific American, the National Association of Manufacturers, and DeVry University—invested $50+ for every Federal dollar invested in these ventures. Ms. Carnes served as a key point person on numerous high profile issues affecting technology businesses, including regulation of E-commerce, H-1(b) visas, the R&D tax credit, securities litigation reform, financial accounting standards, and the high tech work force shortage. She also helped lead the Administration’s efforts to increase the representation of women and minorities in the nation’s technology work force. Ms. Carnes directed several Presidential-level technology programs and initiatives, including the National Medal of Technology, America’s highest award for technological innovation. She also created GetTech, an award winning national public awareness and information campaign to encourage teens to pursue technology careers. GetTech features celebrity endorsements, radio and television public service announcements, and an interactive web site. GetTech ads have been broadcast more than 45,000 times, and have reached students in 14,000 public middle schools. Ms. Carnes is known as a dynamic speaker and forceful advocate for industry on technology and competitiveness issues. She is a frequent keynote speaker at technology and business conferences around the nation, and has been widely quoted in the media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, CNN.com, Business Week.com, Information Week, CIO Magazine and The National Journal. She has been a featured guest on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation, and appeared on television and radio broadcasts nationwide. Ms. Carnes has served on numerous Boards and Commissions, including the Comptroller General’s Advisory Board (Government Accountability Office), the Senior Advisory Group for the Director of National Intelligence, a National Governors’ Association Commission on Technology and Adult Education, and the Steering Committee for the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology (the “Morella Commission”). Ms. Carnes also has served as an advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and BEST: Building Engineering and Science Talent. In 2000, Ms. Carnes was selected by the Center for the Study of the Presidency to join an elite group of experts making recommendations to President Bush on improving the federal government’s ability to develop technology and competitiveness policy. Ms. Carnes previously enjoyed a highly successful technology business career. As an attorney at a top national law firm, Ms. Carnes structured and negotiated more than $1 billion in technology business transactions. These included joint ventures and strategic alliances, venture capital transactions, technology development, licensing and marketing agreements, systems integration projects, and large-scale computer outsourcing transactions. Ms. Carnes graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law School, where she served as Topics Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal.

REKA SUMANGALI
Research Associate, Lux Research

As a Research Associate at Lux Research, Reka’s contributions to advisory projects include analysis of the water technology landscape for market opportunities, evaluating industrial applications of ongoing nanotechnology research, and assisting multinational corporations in navigating energy-related technologies and opportunities. Reka has also been working in the Water and Green Buildings Intelligence practices, where she has conducted extensive primary and secondary research on topics ranging from desalination, the intersection of energy and water, and agricultural water use and she has contributed to several State of the Market Reports.
Prior to joining Lux, Reka was an Associate Analyst in UBS Investment Bank’s Investment Research group covering Natural Gas and Electric Utilities. Her work at UBS involved an in-depth understanding of the US electric power industry, generation portfolios, state utility commissions, power markets and extensive financial modeling and valuation.
Reka graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a B.A. in Economics and Psychology.

MARK LECHEVALLIER, PhD
Director Innovation & Environmental Steward, American Water

Dr. 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.

John S. Young, Jr.
President of American Water Works Service Company and Chief Water Technology Officer of American Water

John S. Young, Jr., serves in the dual role as President of American Water Works Service Company and Chief Water Technology Officer of American Water. In this role, he is responsible for the business and operation functional support for the American Water utility subsidiaries, promoting innovation and technology across the business and for facilitating and managing growth opportunities within American Water.
John is an active member of several professional organizations, including being the Board Chair of the Design/Build Institute of America and a Board Member of the American Water Works Association and the WateReuse Foundation
John is a registered professional engineer in a number of states. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Duke University, and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina.

