Kimberly Moon serves as Engineering Department Director and City Engineer for the City of Avondale, Arizona, where she leads engineering and capital infrastructure initiatives. She brings nearly 30 years of experience across local government and the private sector, with extensive expertise in capital improvement programs, utilities, transportation, public works, and project delivery. Prior to joining Avondale, Kimberly held several engineering and capital program leadership roles with the City of Chandler and the Town of Prescott Valley. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Northern Arizona University as well as a degree in Management from Yavapai College. Throughout her career, Kimberly has focused on collaborative leadership, streamlined project delivery, and building effective teams to deliver infrastructure that supports growing communities.

Melanie Sheldon is Senior Director of Business Development at the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), where she has spent more than a decade supporting business growth and economic development initiatives across the state. She works at the intersection of government and industry, with particular engagement in sectors including advanced energy, critical minerals, battery materials, and emerging technologies. Her career also includes nearly seven years with the Australian Taxation Office, where she worked in indirect tax and small and medium enterprise compliance. Sheldon studied Business Administration and Management at RMIT and has become an active voice in Nevada’s expanding innovation and economic development ecosystem.

Sharon B. Megdal, Ph.D. is Director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), a Cooperative Extension center and a research unit in the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences. Other primary titles are Professor and Specialist in the Department of Environmental Science, C.W. & Modene Neely Endowed Professor, and Distinguished Outreach Professor.

Sharon Megdal bridges the academic, practitioner, and civil society communities through water policy and management research, education, and engagement programs. The geographic scope of Dr. Megdal’s work ranges from local to international. Applied research projects include analysis of water management, policy, and governance in water-scarce regions and transboundary aquifer assessment.

Sharon Megdal is the lead editor of the book, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Israeli-Palestinian and Colorado River Basin Water Challenges, and she has guest edited several special journal issues. Dr. Megdal teaches the graduate course “Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions”. In 2020, she was awarded the Warren A. Hall Medal for lifetime achievement in water resources research and education by the Universities Council on Water Resources, and in 2024 she was named a fellow of the American Water Resources Association.

Sharon Megdal serves on the Board of Governors for the Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security, the Leadership Team for the Colorado River Basin Water & Tribes Initiative, the Women in Water Diplomacy Network’s Global Leadership Council, and Governor Hobbs’ Water Policy Council. Past public service includes serving for 12 years as a popularly elected Director for the Central Arizona Project. Other past service includes serving as a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, the State Transportation Board, and the Arizona Medical Board. Sharon Megdal holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University.

Nick Myers serves as Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission, where he helps oversee the regulation of Arizona’s electric, gas, water and telecommunications utilities. He was elected to the Commission in 2022 after previously serving as a policy advisor and later as Vice Chairman. Myers has been actively involved in Arizona’s energy policy, including issues surrounding grid reliability, nuclear power, natural gas infrastructure and the growing electricity demands of data centers. Before entering public service, he spent more than two decades in technology and engineering, including roles as a software engineering manager and technology company CEO. His combination of regulatory, technology and energy experience provides a unique perspective on the infrastructure needed to support Arizona’s continued growth.

Mark Goldstein is President of International Research Center, where he has provided consulting, custom research and strategic support to business, legal and public policy clients since 1992. He is a technology visionary, advisor and entrepreneur with extensive expertise across telecommunications, information technology, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, biotechnology, sustainability and emerging technologies. Goldstein serves on the Board and Executive Committees of the Arizona Technology Council and the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council and is active across Arizona’s technology and innovation community. His work has included research and thought leadership on smart cities, AI, broadband infrastructure, sustainability and emerging technology trends. He is also a frequent speaker and presenter, sharing insights on how new technologies are transforming cities, infrastructure, business and society. Based in Arizona, Goldstein brings decades of experience connecting technology, public policy and strategic planning to help organizations understand and prepare for the next generation of innovation.

