Find us in the ACE23 Exhibit Hall in Booth #931
Powered by Isle, the ACE23 Innovation Hub will tie in global trends and address regional challenges that demand creative approaches. The Innovation Hub is where conversations are taken a step further, whether it’s step changes of innovation to the core business or industry to transformative innovation.
Solving the complex challenges facing the water community in 2050 will take innovation – and collaboration. The Innovation Hub is a curated space designed to celebrate and embrace change, highlight emerging technologies and trends, and engage in meaningful conversations to advance a sustainable and resilient water future.
Details Exhibitors Sponsors
Programming Schedule
The program will take place during the following hours:
Monday, June 12 | 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - No Water No Beer Happy Hour (Koozies sponsored by U.S. Pipe)
Tuesday, June 13 | 9:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14 | 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Session Details
MONDAY, JUNE 12
IH01_01 Innovation Hub Opening Session + Water Ceremony
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Join AWWA and Isle leaders to celebrate the opening of the ACE23 Innovation Hub and kick off the week's slate of exciting activities, followed by a special Water Ceremony to acknowledge our connection to water.
Speakers: Barbara Martin, American Water Works Association and Cristina Ahmadpour, Isle
IH01_02 Indigenous Voices & First Nations Water Rights
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Moderator: Cristina Ahmadpour, Isle
Speakers: Dawn Martin-Hill, McMaster University Indigenous Research Institute, Autumn Peltier, Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation, Wigs Mendoza, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
IH01_04 The Next Big Investment
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Moderator: Heather Crochetiere, Foresight Canada
Speakers: David Henderson, XPV Water Partners, Christine Boyle, Burnt Island Ventures, Anders Hallsby, Mazarine Ventures
IH01_05 Technology Trials & Pilots to Implementation
1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
Moderator: Kyle Schoenheit, Xylem Innovation Labs
Speakers: Rick Bacon, Aqua Metrology Systems, Lauren C. Roth Venu, 3R Water, Jonathan Lister, Nuvoda, Julie Bliss Mullen, Aclarity, George Demosthenous, VODA.ai
IH01_06 Innovation that Sticks: the Storyteller’s Approach to Selling through big ideas, internally and beyond
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.
The innovating is the easy part — 10%, the tip of the iceberg. The other 90% of a successful innovation program is achieving consensus and support internally, and anticipation and adoption externally. Only one weapon gets that job done effectively and efficiently: storytelling. Join Stephanie Corso and Duke Greenhill of Rogue Water to learn how to create a groundswell that lifts and carries your change-making ideas from hypothetical to happening, and energizes the right people to movement that transforms your program from merely doable to downright desirable — the storyteller’s way.
Speakers: Stephanie Corso, Rogue Water, Duke Greenhill, Rogue Water
IH01_07 Rethinking Water Systems: Distributed Treatment, Point of Use Treatment, Circular Economy and Intensification
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Moderator: Peter Swell Fiske
Speakers: Pauli Undresser, Water Quality Association, Cynthia Koehler, WaterNow Alliance, Peter Grevatt, Water Research Foundation
TUESDAY, JUNE 13
IH01_03 Innovation Visionaries
9:15 – 9:55 a.m.
Hear from the Innovation Hub sponsors about what excites them on the horizon in the water sector.
IH02_01 Closing the Gap
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Moderator: Dr. Joseph Jacangelo, AWWA President, Stantec
As a prelude to the Water 2050 Innovation Hub sessions that follow, the focus of this panel is on closing the gap between the water community’s current state and what is needed to realize the vision of creating a sustainable and resilient water future in 2050. What data and information are needed to create a circular economy of water? What are the most effective approaches to building a true One Water utility and a water community ecosystem to support it? What technology advancements are needed to support a smart utility of the future? Is ESG the solution to ensuring resilient and equitable services? Panelists will explore these questions and additional strategies to close this gap through research and innovation. Be prepared to engage with panelists as they solicit input from session attendees about opportunities to expand, capture, and share the water community’s body of collective knowledge.
Speakers: Brenley McKenna, The Water Research Foundation, Joel Kenney, Xylem, Zonetta English, Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District
IH02_02 The Future of Water on the Other Side of the Fence
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Focus on where the sector is going in terms of trends and what we should be thinking of in terms of social, economic, and technical changes on the customer side of the meter.
Speakers: Patrick Keaney, Amazon, Reuben Vollmer, Spout, Megan Glover, 120Water
IH02_03 ESG Strategies: One Size Does Not Fit All
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Environmental, social, and governance or ESG reporting is about disclosure by revealing the promises, efforts and progress of an organization. It makes a company more attractive to investors while boosting transparency and credibility with customers. Though this reporting is common in the corporate world, water utilities are just getting on board. Join experts as they discuss the benefits of an ESG report to a water utility.