Scott Royer
General Manager Veolia Water North American Milwaukee Project, Water Impact Index

Mr. Royer has over 30 years of experience in the water industry providing management and technical support for communities throughout North America. As General Manager for Veolia Water, Milwaukee, he oversees the ten-year contract with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for operations and maintenance of the District’s two facilities (630 mgd) as well as for MMSD’s Wastewater Conveyance and Deep Tunnel System. As a system, these facilities provide wastewater treatment for 28 communities and over 1 million people in southeast Wisconsin. Before coming to Milwaukee, Mr. Royer was Vice President of Technical Services for Veolia Water in the Central United States, where he was responsible for managing technical support services for municipal and industrial projects within the U.S. Central region and Canada. This often entailed convening and leading technical teams of up to 50 people, including global experts drawn from Veolia Water companies in Europe and Asia.

STELLA THOMAS
Founder and Director, Global Water Fund

Stella Thomas is the Founder and Director of the Global Water Fund, an international boutique consultancy that helps navigate water strategies for the public and private sectors. The Global Water Fund serves as a platform for multi-stakeholders to address the increasing global problem of water management by seeking solutions in new technologies, financing and policies. The Global Water Fund also seeks to create an awareness of the world’s water crisis through its Foundation.
Ms. Thomas serves as a liaison to governments, international organizations, and business and civic groups on issues related to sustainable development and the environment. Through backgrounds in water, diplomacy and international relations, Ms. Thomas consults on global water and climate issues, and advises governments and industry leaders on environmental, health, economic, political, and social risks related to water. She is also the author of writings on water and sustainable development and frequently lectures to organizations around the world.
Ms. Thomas has been involved with the following organizations: US Congress, United Nations (New York), UN Summit on Sustainable Development (South Africa), NATO (Brussels), European Space Agency (Paris), Ministerial Conference on Water (The Hague), Council of African Unity (Paris), UNESCO (Paris), United Nations Development Program (New York), Ministry of Finance (Paris), World Bank (Paris), World Trade Organization (Geneva), Council of Water (Morocco), League of Arab Nations (Paris).
Ms. Thomas holds two Bachelors Degrees from Michigan State University in the fields of International Relations and Political Science. She holds diplomas in Economics from Cambridge University and The London School of Economics. Ms. Thomas also attended the American Graduate School of International Relations & Diplomacy/University of Paris, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Natural Resources (Water) & Conflict Resolution, with a specialty in North Africa and the Middle East. Ms Thomas has completed a Master's Degree at the University of Oxford in Water Science, Policy & Management.

Paul Gagliardo, M.P.H., P.E.
Manager - Innovation Development, American Water

Mr. Gagliardo is well known throughout the United States, in Europe and Asia for his defining work on indirect potable reuse as a scheme to supplement the potable water supply in San Diego, California . He has pioneered the efficacy testing and use of new technologies in businesses that vary from energy conservation, hazardous waste remediation, solid waste resource recovery, water treatment, wastewater treatment, contaminant monitoring and strategic planning. He has authored over fifty technical papers on subjects ranging from low and high pressure membrane systems, monitoring systems, UV disinfection systems, strategic planning and watershed management. He has given presentations on five continents and in ten different countries and has been the invited keynote speaker on multiple occasions.
During his twenty plus years at the City of San Diego, Paul created and managed the Aqua2000 Research Center. This program focused on the testing of new technologies for use in the water and wastewater business. The Aqua2000 Research Center helped develop the membrane bioreactor system from a novelty to the de facto technology of choice for recycled water applications. Paul’s team developed the performance test protocols that are being used by the California Department of Health Services to determine if systems can be used in specific potable water and recycled water applications. He prepared and submitted performance analyses to the California DHS for acceptance on over twenty new technologies.
Since leaving the City of San Diego he has continued to assist innovators in the development of their new products and help them become commercialized. Currently, Mr. Gagliardo is the Manager – Innovation Development for American Water. In this position he is responsible for identifying new technologies that can be incorporated into American Water’s various business enterprises. The IDP's primary objective is to look for innovations that enhance American Water’s water and wastewater services, increase operational efficiencies, lower operational costs and position American Water for growth in the areas of reuse, desalination and wastewater bioenergy. Paul is responsible for the identification and screening of ideas and navigating those selected ideas through a Stage-Gate process toward eventual commercialization inside and outside of American Water facilities.
Mr. Gagliardo is a registered engineer in the state of California and has a Master’s Degree in Public Health. He was appointed to the State of California 2003 Water Plan Update Advisory Committee, and, was instrumental in fund raising for the successful proposition 50 Water Bond campaign.