Markus Coleman is Assistant Director for the Street Transportation Department at the City of Phoenix, bringing more than three decades of experience with the city. He previously served as Phoenix’s Light Rail Administrator, helping advance major transit investments and light rail expansion across the region. His experience includes transportation planning, project management, transit-oriented development and the delivery of complex infrastructure projects. Coleman has played a key role in Phoenix and Valley Metro initiatives, including the South Central Light Rail Extension and other major investments expanding the region’s transportation network. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Metropolitan Studies from Arizona State University.

Milos Vasiljevic is Transportation Program Management Director at HDR and a licensed professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry. He leads HDR’s transportation program management practice, developing integrated delivery strategies, strengthening project controls and guiding multidisciplinary teams on large, complex infrastructure programs. Throughout his career, he has supported owners in the procurement, design, construction and oversight of major transportation projects, with a focus on execution efficiency, risk mitigation and strategic outcomes. His project experience includes the I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor, Carolina Crossroads, South Mountain Freeway, Eagle P3 Project and Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement. He previously held roles at HDR spanning program management, project management, project controls and bridge engineering. Vasiljevic holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Arizona.

Christopher Kuzdas is Water Program Director at the Environmental Defense Fund, where he leads work focused on water security, governance, and sustainable water management across Arizona and the Colorado River Basin. He has more than a decade of experience working on Western water issues and previously served as co-lead of the Water for Arizona Coalition. Kuzdas also teaches Water & Society at Coconino Community College and has held research and teaching roles at Arizona State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability with a focus on water, governance, and political science, as well as a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University.

Lauren Hixson is the Water Resources Manager for Gilbert, Arizona, where she leads water resource planning and supports the community’s long-term water security and resiliency efforts. She has held several water and energy planning roles with Gilbert since 2020, providing policy guidance, research, analysis, and long-range resource planning. Previously, Hixson spent more than seven years with WestLand Resources, working on water and wastewater engineering, hydraulic modeling, master planning, infrastructure design, and assured water supply permitting. Her experience spans both the engineering and policy sides of water infrastructure, with a particular focus on water supply and resilience in Arizona. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona.

Nicole Petker, PE, is a Water Resources Advisor with the City of Mesa, where she works on water policy, water law, planning, and management. She is a registered Professional Engineer in Arizona with experience spanning municipal water and wastewater systems, stormwater management, groundwater remediation, and industrial water treatment. Prior to joining Mesa, Petker spent more than seven years with the Town of Queen Creek, managing water resources, regulatory compliance, groundwater recharge, water supply planning, and infrastructure programs. She previously served as an Environmental Engineer and Project Manager with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, supporting the planning, financing, and delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects. Her background also includes engineering and project management work involving water treatment, flood control, drainage, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance. Petker studied Environmental Engineering at Arizona State University and earned a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Norwich University.

Sandy Fabritz is Director of Water Strategy at Freeport-McMoRan, where she has led water strategy efforts since 2014. She brings more than three decades of experience in water resources, natural resource management, government relations, and environmental policy. Prior to joining Freeport-McMoRan, Fabritz spent more than 20 years with the Arizona Department of Water Resources, including serving as Director and Assistant Director of Water Management. Her background includes extensive experience addressing complex water supply and resource challenges in Arizona and the broader Southwest. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources from Arizona State University.

Jessica Larson is a Digital Solution Specialist at Microsoft, helping organizations accelerate cloud transformation and adopt AI solutions through Microsoft Azure. She works with customers to align technology investments with business priorities, from solution design and architecture through deployment and adoption. Previously, Larson spent more than six years as a Cloud & AI Solution Advisor at Microsoft, partnering with enterprise and mid-market customers on scalable cloud, data, and AI strategies. She is a Microsoft Certified AI Business Professional with expertise in artificial intelligence, cloud strategy, digital transformation, and strategic planning. Larson is based in the Phoenix area and holds a background in business management from Western Governors University.