AWWEE is pleased to collaborate with the Consulate General of Canada to bring you this special event.
With increasingly unpredictable weather and resource availability, reliability and system resiliency planning for energy and water is imperative. In this cross-national panel discussion, we’ll hear from representatives from both California and Canada about the challenges they are facing and the solutions they are exploring to ensure communities can be served reliably and in ways that advance progress toward important climate goals.
Our Panelists Representing Canada
Myrna Bittner
Myrna Bittner is the CEO and Co-Founder of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, an advanced data modeling and visualization company helping to answer some of the most challenging questions about decarbonization, sustainability, equity, resilience, and growth initiatives globally. Myrna is passionate about connecting today's technology, policy, and infrastructure choices to data about the impacts and outcomes for people and our planet.
Last year, 7 years after incorporation, the growing RUNWITHIT team celebrated numerous international awards, including the United Nation’s Global Call for Decarbonization, Taiwan’s Top Technology Gold Medal, Toyota Mobility Foundation’s City Architecture of Tomorrow Challenge, NATO’s Space Awareness, USAF’s AFWERX Showcase, Airbus Defence “Beyond Net-Zero," along with the “Most Edmonton” YEG Startup Company. RUNWITHIT is a women-led, Certified Aboriginal Business, with a GBA+ Certified team of diverse and talented 3D animators, designers, and scientists in social, data, computing, and engineering disciplines.
Alisha McFetridge
Alisha McFetridge is the co-founder and CEO of RainStick, a clean technology company committed to building water technology products that drive the future of water conservation and allow people to thrive with only 13 gallons of water per day without compromise.
Alisha holds an MSc in Climate Change and Development and a Bachelor in International Business, majoring in Sustainability. She has worked with high-growth technology companies including Disney's Club Penguin and Bananatag and has spent time working in Kenya, China, The Netherlands, the United States and Canada, where she currently lives today. Alisha built RainStick Shower, North America's first circular shower which saves 80% water and up to 80% energy while providing almost twice the flow rate. RainStick won Best of Innovation at CES 2022 (out of 1800 companies), Best of KBIS 2022 (Gold) and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Toronto Sun.
Our Panelists Representing California
Marta Segura
Marta Segura is the founding Chief Heat Officer and Director of the Climate Emergency Office for the City of Los Angeles. Chief Segura has made significant strides in addressing the intersection of extreme heat, climate change, social justice, and community to deliver systemic change.
Her work is rooted in a deep understanding of the complexities of the public sector and local government and the critical importance of stakeholder engagement. By leveraging her expertise and knowledge, Chief Segura has been able to drive significant progress in aligning LA's network of climate and sustainability plans with EJ and bold, innovative civic engagement strategies.
Nancy Sutley
Nancy Sutley is the Deputy Mayor of Energy and Sustainability for the City of Los Angeles where she leads the Mayor’s environmental, energy and sustainability policy and programs. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Mayor, Ms. Sutley served as the Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where she oversaw all external relations activities for our nation’s largest municipally owned utility.
Ms. Sutley also led the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for five years during the administration of President Barack Obama, a position for which she was unanimously confirmed for by the United States Senate. She previously served as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and a former member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Women in Water, Energy and Environment.
The discussion will be moderated by Lana Haddad, AWWEE’s Board President and Legislative Services Section Manager for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Registration
Registration is available to active AWWEE members, plus one guest, for no charge.
Remaining spaces, if any, will be made available to non-members on May 1, 2023.