James A. Leftwich
Water Industry Executive
President & CEO
Dayton Development Coalition

Jim Leftwich (Lefty) is the President and Chief Executive Officer at the Dayton Development Coalition. The Coalition is the Dayton Region?s economic development organization and principle public advocate. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1987, Mr. Leftwich entered the Air Force where he served over 8 years as a logistics officer. He had various assignments and concluded his career as a staff officer at the Pentagon. He left the Air Force in 1995 and spent time in industry and at the RAND Corporation where he served as a research analyst. In 2005 he joined the Dayton Development Coalition. Jim is responsible for leading a professional team and building partnerships to grow jobs and prosperity for the 13 County Dayton Region. Along with his role as President and CEO of the Coalition, he serves on the Board of Trustees for several organizations throughout the Dayton Region including the Wright Brothers? Institute, daytaOhio, the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute and other economic development partners.
Mr. Leftwich has a B.S. in Political Science from United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Public Administration from University of Dayton. He completed the Secretary of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program in 1995.

Tamin Pechet
CEO, Banyan Water

Tamin Pechet is CEO of Banyan Water (www.banyanwater.com), which provides an intelligence service to improve wastewater collection, saving money and the environment. He is also Chairman of Imagine H2O (www.imagineh2o.org), a global organization spurring entrepreneurship in the water industry through innovation prizes and a water business incubator. Tamin also serves on the Board of Directors of Lux Research (www.luxresearchinc.com), a leading provider of research and analytics on water and other clean technology markets. He is a frequent speaker on water business opportunities. Previously, Tamin was a Principal at Catamount Ventures (www.catamountventures.com), a $215 million venture capital firm, where he invested in and supported the growth of portfolio companies in water, energy, and the environment. Before joining Catamount, Tamin was a principal investor at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he co-founded and managed Goldman Sachs E&P Capital to invest in private energy companies, overseeing growth to over $200 million in capital invested. Tamin also served on the founding team of Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group, a $1 billion middle-market lending business. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Tamin held a business development position with Launch Media through its acquisition by Yahoo! Tamin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB with honors from Harvard University.

RICHARD A. MEEUSEN
CEO, Badger Meter

Richard Meeusen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA in accounting. He immediately joined the audit division of the Milwaukee office of Arthur Andersen & Co. He received his CPA certificate in 1978. In 1988, he became vice president of finance and treasurer of Zenith Sintered Products, Inc., a powder metal parts manufacturer located in Germantown. Mr. Meeusen received his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1995. He joined Badger Meter, Inc., in 1995 as vice president-finance and chief financial officer. In April 2002 he was elected president and chief executive officer and was elected chairman in April 2004. Mr. Meeusen is currently a director of Menasha Corporation, a consumer packaging company, and Serigraph, Inc., a specialty printing company.
In his volunteer activities, Mr. Meeusen serves on the boards of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc., the Greater Milwaukee Committee, the Milwaukee Public Museum, The Nature Conservancy and the United Performing Arts Fund. He also serves as co-chair of the Milwaukee 7 Water Council.
With regard to professional associations, Mr. Meeusen is a director of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. He also serves on the advisory boards for the Business Schools at both the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Rich and his wife Maribeth live in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. They have two grown children, Matthew and Julie.

F. MARK MODZELEWSKI
Co-Founder & Executive Director, WIA

Mark 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.

KIM MAROTTA
Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility, MillerCoors

Kim Marotta is Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility at MillerCoors. In her role, Ms. Marotta is responsible for implementing MillerCoors sustainable development strategy and managing MillerCoors alcohol responsibility initiatives. She also works closely with both parent organizations, SABMiller and Molson Coors, to drive performance in these key areas.
Ms. Marotta completed her undergraduate work at Marquette University and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. Prior to joining MillerCoors in 2004, Ms. Marotta practiced law for more than 13 years, specializing in criminal defense. She also formerly served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School.
Ms. Marotta is a member of several boards, including Milwaukee World Festivals, Children’s Hospital Foundation of Wisconsin and the Alcohol Beverage Medical Research Foundation.

