InvestH2O Forum: Investing in Resiliency
DESCRIPTION
Our fourth annual InvestH2O 2018 Forum is focused on “Investing in Resiliency: Families, Communities, Industries” and brings the world’s best minds, experts, investors and technologies together to solve challenges from drought, storm-flood, cyber threats, lack of critical infrastructure, and demand for uninterruptible supply. Our agenda has been organized to convert “…lessons learned into innovations, after-action reports into investments…” across myriad water-related opportunities in the public and private sectors.
NOTE: DUE TO NATIONAL EMERGENCIES, PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE AMONG FEDERAL AND LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, THE 2018 FORUM HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 17-18th. UPDATES TO CONFIRMED SPEAKERS AND PANELIST WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
Agenda (as of September 17, 2018)
October 17, 2018
Noon – 3:00pm Pre-Workshop One: Branding, Marketing, Communications
Resiliency Engagement Strategies with Public and Private Sector Interests
Pre-Workshop Two: Houston Water Innovation Hub Tour and Resiliency Presentation
On-site Tour with City of Houston Water Innovation Hub Leadership
3:30pm-5:30pm Forum Kickoff Keynote Panel and Town Hall:
Welcoming Remarks: City of Houston Senior Executive
Special Briefing: Zurich International Hurricane After-Action Report
Town-Hall: “The Business Case for Investing in Resiliency”
The Honorable Linda Capuano, Administrator – Energy Information Administration –
US Department of Energy
Seamus McGraw – Author – “A Thirsty Land”, UT Press
Ebie Holst – CEO, SplashLink and Co-Founder, Project ECHO (Emergency Response)
*Additional speakers in progress
6-8pm Reception & Presentation of Innovators of the Year Award (Resiliency Focus)
InvestH2O/AccelerateH2O Annual Innovators of the Year, Presentation of Youth and
Student Hackathon Winners, and Opening Reception
Innovator of the Year Awardees: Exxon Mobil, Siemens, City of Houston; Special Recognition the GSD Network
October 18, 2018
7:30am-8:00am Registration and Breakfast
8:00am-9:15am Welcome: Special Guest
Opening Keynote: The Honorable David Maurstad, Deputy Associate Administrator, FEMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration
9:15am-10:30am Interactive Town-Hall: Federal & Private Sector Partnerships for Resilient
Communities, Industries
Moderator: Doug Maughan, US Department of Homeland Security – S&T Cyber Directorate
Nick Shufro, Director of Strategic Alliances, FEMA Headquarters
The Honorable Anne Idsal, EPA Region 6 Administrator
Edward Craner, SVP – Holt Caterpillar Ventures and Strategy
Alfred Kennedy, National Water Strategy Team – Siemens SVP for Resiliency Programs – ExxonMobil
Additional Corporate Participant
NOTE: Quick Pitch Sessions*
Between formal sessions, three-minute pitch introductions by breakthrough, growth, mature stage companies seeking investment, procurement, licensing, and/or strategic partnerships. Investor-Company one-on-one conversation areas will be available throughout the Forum venue as well as Pitch Session Cocktails upon conclusion. Further, we will arrange special briefings for international delegations and companies based on level of participation and interests.
10:45am-11:30am Global Collaboratory – World’s Water Resiliency Leaders Perspective
Moderator: Piet Dircke, Senior Global Resiliency Director – Arcadis
The Honorable Jacob Vind – Consul General – Denmark and North American Water Lead
The Honorable Dr. Run Wang – Hubei University, China – Director, Sponge City Jennifer Turner, Senior Policy Director for Global Environment, Woodrow Wilson Center
Special Remarks: European Union Senior Official
11:30am-12:30pm Facilities, P3s, and the Future of Alternative Financing for Resilient-Critical
Infrastructure Project Development
Moderator: Bob Butler – SVP, Critical Infrastructure Protection, AECOM
Eric Letsinger – CEO, Qualified Ventures
The Honorable Daniel Simmons, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
12:30-1:45pm Lunch and Keynote “Fireside Chat” with Crystal and Mark Victor Hansen – best-selling author of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and entrepreneurial book series, globally- recognized speaker, philanthropist and water-technology investor and advocate.
Moderator: Chris Tomlinson, Business & Economic Reporter, Houston Chronicle
2:00pm-3:00pm Roundtables:
Option 1: Resiliency “Unplugged”: Off the Grid, Out of the Box Investments
Option 2: CyberH2O: Internet of Things and Protecting Digital Platforms
Option 3: One-Water Resiliency Challenges & Opportunities
3:00pm-4:00pm Wrap-up Session: Where We’re Headed – Projected 2018-2020 Resiliency Investing
Roundtable of Investment Managers and Advisors
Moderator: Christine Martini, RonovoBlu
Zach Huhn, CEO, Venture Smarter, Chairman – Smart Regions Conference
Chris Rezendes, Context Labs
4:00pm-4:30pm Concluding Session “Resiliency: A Call to Action & National Prize Competition”
5:00pm-6:30pm Pitch-Investor Meetup & Happy Hour Texas “Cocktails” (Off-Site Location)