WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024

 

 6:00 p.m.        Kickoff Mixer | Catalina Terrace

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

 

8:00 a.m.         Check-in | Catalina Terrace

 

9:00 a.m.         Welcome and Overview

• Brad Herrema, Co-Chair, SWIS; Shareholder and Natural Resources Department Chair, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

• Clay Landry, Co-Chair, SWIS; CEO, WestWater Research

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9:15 a.m.         Meeting Municipal Needs in an Era of Water Reallocation

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Practical insights from municipal water leaders who are charting a course for sustaining community needs in water-stressed regions.

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Moderator

• Jessica Fox, Southwest Regional Director, WestWater Research

 

Panelists

• Theodore Cooke, Board Member, Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona

• Jenna Covington, Executive Director/General Manager, North Texas Municipal Water District

• Dan Denham, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority

• Nicole Neeman Brady, Vice President, Board of Water and Power Commissioners, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

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10:15 a.m.       Networking Refreshment Break | Catalina Terrace

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10:45 a.m.       Nature-based Solutions for Demand Management, Watershed

                        and Supply Resiliency

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Explore how innovative private companies, non-profits and investors tackle water challenges  through science, regenerative practices and landscape scale projects. This panel delves into the practical realities of building water and climate resilience and economic benefits through nature-based solutions.

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Moderator

• Elisabeth Esposito, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

       

Panelists

• Dane Hague, Co-Founder and CEO, MyLand

• Zach Knight, Co-Founder and CEO, Blue Forest 

• Peter Yolles, General Partner, Echo River Capital

 

11:30 a.m.       Water Supply Enhancement – Investing in New Sources of Water

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Bridging the funding gap: deconstructing the public-private puzzle for water innovation. This panel tackles the challenges, opportunities, and gaps in financing cutting-edge water solutions, bringing the latest perspectives from industry pioneers.

 

Moderator

• Jonathan Haswell, Chief Business Officer, OceanWell

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Panelists

• Charlie McGarraugh, Chairman, OceanWell

• Lnsp "Naggs" Nagghappan, CEO, Renovo Resources

• Kristen Rocca, Principal, DCVC

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12:15 p.m.       Networking Lunch | Catalina Terrace

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1:30 p.m.         Unlocking Sustainable Growth Through Groundwater and Infrastructure

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Explore the intersection of groundwater resources and infrastructural development. This panel delves into strategies for unlocking market and natural inefficiencies to better serve communities, essential economies and the environment, asset monetization and building resilient networks.

 

Moderator

• Scott Slater, Senior Advisor, Cadiz, Inc.; Chairperson of the Board, Limoneira; Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

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Panelists

• Geoff Adamson, CFO, Upwell Capital

• Vince Vasquez, Project Developer, Water Asset Management LLC

 

2:15 p.m.         Water Reliability and Demand Management

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A discussion on water infrastructure quality and reliability. Looking at investing in the aging infrastructure and addressing water infrastructure challenges that are not simply due to water.

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Moderator

• Chris Allwin, CEO, Aetos Capital

 

Panelists

• Christine Boyle, Partner, Burnt Island Ventures

• David Henderson, Managing Partner, XPV Water Partner

• Megan Leitch, Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company

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3:00 p.m.         Networking Refreshment Break | Catalina Terrace

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3:30 p.m.         Seeds of Growth:

                        Cultivating Sustainable Investment in Water Resources and Infrastructure

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Financial experts, construction pioneers, and sustainability champions explore the fertile ground of water resource and infrastructure development.

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Moderator

• Christy Kennedy, Business Development Leader, Municipal West, Woodard & Curran

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Panelists

• David Bird, VP, Project Finance & Development, Garney Construction

• Jeff Nelson, CEO, PERENfra

• Ben Vitale, Managing Partner, Prosarmo

 

4:15 p.m.         From Rain to Reservoir:

                        Diving into the Future of Groundwater Banking and Storage

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This panel delves into the world of groundwater banking and storage.

 

Moderator

• David Jordan, Vice President, Intera

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Panelists

• Adnan Anabtawi, General Manager, Mojave Water Agency

• Brad Gleason, Board Member, Pleasant Valley Water District

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5:00 p.m.         Ocean Sunset Cocktail Party | Catalina Terrace

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024

 

8:00 a.m.         Networking Breakfast | Catalina Terrace

 

9:00 a.m.         How Water Supply Risk Is Changing Farmland Investments

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From understanding water supply risk to innovative technologies, this panel delves into how water risk is transforming farmland investments, and how forward-thinking investors and farmers are adapting to ensure to meet shifting demand and the growing list of both man-made and climate-driven pressures.

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Moderator

• Brett Bovee, President, WestWater Research

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Panelists

• Daniel Baker, Director, Global Water Resources, Timberland and Agriculture, Manulife Investment Management

• ​​Josh Guggenheim, Vice President of Acquisitions, Gold Leaf Farming

• Kyle Murai, Director, Gladstone Land Corporation

 

10:00 a.m.        Venture Investing in Water Innovation: Beyond Finance

 

Exploring the critical role of non-financial venture investment in emerging sustainable water technologies. Insights from Las Virgenes Municipal Water District’s (LVMWD) experience supporting two early-stage technologies, recycled water, and subsea reverse osmosis (SSRO).  A conversation with Dave Pedersen about the importance of leaning in, early demand signal, and collaboration with key stakeholders.

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                         Moderator

• Timothy Quinn, Water Policy Strategist, OceanWell

 

                         Panelists

• Robert Bergstrom, CEO, OceanWell

• Dave Pedersen, General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

• Bruce Reznik, Executive Director, Los Angeles Waterkeeper

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11:00 a.m.          Navigating the Currents:

                           Examining Policy Trends Restricting Private Water Investment

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This panel examines how an evolving landscape of water management as policy shifts influence the role of private investors. Join legal experts, community advocates, and business leaders as thy navigate the intricate currents of water policy and investment.

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Moderator

• Brad Herrema, Co-Chair, SWIS; Shareholder and Natural Resources Department Chair, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

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Panelists

• Brenda Bass, Policy Advocate, California Chamber of Commerce

• James Eklund, Member, Sherman & Howard

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12:00 p.m.       Networking and To-Go Bites | Event Concludes