DANIEL RITTER
Director of Public Policy

Partner with KL Gates one of the world's largest legal and public policy firms. Daniel Ritter's practice focuses on policy and legislative affairs for a broad range of interests, including in particular emerging technology and water businesses, philanthropic and research institutions, and Pacific Northwest businesses. He coordinates policy advocacy campaigns, advocates policy positions with federal legislators and administrative agencies; prepares legal and strategic policy analysis and develops legislation and testimony for Congressional hearings. Daniel has extensive experience with the tax rules governing policy activities by the nonprofit sector.
Daniel served as Counsel to the United States Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts & Humanities. Immediately before joining the firm, Daniel founded and served as Executive Director of the Center for Arts and Culture, a grant making institution concerned with the relationship of the nonprofit and for-profit cultural sectors to American public policy.

PETER WILLIAMS
IBM Distinguished Engineer, CTO, Big Green Inn

Dr 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.  

CHRIS SPAIN
Chairman of the Board & Chief Strategy Officer, Hydropoint

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 Corporation

David 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.

MICHAEL H. SHAPIRO
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Michael Shapiro joined the Office of Water as the Deputy Assistant Administrator in November 2002. Prior to that, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). He has been in that position since February 1997, with a brief nine months as Acting Assistant Administrator during the transition between Administrations. Before that Mr. Shapiro was the Director of the Office of Solid Waste, where he had served since November 1993. Prior to that, Mr. Shapiro served first as Deputy Assistant Administrator and then as Acting Assistant Administrator in EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, where he directed implementation of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. From 1980 to 1989, Mr. Shapiro held a variety of positions in the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, where one of his responsibilities was developing EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory.
Mr. Shapiro has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Harvard. He has also taught in the public policy program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

F. HENRY HABICHT II
Managing Partner, SAIL

Hank joined SAIL in January 2006 as a pioneering figure in the areas of environmental business and policy and a leading contributor to environmental innovation. He has been influential in spearheading many of SAIL's portfolio company investments. Hank and Managing Partner Walter Schindler are responsible for co-managing all aspects of SAIL’s operations and investments. His career as a leading member of the environmental policy world has included leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Justice as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, and at the U.S. EPA as COO (Deputy Administrator). During his time with the EPA he oversaw the development of new air and water programs to prevent pollution, including the development of the Energy Star program and implementation of market based trading programs under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments. In business, Hank served as Senior VP in charge of acquisitions and other divisions of Safety-Kleen, a billion-dollar environmental service company. He has also held positions and started ventures in the for-profit environmental arena, including VP of William D. Ruckelshaus Associates, which co-managed the successful Environmental Venture Fund, one of the first successful green funds in the 1980s. As Co-Founder of Capital E, LLC, a strategic consultancy for emerging renewable energy products and technologies, he advised Fortune 100 and early stage ventures on sustainable growth strategies. He previously served as CEO and is now Vice Chairman of a prestigious non-for-profit corporation that fosters innovation in environmental management and promotes applications of clean technology in emerging markets, called Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF.) Hank has held numerous Board seats over the years, currently he sits on the Boards of SAIL companies WaterHealth International, and Xtreme Power, and is a Co-Founder of the American Council of Renewable Energy. He is Commissioner of the National Commission on Energy Policy, has advised several Cabinet Secretaries. He is on the Advisory Board to the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Pacific Northwest National Lab. In 1991 the EPA awarded him with the esteemed Total Quality Leadership Award and in 2009 he received the national Richard Mellon Award for Environmental Stewardship. Hank holds a Bachelors degree with High Honors from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

