Diane Wilson

Executive Director of San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, Goldman Environmental Prize Winner

A shrimper, fourth-generation fisherwoman, and mother of five in Seadrift, Texas, Diane Wilson became a citizen scientist and grassroots environmental activist and organizer when she realized in 1989 that her beloved Lavaca Bay, who she considers family, was being poisoned by Formosa Plastics discharging plastic nurdles into the water. In 2019, she won a $50 million settlement, the largest award in a citizen suit against an industrial polluter in the history of the U.S. Clean Water Act. The ruling also required Formosa to stop polluting the bay and to clean up what they had already discharged. Diane has not stopped with protecting her own bay, but has gone on to help other communities battling environmental injustice, and to advocate for inmates’ rights and peace. She has won many awards for protecting the environment and fighting for social justice. In 2023, she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her work holding Formosa accountable for their pollution. She has written several books about her life and work, including *An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters, and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas*.

Award-winning Environmental Reporter for Univision 45

Moderating Panel 1: Making Progress on  Health, Equity, and Resilience with Winning Strategies

Ana Bueno joined Univision 45 as an environmental/climate change reporter in 2022. She covers issues from air quality and wildlife conservation to watchdog reporting on Houston’s oil and gas industry. She received an Emmy for her reporting on the creosote plume in Houston’s 5th Ward and Union Pacific’s responsibility for the harms to the community. She also won a Bronze Telly for her reporting on the impacts of the plastic industry on the Port Arthur community. Among her many accolades, in 2023, she was selected as a fellow at the University of Rhode Island’s prestigious Metcalf Institute, and in 2024, she was selected by the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources as a Western Wildfire Institute Fellow. She grew up in Veracruz, Mexico.

Keith Downey

President of Kashmere Gardens Super Neighborhood Council #52

Moderating Panel 3: Designing for Resilience and Conservation in the Urban Environment

Keith Downey, a native Houstonian and architect, worked in New York City designing affordable housing before becoming a senior construction project manager for over 20 NYC parks, for which he received the New York City Parks and Recreation Capital Team of the Year Award. After returning to Houston, he became an advocate for his community, mentoring teens and partnering with nonprofits to offer support. He is a champion for environmental justice, civil rights, adequate food, housing, and flood mitigation. He serves as Director of Partnerships for Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council, and he’s on multiple boards, including the Bayou City Initiative. Keith was named a 2017 Houston Hero by the Houston Chronicle, received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from 2022-2024, and the City of Houston named July 23, 2020, as Keith Downey Day. He has been married for 28 years and has two children and two grandchildren.

Elena Bruess

Houston Landing‘s environmental reporter

Moderating Panel 2: Improving Health in Vulnerable Communities with Data Analytics

Elena Bruess covers the environment for the Houston Landing. She comes to Houston after two years at the San Antonio Express-News, where she covered the environment, climate and water. Elena previously worked in the Midwest as a reporter for Circle of Blue, a nonprofit newsroom where she focused on water issues in the Great Lakes region. Before that, Elena covered health and inequity in Chicago as a Pulitzer Center reporting fellow. She is originally from Northeastern Iowa and holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a degree from University of Iowa’s undergraduate writing program. When not on the beat, Elena will be reading a book in the sun or getting ultra-caffeinated at a coffee shop.

Robin Schneider

Executive Director, Texas Campaign for the Environment

Robin Schneider has been at the helm of Texas Campaign for the Environment since 2000, focusing on reining in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries that threaten our climate. Recently, she has focused on organizing in Gulf Coast communities most affected by the pollution from these facilities. In the past, she helped lead statewide and local Zero Waste policies and efforts to take on bad actors in the waste industry. She helped convince Dell and other companies to support producer take-back for electronics and pass electronics take-back laws in 2007 and 2011. Robin was dubbed the “Best Advocate for Breathers” by The Austin Chronicle for her work to close the Grandfather Loophole in the Texas Clean Air Act. She started out as a canvasser for the Equal Rights Amendment in 1978 and was trained at the Midwest Academy.

Lisa Lin

Director of Sustainability for Harris County

As the first Director of Sustainability for Harris County, Lisa Lin helped to develop the Climate Action Plan that Harris County adopted in 2023. She previously coordinated San Antonio’s first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan when she was the climate program manager for their sustainability office. She has served as the Sustainability Manager in the City of Houston’s Sustainability Office.  She is currently working with communities on co-developing Harris County’s Climate Justice Plan. LEED AP for building design and construction, Ms. Lin has over 18 years of sustainability experience  in the public, private, non-profit and higher education sectors.

Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D.

Director, Institute for Health Policy, UTHealth School of Public Health

Dr. Linder’s research focuses on community-based needs and health risks, specializing in cumulative risk characterization, needs assessment, and management. His research leadership includes Principal Investigator for the 5,700 household Health of Houston 2018 Survey. He formerly directed the TMC|72 program, providing data for elected officials. He was appointed to the Board on Environmental Change and Society (BECS) of the National Academy of Sciences, which focuses on the intersection of environmental change and human behavior, and addresses the social, political, and economic factors at work behind our changing climate. He is a UT system Distinguished Teaching Professor, teaching Management, Policy, and Community Health.

Stephanie Piper, Ph.D.

Research Associate in Climate and Equity, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

Dr. Stephanie Piper is a Research Associate focusing on Climate and Equity. She works on projects that aim to provide benefits and protection from climate change to all communities, such as organizing urban tree plantings, and promoting how trees in urban areas reduce heat and foster community resilience. Dr. Piper is also involved in community engagement projects, managing community outreach and interviews, and identifying how best to incorporate community priorities in scientific research. Her research interests include urban ecology, community engagement, science policy, and applying research to improve the environment and quality of life of communities.

Stefania Tomaskovic, Ph.D.

Director, Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience

Stefania Tomaskovic, Ph.D., serves as Coalition Director for the Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience. Stefania believes that a strong, resilient Texas is possible: one where every person can access safe, affordable housing, where every neighborhood has healthy air, water, and soil, and where our economy is strengthened by meaningful work opportunities that support healthy livelihoods without doing harm to each other or the environment.

Prior to joining CEER, Stefania worked with Public Citizen, a national nonprofit group dedicated to representing the people’s voice in the halls of power. Stefania has also worked as a chaplain and a geologist.

Mandi Siebels

Senior Division Manager, City of Houston Public Works

Mandi is a Senior Division Manager for Houston Public Works, leading efforts in One Water, water conservation, and community outreach. With over 15 years of experience in environmental engineering, she has a strong background in water and wastewater engineering design and construction. She earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Her work is driven by a commitment to sustainable water management and community engagement.

Amanda H. Tullos

Principal, GreeNexus Consulting, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, LFA, SITES AP, CHPC, FITWEL Ambassador, ENV SP

Amanda Tullos is the founder of GreeNexus Consulting, a sustainability consulting firm. With personnel across the globe and offices in Houston and Austin, their mission is to create a profitable, just, and regenerative legacy for people, nature, and the built environment. Amanda is a licensed architect, member of the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Green Building Council; her accreditations include: LEED accredited professional for buildings and interiors, Living Future Accredited, SITES AP, and FITWEL Ambassador. Her work has resulted in certification of over 150 LEED certified projects and more than 15 million square feet of space, including 10 Platinum certifications. GreeNexus worked as the sustainability consultant on the first project registered and built with the Living Building Challenge in Texas- The Monarch School Outdoor Learning Studio. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston in 2003 and Architecture License in 2006.

Mark Wilfalk

Director, City of Houston Solid Waste Management

Mr. Wilfalk was selected by former Mayor Turner in 2021 to transform Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department into one that is more sustainable and environmentally sound. Mr. Wilkfalk has nearly three decades of experience in solid waste resource and environmental management including his stint as director and chief of operations with Tampa’s Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management. He is the recipient of the 2014 Solid Waste Association of North American Excellence in Recycling Award and the 2016 Clean Cities Award for carbon emissions reduction.

Distinguished Guests

Jenny Buergermeister, MBA/MS

Charette Leaders

Gavin Dillingham, Ph.D., CCP

Executive Advisor SLB New Energies

With over 20 years of experience in energy system policy and research, Gavin is currently an Executive Advisor, Federal Affairs at SLB, the world’s leading provider of technology and solutions for the energy industry. In this role, he supports the development and implementation of federal and state strategy and engagement efforts to advance SLB’s decarbonization solutions across North America. He holds a PhD from Rice University with a focus on policy adoption and analysis, and certified as a climate change professional (CCP) with expertise in electric power system resilience, energy system decarbonization, and greenhouse gas mitigation policies and programs. He has led interdisciplinary research teams, technology commercialization efforts, and fundraising and business development activities for clean energy and climate projects at HARC, a leading research institute focusing on energy system decarbonization and climate change adaptation. He has also directed multiple US Department of Energy programs, conducted predictive modeling and quantitative analysis, and authored best practice case studies for energy management for large and mid-sized Texas cities.