Speakers: Dr. Matt Ries, DC Water, Lynda DiMenna, American Water, Mark Knight, Veolia
IH02_05 Water 2050 Think Tank Outcomes: Technology Panel
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Moderator: Cristina Ahmadpour, Isle
Water 2050 has been gaining momentum throughout 2023, culminating with the completion of 5 Think Tanks focused on key drivers influencing the future of water – sustainability, technology, economics, governance, and social/demographic issues. Each Think Tank has brought together diverse voices, from within and outside the water community, and resulted in a set of actionable recommendations for the water community to realize their shared vision of creating a sustainable and resilient water future. Tuesday afternoon in the ACE23 Innovation Hub is dedicated to sharing Water 2050 outcomes from the Think Tanks focused on Technology, Sustainability, and Governance. Join us for engaging conversations with Think Tank participants that explore priorities for the future, define actionable steps for implementing Water 2050’s recommendations, and address barriers to be broken to ensure the long-term goals and vision for the water community are achieved.
Speakers: Mahesh Lunani, Aquasight, Gigi Karmous-Edwards, Carol Walczyk, Veolia, Christine Boyle, Xylem, Inc.
IH02-06 Water 2050 Think Tank Outcomes: Sustainability Panel
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Moderator: Adam Carpenter, AWWA
Water 2050 has been gaining momentum throughout 2023, culminating with the completion of 5 Think Tanks focused on key drivers influencing the future of water – sustainability, technology, economics, governance, and social/demographic issues. Each Think Tank has brought together diverse voices, from within and outside the water community, and resulted in a set of actionable recommendations for the water community to realize their shared vision of creating a sustainable and resilient water future. Tuesday afternoon in the ACE23 Innovation Hub is dedicated to sharing Water 2050 outcomes from the Think Tanks focused on Technology, Sustainability, and Governance. Join us for engaging conversations with Think Tank participants that explore priorities for the future, define actionable steps for implementing Water 2050’s recommendations, and address barriers to be broken to ensure the long-term goals and vision for the water community are achieved.
Speakers: Heather Collins, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Daniel Nix, City of Wichita Falls, Angela Licata, NYC Dept of Environmental Protection, Renee Willette, U.S. Water Alliance
IH02_07 Water 2050 Think Tank Outcomes: Governance Panel
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Moderator: Chelsea Boozer
Water 2050 has been gaining momentum throughout 2023, culminating with the completion of 5 Think Tanks focused on key drivers influencing the future of water – sustainability, technology, economics, governance, and social/demographic issues. Each Think Tank has brought together diverse voices, from within and outside the water community, and resulted in a set of actionable recommendations for the water community to realize their shared vision of creating a sustainable and resilient water future. Tuesday afternoon in the ACE23 Innovation Hub is dedicated to sharing Water 2050 outcomes from the Think Tanks focused on Technology, Sustainability, and Governance. Join us for engaging conversations with Think Tank participants that explore priorities for the future, define actionable steps for implementing Water 2050’s recommendations, and address barriers to be broken to ensure the long-term goals and vision for the water community are achieved.
Speakers: Caitlin Berretta, Evoqua Water Technologies, David Goldwater, Ken Lykens, Meridian Metropolitan District, Bill Moody, ASDWS/MSDOH
IH02_08 Global Perspectives on Innovations in Infrastructure Protection and Performance
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Moderator: Randy Moore
Speaker: Amire Eliezer, Association for Material Protection & Performance
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14
IH03_01 Data's Role in Creating Our Water 2050 Future
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Moderator: Barbara Martin, AWWA
The initial outcomes from Water 2050 point to reimagining water – what the water community looks like, how it operates, and how water professionals work together and with others outside the sector to achieve our shared goals for a sustainable and resilient water future. A common theme that cut across multiple think tanks was the need to “define the value of water for a new reality”. While the specific components of this theme varied based on its consideration through the lens of Sustainability, Economics, or other Water 2050 drivers, a common link was the need to ensure a pricing model that covers the full cost of water, while balancing with that the need for water affordability and equity. Data and performance benchmarking is essential to realizing this vision for the future. With evolution in technology continuing to drive solutions online, this session will demonstrate a new approach to accessing water and wastewater rate data and how the data may be applied to work towards achieving our Water 2050 goals.
Speakers: Rocky Craley, Raftelis, Barbara Martin, American Water Works Association
IH03_02 Technical Advisory and the Opportunity for Innovation
9:45 – 10:15 a.m.
We are in unprecedented times with increased funding from the EPA towards Environmental Finance Centers (EFC). This session will focus on opportunities for emerging technology and new approaches to advancing projects through EFC vehicles and opportunities for collaboration.
Speakers: Sarah Buck, RCAP, Renee Willette, US Water Alliance, Timothy Male, Environmental Policy Innovation Center
IH03_03 The Journey of a Utility-Wide Control System Upgrade: Collaboration Can Do Amazing Things
10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Moderator: Manoj Yegnaraman, Carrollo Engineers, Inc.
This session will focus on a step-by-step approach of converting a water Utility’s system-wide aging infrastructure to a new reliable and efficient system. Our goal is to show how collaboration between the key stakeholders helped us along the way in this beautiful journey.
Speakers: Manoj Yegnaraman, Carrollo Engineers, Inc., Hassan Ajami, PCI Vetrix, Cassity Smalling, Schneider Electric