Draft Agenda

Tue, May 20

DAY 1 

Conference Program Starts: Welcome/Opening Remarks

• Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
• Austin Nuñez, Chairman, San Xavier District, Tohono O'odham Nation

Session 1: Frameworks for Collaboration Across Borders

• Moderator – Meena Westford, Director of Imported Water, San Diego County Water Authority
• TBD, Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission – US Section
• Adriana Reséndez, Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission – Mexican Section

Session 2: Sharing the Colorado River
Session Introduction by Platinum Sponsor: Southern Arizona Water Users Association 

• Moderator – Arturo Gabaldón, President and General Manager, Community Water Company of Green Valley
• Andrea Gerlak, Professor, University of Arizona, 
  Introduction and Overview: History and Operations of the Colorado River
• Carlos A. de la Parra, Founding Partner, Centro Luken de Estrategias en Agua y Medio Ambiente
  Evolution of Collaboration between US and Mexico on the Colorado River
• Amelia Flores, Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes 
  Effective Tribal Consultation
• Francisco Zamora, Senior Director of Programs, Sonoran Institute 
  Cross-border Collaborations with NGOs 

Session 3: Sharing Other Waters
Session Introduction by Platinum Sponsor: Michelle Ollfield, Arizona State University, Water Innovation Initiative 

• Moderator – Justin Dutram, Assistant Vice President, Mexico and Latin American Affairs, University of Arizona
• Gilbert Anaya, Chief, Environmental Management Division, International Boundary and Water Commission – US Section  and
• Blanca Cabello, Deputy Director of Water Quality and Sanitation, International Boundary and Water Commission – Mexican Section 
  Understanding the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) and Advances 
  in Harmonizing Data Across Borders
• Tanya Trujillo, Deputy State Engineer and Senior Water Policy Advisor, New Mexico 
  Update on the Rio Grande and Groundwater in New Mexico

Special Recognition: Chairwoman Amelia Flores and Day 1 Closing

• Amelia Flores, Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes
• Levi Esquerra, Senior Vice President for Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement, University of Arizona
• Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona

Wed, May 21

DAY 2

Welcome Back

• Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona

Session 4: Water Security and Trade

• Moderator – Natalie DeRoock, Administrator for Public Affairs, Tucson Water
• Rob Simm, Senior Vice President, Emergent Sector Leader, Water, Stantec
  Future Prospects for Binational Desalination
• Glenn Williamson, CEO, Canada Arizona Business Council
  Project Hourglass and Canadian Investments in the Water Sector
• Ben Ruddell, Professor, School of Informatics Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University
  Virtual Water Across Borders
• Michael Mendonca, Senior Director, Water Strategic Services, Salt River Project (SRP)
  Cross-border Partnerships Exploring Water Augmentation on the Verde
• Francisco Lara-Valencia, Professor, School of Transborder Studies, Arizona State University
  Planning Across Borders

Session 5: Water Challenges and Funding
Session Introduction by Platinum Sponsor: Alice Templeton, Stantec 

• Moderator – Thomas Throssell, Assistant Director, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
• Heather Whiteman Runs Him, Associate Clinical Professor and Director, Tribal Justice Clinic, University of Arizona
  Tribal Water Settlements and Funding for Tribal Water Infrastructure
• Brian Bennon, Director of National Tribal Water Systems, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA)
  Operational Capacity Development and Cross-border Knowledge Sharing
• Antonio Rascón, Principal Engineer, International Boundary and Water Commission – Mexican Section and
• Ramon Macias III, Principal Engineer, International Boundary and Water Commission – US Section
  International Water Treatment Plants in San Diego-Tijuana and Ambos Nogales 
• Judah Waxelbaum, Chief Legislative Liaison, Water Infrastructure Authority
  WIFA’s Approach to Water Augmentation and Funding/Financing

Dear Body of Water Interlude

• Gretchen E. Henderson, Poetry Center, University of Arizona

Tribal Leader Keynotes
Verlon M. Jose, Chairman, Tohono O’odham Nation
Rolando Flores, Council Member, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community

• Introduction – Karen Cesare, Board Secretary, Central Arizona Project
• Introduction – Gwendena Lee-Gatewood, Co-Chair, Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network

Lunch Program: Arizona-Sonora Border Dialogue
Keynote: The Honorable Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona

Session 6: Water Sector Collaborations
Session Introduction by Platinum Sponsor: Salt River Project  

• Moderator – Joaquin Marruffo, Border Programs Manager, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality 
• John Kmiec, Director, Tucson Water
  Municipal Sector: Tucson’s Collaborations Across Borders
• Joshua Moore, Farm Manager, Colorado River Indian Tribes Farms
  Agricultural Sector: CRIT Farms and Water Conservation
• Allison Moore, Executive Vice President, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
  Agricultural Sector: Cross-border Agricultural Production, Trade, and Transportation
• Sandy Fabritz, Director of Water Strategy, Freeport McMoRan
  Mining Sector: Innovations in Mining Water Use 

Session 7: Data and Knowledge Sharing

• Moderator – Holly Estrada Mechsner, Executive Director, Canada Arizona Business Council
• Susan Montgomery, Attorney, Montgomery & Interpreter, PLC
  Building Trust through Data and Collaborative Modeling
• Rosario Sanchez, Senior Research Scientist, Texas Water Resources Institute
  Binational Knowledge Sharing Platform
• Elia Tapia, Professor, Universidad de Sonora
  Translating Science

US Bureau of Reclamation Update 

• Introduction – Alexander Smith, Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office
• Carly Jerla, Post-2026 Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation 
• Amy Witherall, Binational Program Manager, Lower Colorado River Basin Region, Bureau of Reclamation

Keynote: Status of Colorado River Negotiations
Tom Buschatzke, Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources

• Introduction – Jamie McEvoy, Associate Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona