Over the past 15 years, the Water Institute Symposia have brought together an average of 500 participants to share new science, different perspectives, and explore varied solutions for using, managing, and sustaining our water resources.
Professor
Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell University
Catherine L. Kling is a Tisch University Professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. She serves as Faculty Director and Cornell Atkinson Scholar in the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and leads the Social Cost of Water Pollution working group. Kling chairs the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering, has been a member of six National Research Council studies, and served for ten years on EPA’s Science Advisory board. Catherine is a Fellow of the Association of Environmental and Resources Economists, a Fellow of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, a University Fellow at Resources for the Future, and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2015.
Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Wisconsin
Steven P. Loheide is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where he is the Director of the Hydroecology Lab. His research is focused on interactions between ecological and hydrological processes in natural and built systems, and the competition for water among municipal and industrial users, agriculture, and natural ecosystems. He and his research group develop methods to quantify and understand the processes controlling the exchange of water between groundwater, vadose water, vegetation, streams, and the atmosphere using a combination of field data, remote sensing, and numerical modeling.
Director
Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department
Virginia H. Barker, Director of Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department, holds undergraduate degrees in Science and Math from Duke University and a Master’s in Coastal Environmental Management. With 27 years of service to Brevard County, she has managed beach resources, the stormwater utility program, and mosquito control, among other environmental initiatives. Virginia led the development of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan, guiding pollution elimination efforts funded by a voter-approved sales tax. She spearheaded the establishment of a Citizen Oversight Committee for the project. Virginia’s commitment to environmental stewardship has been recognized through various awards and accomplishments.
Chief Resilience Officer
State of Florida
A native of Miami, Wes serves as Florida’s Chief Resilience Officer, leading the Statewide Office of Resilience on behalf of Governor Ron DeSantis to enhance agency coordination on resilience, and bolster flood protection and mitigation efforts across inland and coastal communities throughout the state.
President
FWEA Utility Council and Supervising Engineer
Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU)
Rick Hutton is a professional engineer in the Office of Sustainability at Gainesville Regional Utilities. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Florida and has been engaged in water supply planning, water and wastewater treatment, and water quality protection for over 32 years. He is past president of the Florida Water Environment Association Utility Council.
Executive Director
St. Johns River Water Management District
Michael A. Register was appointed Executive Director by the District’s Governing Board in 2021. He has been with the St. Johns River Water Management District since 1990. During his tenure, Michael has worked in various areas, including environmental resource permitting, consumptive use permitting, water supply planning, engineering, and environmental sciences. As director of the Division of Water Supply Planning and Assessment, he oversaw work groups responsible for surface water and groundwater modeling, developing minimum flow and levels (MFLs) and prevention/recovery strategies, and conducting water supply planning efforts. Michael holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in agricultural engineering from the University of Florida. He is a registered professional engineer in Florida.
Chief
Ecosystem Branch
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jacksonville District
Eva B. Vélez, a licensed professional engineer in Florida, serves as the Chief of the Ecosystems Branch in the Programs and Project Management Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District. With over 23 years of experience, Eva oversees aquatic ecosystem restoration efforts in the South Florida Ecosystem and leads resiliency initiatives in Central and Southern Florida. Previously, she managed Everglades restoration programs and founded her own engineering firm, specializing in water resources. Eva’s contributions have earned her accolades like the Young Engineer of the Year award from the Florida Section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). She is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Florida and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from the University of Florida. Eva is bilingual in English and Spanish, residing in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, with her family.
Executive Director
Audubon Florida
Julie Wraithmell serves as the Executive Director of Audubon Florida, the state’s leading voice in conservation. Julie joined Audubon in 2005 and has successfully led statewide conservation and wildlife policy initiatives, built Audubon Florida’s robust coastal conservation program, coordinated Audubon’s response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and helped secure millions in funding for protecting Florida’s land and water resources. In 2018, 2019, and again in 2020, Julie was selected as one of Miami Herald’s Top 50 Florida Influencers.