KEVIN M. MCGOVERN
Chairman and CEO, McGovern Capital, LLC

Kevin M. McGovern is the Chairman and CEO of McGovern Capital, LLC, which provides investments and business strategy to emerging companies, particularly those engaged in consumer technologies and holders of Intellectual Property Rights. He has founded over a dozen companies, seven (7) of which have become world and/or category leaders, including SoBe Beverages, Tristrata (AHA skincare technology), and KX Industries (home-based water purification).
McGovern founded and serves as Chairman and CEO of The Water Initiative (“TWI”) (www.TheWaterInitiative.com), which develops and markets home-based water purification systems, particularly in developing countries. TWI has worked with the Mexican government and the people of Mexico as its first pilot. In less than 2 ½ years, TWI has formulated technology solutions to Mexico’s most severe unclean water conditions and has launched product distribution through the government and through those people most impacted.
He also serves as Co-Chair of the Advisory Board and Board Member of the USA Pavilion and is Senior Advisor (only foreigner) to the Development Committee of the 2010 Shanghai World’s Expo.
McGovern was a founder of SoBe Beverages, which was the US’s fastest growing beverage company growing to $250mm in sales in less than 4 years, and established the “new age”/nutraceutical beverage category. SoBe was sold to PepsiCo.
He also was a founder of KX Industries, which was the world’s leader in developing and marketing water and air carbon filters. KX developed and supplied the first home-based end of tap (“Pur”) filter for P&G and Brita and the first refrigerator water filter for Electrolux. McGovern co-published the pioneering Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report, which is currently the Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Tech Report.
He created and directs the worldwide licensing program for Tristrata Inc., which owns the rights (over 100 patents) to Alpha Hydroxy Acids (“AHAs”), the most successful skin restoration and wrinkle reduction technology in skin care history. Tristrata licenses over 70 companies and is the leading seller of skincare products to dermatologists and plastic surgeons in over 80 countries.
McGovern is a principal and strategist for Clean Coal Technologies, Inc. which has created proprietary technologies to clean coal; for EnviroFuels Manufacturing, Inc., which markets and distributes proprietary smokeless stoves; and for Aquea Scientific, which developed and markets proprietary nanotechnology to “wash-on” additives to the skin, such as sunscreens; as well as an innovator to the fragrance industry.
McGovern has served on various public and private Boards, including The Sports Authority (Executive Committee) and Nobel Education, and is the Co-Chairman of the Silver Shield Foundation, which provides education and counseling assistance to families of police and fire fighters killed in action in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
A graduate of Cornell University (BA) and St. John’s University School of Law (JD), he is a Presidential Councilor (highest honor to alumni) and Trustee Emeritus of Cornell University, having chaired its IP and Tech Transfer Committees. He also serves on Cornell’s Joint Venture (CNI) in Singapore, Chairs Entrepreneurship@ Cornell, and was named Cornell’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2007. He teaches each spring at the Johnson Graduate Business School (Global Innovation and Commercialization) and recently donated and founded the McGovern Family Venture Development Center, Cornell’s first on campus science/business incubator.

Karl Michael Millauer, DDr.
Senior Vice President at AQUATECH International Corp (USA)

Dr. Karl Micheal Millauer is Senior Vice President at AQUATECH International Corp (USA), responsible for New Business Development, M&A, Licensing, Market Development of Europe and Africa, BOT financing.
Dr Millauer, the former CEO of Christ Water Technology, oversees Aquatech's growth in Europe and Africa and with a leadership role in business development and technology acquisitions and alliances.

Don Thompson
President of The Oil Sands Developers Group

Don Thompson is president of The Oil Sands Developers Group (OSDG). As president, Mr. Thompson is chair of the OSDG’s Board of Directors, which determines the group’s position on various issues that are brought forward by the members for collaborative consideration, action and resolution. Mr. Thompson is also a spokesperson for the OSDG and he is often called upon to interact with key stakeholders such as government ministers, mayors and councils. The OSDG is responsible for ensuring the 26-member group accomplishes its vision of energizing sustainable communities. The group’s mandate is to ensure information dissemination to government, key stakeholders and other interested parties about industry perspectives while consulting with stakeholders and bringing forward issues and challenges for the orderly development of Alberta’s oil sands deposits. Don Thompson has worked for Syncrude since 1979 and became Corporate Secretary and General Manager of Environment, Health and Safety. He was appointed as an Officer in 1988 and remained in that position until 2007. Over this period, his responsibilities included ensuring the governance of Syncrude was managed professionally and ethically. He also acted as a liaison between Syncrude and its owners and shareholders. Mr. Thompson also focused on Syncrude’s regulatory and external affairs with particular emphasis on responding to the large number of environmental and external relationship challenges facing Syncrude – a position directly related to his work with the OSDG – and on mentoring of the “next generation” of Syncrude expertise. Since 2007, Mr. Thompson has focused on his role as president of the OSDG while remaining on active duty with Syncrude. Mr. Thompson’s extensive experience with the oil sands industry in combination with his educational background in forestry, zoology, executive and financial management has earned him a reputation as a trusted and reliable source to lead and speak on behalf of the OSDG.

Michael Sears
Investment Partner, Siemens Venture Capital

Michael Sears, Investment Partner at Siemens Venture Capital is based in Palo Alto , CA . He specializes in investments in water, energy and industrial solutions. Michael's group works closely with Siemens Water Technologies, one of the largest worldwide diversified energy and industrial operations in the world. Siemens Water Technologies provides the most comprehensive, cost-effective and reliable treatment systems and services. It offers everything from emergency water supply and conventional water treatment processes to wastewater reuse systems, membrane bioreactors, UV disinfection systems and RO cleaning contracts.
Before joining Siemens Venture Capital in September 2008, Michael was a Managing Director at Atrium Capital, a Sand Hill Road based venture firm, where he led investments in biofuels, silicon, and communications ventures. Previously, he held general management positions at various public and private technology companies. Michael has been the CEO of two small companies, in enterprise software and digital media. He has worked at Sun Microsystems, Spyglass Incorporated and Digeo, as well as consulted with dozens of small technology companies over the past decade.
Michael has been a professional engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company. He has three issued patents. Before Hughes, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a platoon commander and a flight officer.
Michael received his JD and MBA degrees from Stanford University , and a BS degree from the United States Naval Academy.

Sally C. Gutierrez/Speaker 2009
Director, National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Sally 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.
Speaking in Clean Technology 2008.

Daniel Sugarman, VP of Marketing & Strategy, Veolia Water

Mr. Sugarman has more than 25 years of experience in the water industry. Past roles have ranged from engineering design and project management to financial analysis and planning. Mr. Sugarman’s responsibilities over the last few years have included identifying and qualifying new business opportunities (including acquisitions, divestitures, strategic alliances, and public private partnerships) in financial and strategic terms and coordinating the company’s approval process related to such opportunities.

John Cronin
Director and CEO, Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries and Senior Fellow for Environmental Affairs, Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies, Pace University

For 35 years, John Cronin has dedicated his career to environment and innovation. For his accomplishments, Time magazine named him a “Hero for the Planet” and People magazine described him as “equal parts detective, scientist and public advocate.” Cronin is Director and CEO of Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, which is developing real-time technologies and observatories for waterways around the world. He is also Senior Fellow in Environmental Affairs at Pace University where he is helping develop the next generation of environmental and economic policy for water.
Cronin has worked as an advocate, legislative and congressional aide, commercial fisherman, professor, author and filmmaker. He is known internationally for his Hudson River work, for which the Wall Street Journal called him “a unique presence on America’s major waterways.” He served as Hudson Riverkeeper from 1983 – 2000, a position that has inspired a legacy of 200 Waterkeeper programs that fight pollution on six continents.
Cronin co-authored The Riverkeepers with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., published by Scribner with an introduction by former Vice President Al Gore. He has written numerous articles, including for the Op Ed page of The New York Times. He wrote and co-produced the film The Last Rivermen, named an outstanding documentary by the Motion Picture Academy Foundation. His essay, “Where Human and Nature Meet,” is featured in the upcoming book, Oceans, which will be released on Earth Day by Public Affairs Books, and accompany the Disney and National Geographic motion picture Oceans.
Cronin has been the subject of three books and extensive major media print and broadcast news stories, documentaries and profiles. The Knight-Ridder newspapers praised him as a “hero in one of the great success stories of the modern environmental movement.”