Yvonne N. Harris, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Diversity Consultant

Yvonne N. Harris is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) leader, Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) champion, Human Resources (HR) expert and Executive Coach. Yvonne has experience with global consulting, technology and professional services firms, healthcare, manufacturing and retail. She has held various roles including North America Diversity & Inclusion Leader, Diversity Talent Attraction Leader, CSR Inclusion Brand Leader, HR Leader, and HBCU Recruitment Leader. Yvonne is an experienced training facilitator and a frequent speaker at conferences and events on a variety of CSR, DEI, and leadership topics including women’s empowerment, unconscious bias, generational differences, gender equity, work-life integration, and inclusive leadership. Yvonne is a two-time winner of the National Diversity Council’s DiversityFIRST Award which recognizes demonstrated dedication and continuing commitment to advocacy, raising awareness of diversity, and protecting civil and human rights. Yvonne has partnered with the Houston Rockets NBA Team, the Houston Dash Soccer Team, and the British Basketball League to host International Women’s Day (IWD) events to celebrate women who are game changers in their professions and highlight how they chose to be agents of change against bias. Always inspired by the life experiences of others, Yvonne is a Co-Founder of 21 Media LLC, and a frequent podcaster who produces content that educates, enlightens, and spreads goodness.

Jill Kurtz, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C & ID+C

Principal and Director of Building Sciences, Page

Jill is a Principal and Director of Building Sciences at Page. As a registered architect and sustainable design specialist, Jill has spent the last 20 years leveraging her strengths as a systems thinker and cross-functional communicator to advance sustainability in interdisciplinary project efforts.

Jill has a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Kansas State University, a Masters in Intercultural Studies from Union University, a Master of Environmental Building Design from the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate in Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership from Harvard.

Jill is dedicated to advancing social responsibility and public interest design in architecture. Her non-profit development experience includes work in India and South Sudan, including building schools and hospitals, and teaching at Kansas State University on “Public Interest Design.” Jill continues this ethos at Page as she created the “Design for Impact” report, aiming to reinforce commitments, update strategies, and track progress.

Stuart Nelson, Ph.D.

President & CEO Institute for Spirituality & Health

Stuart C. Nelson serves as the President & CEO of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center, working with an interdisciplinary team to envision, execute, and sustain a diverse portfolio of programs and projects at the intersection of health, medicine, spirituality, and religion. After growing up in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he completed a bachelor’s degrees in cognitive science, psychology, and religious studies at Rice University and a master’s in religious studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine at Saybrook University, focusing on the psychophysiology of nature contact. His dissertation explores how nature-based metaphors aid cognition as it relates to psycho-spiritual growth and transformation. At the Institute, his work centers on applying theories and methods from the cognitive science of religion in the context of health systems to creatively bridge faith and health towards wholeness and thriving. Stuart is a musically-minded lover of hip-hop, classic rock, and classical Indian music, as well as impressionism, surrealism, and modern art. He is also an avid birder and triathlete.

Stephanie Piper, Ph.D.

Research Associate in Climate and Equity, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

Dr. Stephanie Piper is a Research Associate focusing on Climate and Equity. She works on projects that aim to provide benefits and protection from climate change to all communities, such as organizing urban tree plantings, and promoting how trees in urban areas reduce heat and foster community resilience. Dr. Piper is also involved in community engagement projects, managing community outreach and interviews, and identifying how best to incorporate community priorities in scientific research. Her research interests include urban ecology, community engagement, science policy, and applying research to improve the environment and quality of life of communities.

Amanda Tullos, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, LFA, SITES AP, CHPC, FITWEL Ambassador, ENV SP

Principal and Founder GreeNexus 

Amanda Tullos is the founder of GreeNexus Consulting, a sustainability consulting firm. With personnel across the globe and offices in Houston and Austin, their mission is to create a profitable, just, and regenerative legacy for people, nature, and the built environment. Amanda is a licensed architect, member of the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Green Building Council; her accreditations include: LEED accredited professional for buildings and interiors, Living Future Accredited, SITES AP, and FITWEL Ambassador. Her work has resulted in certification of over 150 LEED certified projects and more than 15 million square feet of space, including 10 Platinum certifications. GreeNexus worked as the sustainability consultant on the first project registered and built with the Living Building Challenge in Texas- The Monarch School Outdoor Learning Studio. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston in 2003 and Architecture License in 2006.