We are excited to welcome a distinguished group of participants to the 2024 Greater Houston Environmental Summit. Read about them and their work here >>

Participant List

• • • John L. Hall, President and CEO of Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
      
      • Diane Wilson, Executive Director San Antonio Estuarine Waterkeeper, Goldman Environmental Prize Winner

• • • Ana Bueno, Climate and environment reporter Univision 45
    • Elena Bruess,  Environmental Reporter Houston Landing
      
      • Keith Downey, President Kashmere Gardens Super Neighborhood

• • • Leticia Gutierrez, Director of Government Relations and Community Outreach Air Alliance Houston
    • Luke Metzger, Executive Director Environment Texas
    • Robin Schneider, Executive Director Texas Campaign for the Environment

• • Lisa Lin, Director of Sustainability Harris County
  • Dr. Stephen Linder, Director Institute of Health Policy, UT School of Public Health
  • Dr. Stephanie Piper, Research Associate Climate and Equity, Houston Advanced Research Center
  • Dr. Stefania Tomaskovic, Coalition Director, Coalition for the Environment, Equity, & Resilience

• • Obiageli Onuba, Community Engagement and Resilience Consultant, qb.
  • Mandi Siebels, Senior Division Manager, City of Houston Public Works Department, Water Division
  • Amanda Tullos, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, LFA, SITES AP, CHPC, FITWEL Ambassador, ENV SP, Principal and Founder GreeNexus
  • Mark Wilfalk, Director City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department

• • Council Member Abbie Kamin

• • Jenny Buergermeister, wellness educator

• • • Gavin Dillingham, Ph.D. CCP, Executive Advisor SLB New Energies
    • Jill Kurtz, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C & ID+C, Principal and Director of Building Sciences, Page
    • Yvonne N. Harris, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Diversity Consultant
    • Stuart Nelson, Ph.D., President & CEO Institute for Spirituality & Health
    • Amanda Tullos, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, LFA, SITES AP, CHPC, FITWEL Ambassador, ENV SP, Principal and Founder GreeNexus 

2024 Summit Schedule

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Welcome Plenary:

• Steve Stelzer, LEED AP President, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC), AIA Member Emeritus

8:40 – 9:00 a.m. Opening Keynote:

• Diane Wilson, Executive Director of San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper and Goldman Environmental Prize Winner

9:00 – 9:40 a.m. Making Progress on Health, Equity and Resilience with Winning Strategies

• Leticia Gutierrez, Director of Government Relations and Community Outreach, Air Alliance
• Luke Metzger, Executive Director, Environment Texas
• Robin Schneider, Executive Director, Texas Campaign for the Environment
• Moderator: Ana Bueno, Reporter, Univision

9:50 – 10:30 a.m. Improving Health in Vulnerable Communities with Data & Analytics

• Lisa Lin, Director, Office of Sustainability, Harris County
• Dr. Stephen H. Linder, Director, Institute of Health Policy, UT School of Public Health)
• Dr. Stephanie Piper, Research Associate, Climate & Equity, HARC
• Dr. Stefania Tomaskovic, Coalition Director, Coalition for Environmental, Equity, and Resilience (CEER)
• Moderator: Elena Bruess, reporter, Houston Landing

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break, sponsored by Kirksey

10:45 – 11:25 a.m. Panel: Designing for Resilience and Conservation in an Urban Environment

• Obiageli Onuba, Community Engagement and Resilience Consultant, qb.
• Amanda (Mandy) Siebels, Senior Division Manager, City of Houston Public Works Department, Water Division 
• Amanda Tullos, FAIA, LFA, LEED AP, BD+C & ID+C, SITES AP, SEED AP, ENV SP, FITWEL, Founder, GreeNexus
• Mark Wilfalk, Director City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department
• Moderator: Keith Downey, President Kashmere Gardens Superior Neighborhood Council

11:25 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch & Expo

12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Luncheon Keynote Speakers

• Welcome: Abbie Kamin, City of Houston Council member for District C
• Keynote Address: John L. Hall, President and CEO of Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

1:15 – 1:25  Overview of the Charrette process

1:25 – 1:30 Brief break

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• College of Sciences and Technology Building Tour (LEED Gold)
  • Building Overview: Jody Sergi, AIA, LEED AP, Associate Partner & Studio Director, Kirksey Architecture
  • Tour Overview: Dr. Akif Uzman, Dean, College of Sciences and Technology, University of Houston-Downtown
• Mid-Day Energizer and Wellness Activity, sponsored by Working Partner led by Jenny Buergermeister

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Break & Expo

2:30 – 4:00 p.m.     Concurrent Breakout Charrettes

• Charrette 1: Making Progress on Health, Equity, and Resilience with Winning Strategies. Led by:
  • Gavin Dillingham, Ph.D. CCP, Executive Advisor, SLB
  • Yvonne N. Harris SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Diversity Consultant
• Charrette 2: Improving Health in Vulnerable Communities with Data Analytics. Led by:
  • Stuart Nelson, Ph.D., President & CEO, Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center
  • Stephanie Piper, Ph.D.Research Associate Climate and Equity, Houston Advanced Research Center
• Charrette 3: Designing for Resilience and Conservation in an Urban Environmen. Led by:
  • Jill (Sornson) Kurtz, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C & ID+C,
    Principal & Director of Building Sciences at Page 
  • Amanda Tullos, FAIA, LFA, LEED AP, BD+C & ID+C, SITES AP, SEED AP, ENV SP, FITWEL, 
    Founder, GreeNexus

4:15 – 5:15 p.m.   Breakout Charrettes Readout and Call to Action

5:15 – 5:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

2024 Sponsors