Tim Coleman
Global Technology Leader for Wastewater Collection Systems, CH2M HILL

Mr. Coleman has over 16 years of experience in water resources engineering. His area of focus has been stormwater and wastewater collection systems. As Global Technology Leader (GTL) for Wastewater Collection Systems at CH2M HILL, he leads the development of new and innovative technologies to help clients address problems associated with flooding, combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows and structural failure of aging infrastructure. Over the past five years, Mr. Coleman has focused on the development of optimization technologies that support the evaluation of large and complex system problems and identify the most cost effective capital and operational solutions. In addition to his role as GTL, Mr. Coleman manages several large water resources projects for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and City of Chicago Department of Water Management. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri, Rolla.

SebastianStern
Partner, Hamburg Office, McKinsey & Company

Sebastian Stern is a Partner with McKinsey & Company in the Hamburg office. He leads McKinsey’s Water Technology & Investments service line and is co-leading McKinsey’s global practice on Water Economics and Sustained Resource Management.
McKinsey’s engagement in Water is threefold: Supporting governments and global institutions on strategies to mitigate water scarcity, working with water utilities on efficient water provision and engaging with water technology providers and investors on water as a growth market.
Sebastian personally has extensive experience in supporting companies in developing water and infrastructure-related growth- and market entry strategies. His work focuses thereby on technology-driven growth strategies as well as infrastructure-related operating models. He spend the last 5 years in McKinsey’s Chicago office and therefore has significant experience in the Americas and Europe.
He holds a Master in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Organization of growth companies.

William F. Wescott Ph.D.
Vice President, Innovation - Americas
Veolia, Environnement North America Operations LLC

Bill is Vice President, Innovation – Americas for Veolia Environnement, the world’s largest environmental services provider. He works closely with Veolia’s worldwide research and innovation group and all four of Veolia’s business divisions (water, waste, energy management, public transportation), to source clean technology innovation through strategic initiatives such as the Veolia Innovation Accelerator http://www.veolia.com/en/solutions/research-innovation/via/. Bill partners with entrepreneurs and investors to identify promising technologies that meet the evolving needs of Veolia’s clients and can benefit from Veolia’s top position in key markets around the world.

Bill is an internationally recognized clean technology expert, speaking at conferences around the world for over 20 years on how organizations can benefit from environmental technologies and practices. He has extensive experience in environmental control technologies for water, air and waste, information/communication technologies, climate change, new venture development, and organizational governance as well as in the energy, natural resources, chemical, electronics, and environmental services sectors. A lifelong intra- and entrepreneur, Bill has worked with startups, corporations and investors to create new cleantech ventures and assess cleantech opportunities. He has served as an advisor to organizations including the Romanian, Italian, Mexican, Brazilian, and U.S. governments, UNIDO, the Sustainable Performance Group Investment Fund, PROPEL Board of Directors, The Conference Board, The Pew Center on Global Climate Change, The Institute of the Americas, the World Resources Institute, and Metropolis Global. Bill was an environment, health and safety consulting director at Arthur D. Little, Inc. where he worked for 15 years with over 100 clients across all sectors on 5 continents in 4 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian).

Bill has a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon and BSE in Chemical Engineering from Princeton.

Dr. Mikhail P Strongin
Principal Engineer, Ph.D, Advanced Engineering - Americas, ITT R&CW

His present position is a Principal Engineer for ITT, R&CW. In this role his main responsibilities are to lead the CFD works for RCW for turbo-machinery and water multi-physics applications.

Prior to joining ITT, he was a visiting scholar with University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Mechanical Engineering, High Temperature Laboratory, and before this he worked for Altai State Technical University, Barnaul, Russia as a Professor of Physics & Applied Mathematics.

Author of more then 100 articles, conference presentations and book in the area of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Dr. Sc., (Physics & Chemistry of Plasma) - Kurchatov Institute of Nuclear Energy, Moscow, Russia.
PhD, Technical Sciences (Thermo-physics) - Thermo-physics Institute of Siberian Branch Academy of Science USSR, Novosibirsk, Russia.
MS, Physics (Aerodynamics), Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia