Speakers

Esri

With a background in landscape architecture and urban design, Jack Dangermond and his wife Laura Dangermond founded Esri in 1969 on the idea that computer-based mapping and analysis could make significant contributions to geographic planning and environmental science.

Moderator

James Fallows is a book and magazine writer who has reported from across the US. The most recent of his 12 books is Our Towns, co-authored with his wife Deborah Fallows, which was the basis of a 2021 HBO documentary. They started the Our Towns Foundation to promote storytelling through journalism, mapping, broadcasts, and other ways to increase awareness of local-level innovation in the United States.

ExxonMobil

Joel Glaze is an attorney and business development expert. He is currently leading real estate optimization efforts for ExxonMobil Environmental and Property Solutions Company by leveraging big data and geospatial technologies. Joel is focused on creating site selection and suitability solutions that integrate real estate, ecology, and societal benefits to solve key challenges around land stewardship.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

James Hardcastle is the global lead of protected and conserved areas for the IUCN—the world’s premier network for nature conservation agencies. James and his team support national parks, nature reserves, conservancies, and traditional lands and territories around the world. To recognize achievements and guide improvements, James helped develop the IUCN Green List, the world’s flagship standard and certification scheme for fair and effective nature conservation results.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Kirk Johnson is the Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where he oversees the world’s largest natural history collection. His research focuses on plant fossils and dinosaur extinction. Kirk is known for his scientific articles, books, museum exhibitions, documentaries, and collaborations with artists.

The Ray

Allie Kelly is executive director at The Ray, which has developed an 18-mile stretch of I-85 in Georgia. The Ray Highway is using renewable materials; building clean energy for clean transport; testing road connectivity; improving lighting and signage; and collecting traffic, weather, and collision data to make the roads of the future safer. Allie has guided more than a dozen projects from concept to construction on The Ray Highway.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

Mark Seveska is vice president of information technology (IT) products and enterprise solutions for PG&E. He is responsible for building multiyear application roadmaps, leading project implementations, and driving digital innovation in PG&E’s IT organization. Mark joined PG&E in 2012 as a senior manager of IT architecture.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Richard W. Spinrad, PhD, was sworn in on June 22, 2021, as the NOAA undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and the 11th NOAA administrator. Richard is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of the agency and its over 12,000 employees, including developing NOAA’s portfolio of products and services to address the climate crisis.

National Audubon Society

As CEO of the two million-member National Audubon Society, David used GIS to drive a rapid turnaround of the 107-year-old nonprofit. He led a $650 million fundraising campaign focused on building partnerships and has grown Audubon membership by more than 471 percent. Prior to joining Audubon, David had a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism career, and he helped the Environmental Defense Fund stake out its unique centrist approach.