Storms, Flooding & Sea Level Defense November Conference 2024
Arvind Acharya
Past President, Society of American Military Engineers (S.F. Post)
Mr. Acharya currently serves as the Past President of the Society of American Military Engineers, San Francisco Post and coordinates programs and events locally with a focus towards security and infrastructure resiliency and related challenges. Mr. Acharya is an experienced Project Executive with GES-AIS (an ASRC Industrial Company, ANC) with over 30 years in managing large-scale multi-project contracts that involves Environmental and Civil infrastructure construction activities. He has managed varied regional and national contracts with several federal agencies including the US Navy, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Air Force, Department of Energy and GSA.
Sarah Atkinson
Hazard Resilience Senior Policy Manager, SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research)
As Senior Policy Manager for Hazard Resilience, Sarah leads SPUR’s research, advocacy, and education efforts to strengthen the Bay Area’s ability to prepare for and recover from climate and natural hazards—such as earthquakes, sea level rise, flooding, and wildfires. Prior to SPUR, she worked in environmental and business communications, green construction, food education, and health research in both the Bay Area and Massachusetts. Her graduate studies focused on community resilience hubs, the role of social cohesion in disaster recovery, resilient housing, and comparing the adaptive capacity of private versus collective land ownership models. Sarah holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning and a B.A. in Environmental Sciences from UC Berkeley.
Brad Benson
Waterfront Resilience Program Director, Port of San Francisco
Brad Benson joined the Port of San Francisco in 2005. As the Waterfront Resilience Program Director, he oversees the Waterfront Resilience Program efforts, including the up to $5 billion Embarcadero Seawall Program and the United States Army Corps of Engineers/Port of San Francisco Flood Study.
Before he was named Waterfront Resilience Program Director in early 2019, he was Director of Special Projects and oversaw the Port’s local, state, and federal legislative program. During this time, Benson developed the state legislation that guides two of the Port’s largest development projects at Pier 70 and Mission Rock. Additionally, he developed the state and local legislation that allows the Port to form infrastructure financing districts on Port property, to leverage private dollars for the benefit of the public. He collaborated in the preparation of the Port’s Ten Year Capital Plan to ensure an economically stable Port. Moreover, he managed the Port’s role in the Golden State Warriors Chase Center development project in the central waterfront. In addition to Director of Special Projects, he also served as the Port’s Pier 70 Waterfront Site Project Director to oversee a new proposed transit-oriented, Type 1 Eco-District neighborhood in the southern waterfront.
From 2010-13, Brad served as the Port’s project manager for the 34th America’s Cup, that attracted millions of visitors and generated $1.4 billion in economic impacts to San Francisco.
Matthijs Bos
Leading Professional in Flood Risk International
Matthijs Bos is Haskoning’s Leading Professional in Flood Risk International. His expertise lies in flood hazard and risk modeling, adaptation investment strategies, and the design of drainage and coastal protection measures. Currently based in Singapore, he contributes to several significant projects for PUB, including climate adaptation studies for City East Coast (APA1) and Northwest Coast (APA6), a Coastal Barriers Feasibility Study, Risk Optimisation Study and the development of the Code of Practice for Singapore.
Matthijs has a global profile, having worked on complex flood protection projects in the Netherlands, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Colombo, Hanoi, the UK, Dublin, and New Orleans. His work is driven by the social urgency of flood safety and strategic problem-solving. Before relocating to Singapore, he collaborated with the City of Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam, private industries, and the World Bank on climate change adaptation investment strategies.
Since 2017, Matthijs has been the originator and Business Owner of the Global Flood Risk Tool (GFRT), a cloud-based platform by Royal HaskoningDHV. GFRT provides accurate flood risk analysis and investment recommendations to mitigate loss of life and economic damages. The tool is used by port authorities, private industrial clients, international financial institutes, and governments. Matthijs continues to lead its strategic development, shaping its future direction. Additionally, he maintains strong ties with Delft University of Technology, supervising Master’s students in their studies through their theses.
Summer Bundy
Climate Change Adaptation & Coastal Resilience Regional Sector Leader, Stantec
Summer Bundy is a Regional Sector Leader for Climate Change Adaptation at Stantec. She is an environmental engineer, climate scientist, and program manager with 25 years of experience in public water infrastructure. Summer has spent most of her career where technical challenges meet policy-driven solutions. These include projects such as the Port of San Francisco’s Waterfront Resilience Program, where she served as the consultant team’s planning lead to develop alternatives for adapting 7.5’ of waterfront to increase earthquake and coastal flood resilience. She is a passionate about stakeholder-driven climate action, with a primary focus on critical infrastructure adaptation to achieve equitable community resilience. She first fell in love with the San Francisco Bay in the 80s, when she visited Hayward Shoreline Interpretative Center on a grade school trip.
Summer has a B.S. in environmental resources engineering from Cal Poly Humboldt and is currently earning her M.S. in Energy Policy and Climate at Johns Hopkins University. She holds the Water Edge Design Guidelines associate certification from the Water Alliance.
Deb Calhoun
Senior Vice President, Waterways Council, Inc.
Deb manages the communications and media relations program, as well as membership, for WCI. She has worked with WCI since its inception in 2003, and developed the communications program of its predecessor organization,Waterways Work!
She has served as President/CEO of Colbert Communications, a maritime communications consultancy practice, and in public affairs and communications for the American Waterways Operators, the Telecommunications Industry Association, and the Aerospace Industries Association.
She received the National Achievement Award from the National Rivers Hall of Fame in 2019 for “being one of the most tireless and effective advocates for the value of our nation’s waterways in modern times.”
She is a 1987 graduate of Towson University and has completed some graduate work at Johns Hopkins University.
Sean M. Duffy
Executive Director, Big River Coalition
The Big River Coalition (BRC) is committed to protecting maritime commerce across the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MRT). The BRC focuses on maximizing efficient maritime transportation on the deepdraft Mississippi River Ship Channel from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico. The Coalition is concerned about the management of the Mississippi River system and is focused on holistic water management and adverse impacts related to flood protection, protecting water supplies, increasing coastal restoration to also protect commerce and minimize the negative impacts of runoff and pollutants. It is critical to the nation’s economy that navigation on the Mississippi River remains unimpeded. As visions of the future of the MRT are shaped, that navigation representatives strive to ensure that systematic approaches protect maritime commerce and maintain fully authorized channel dimensions while modernizing and maintaining our water infrastructure and the free flow of maritime commerce, on the Mississippi River Ship Channel and the locks and dams along the MRT. The Big River Coalition’s missions are focused on securing increased funding from the Harbor Maintenance Tax and the Inland Users Fuel Tax, the deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Channel to 50 feet and to increase the beneficial use of dredge material or “sediment recycling.”
The Big River Coalition is at the forefront of the deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (50 feet). Mr. Duffy also serves as the Executive Vice President/Maritime Advocate for the BRC’s parent entity, the New Orleans Steamship Association d.b.a. Louisiana Maritime Association. As a proponent for the local maritime industry, Mr. Duffy has provided written and oral testimony to federal and state Congressional committees and the President’s Oil Spill Commission to advocate for channel maintenance while promoting safe navigation on the Mississippi River Ship Channel.
Jessica Fain
Director of Planning BCDC
Jessica Fain is the Director of Planning at the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), a California state coastal management agency. She oversees BCDC’s planning and policy program with a core focus on adapting to rising sea level. Prior joining BCDC in 2018, Ms. Fain worked in waterfront planning and coastal resiliency in New York City at the New York City Department of City Planning and the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay. She has taught as part-time faculty at The New School and has been a guest lecturer at various schools. Ms. Fain holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Carly Finkle
Senior Policy Manager, Canal Alliance
Carly Finkle is the Senior Policy Manager at Canal Alliance, a community-based organization located in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael, which is one of the most vulnerable communities to sea level rise in the Bay Area. Canal Alliance provides direct services to the primarily Spanish-speaking immigrant community and advocates to remove barriers to their success. Carly’s work has focused on educating and engaging community residents in sea level rise planning, with a particular focus on how climate change will affect and exacerbate the existing housing crisis. Carly grew up in San Rafael.
Brenda Goeden
Sediment Program Manager, Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Brenda Goeden is the Sediment Program Manager for the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. She supervises the day-to-day sediment related projects, including dredging, sand and oyster shell mining, flood protection, and wetland and subtidal habitat restoration. She is BCDC’s Program Manager for the Long Term Management Strategy for the Placement of Dredged Material in the San Francisco Bay Region (LTMS) a member of the Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO), which is responsible for the beneficial reuse of over 25 million cubic yards of dredged sediment in the Bay Area. She and the BCDC Sediment Management Team worked in partnership with the San Francisco Estuary Institute, San Francisco Estuary Partnership, and the SF Bay Joint Venture on Flood Control 2.0, a multi-benefit approach to flood protection. She is the BCDC project manager for large scale wetland restoration projects, including Hamilton, Bair Island, Montezuma, and the South Bay Salt Ponds, and works to maximize beneficial reuse of sediment in these projects whenever feasible, supporting rapid marsh vegetation development. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops on the subject. She has twelve years of experience developing and facilitating California marine conservation programs, as well as teaching marine science. She has a Bachelor of Arts in marine biology from Occidental College. She participates in the Great Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Beach Watch Program and Oil Spill Response Team and is a wild bird rehabilitator.
Dr. Noel Hacegaba
Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Long Beach
Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Long Beach, North America’s second-busiest container port. He is responsible for managing the Port’s day-to-day operations, including commercial operations, finance and administration, human resources, engineering services, planning and environmental affairs and strategic advocacy.
In recent years, Dr. Hacegaba led the Port’s response to the pandemic-induced supply chain crisis, directing the Port’s Business Recovery Taskforce and coordinating with industry, labor and government partners to identify near-term solutions.
Dr. Hacegaba is also leading the development and deployment of the Port’s digital initiative known as the Supply Chain Information Highway to enable data sharing and end-to-end visibility across the supply chain.
In total, Dr. Hacegaba has more than 26 years of public and private sector experience spanning a variety of industries. Prior to joining the Port, he managed $200 million in contracts for a Fortune 500 company.
Dr. Hacegaba is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC), where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics, business administration and urban planning. He earned his doctorate in public administration from the University of La Verne. Dr. Hacegaba is also a Certified Port Executive (CPE), an Accredited Maritime Port Executive (MPE) by IAMPE and earned the Port Professional Executive (PPX) and Port Professional Manager (PPM) designations from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).
For his impactful leadership and contributions to the advancement of global trade, Dr. Hacegaba was awarded the prestigious Stanley T. Olafson Bronze Plaque by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce at its 99th Annual World Trade Week event in 2025.
Dr. Hacegaba also serves as Chairman of the AAPA Professional Development Board, Vice Chairman of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, Vice Chairman of the USC Kendrick Global Supply Chain Institute and previously served as Chairman of the Intermodal Association of North America Board of Directors. He also serves on the Boards of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, Containerization and Intermodal Institute, University of Denver Transportation and Supply Chain Institute and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Propeller Club.
Mike Jacob
President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Mike Jacob currently serves as President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), assuming the role in April 2024. PMSA is the premiere, not-for-profit maritime trade association representing vessel and marine terminal interests in legislative, policy, and regulatory matters on the US West Coast, with offices in Oakland, Long Beach, and Seattle.
Mike joined PMSA in 2005. Before being selected as President, he served as Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of PMSA. In this role he would regularly testify and appear on behalf of the maritime industry at administrative, legal, and legislative hearings and served as the association’s liaison with outside counsel and advocates. In his role with PMSA, Mike is a frequent lecturer and presenter at industry conferences and events, including for the Pacific Admiralty Seminar, California Maritime Leadership Symposium, the Maritime Law Association of the United States, International Bar Association, and for the US State Department. He is a member of the California Freight Advisory Committee and the CSU California Maritime Academy, School of Letters & Sciences Advisory Council.
Prior to joining PMSA, Mike provided strategic consulting to local transportation agencies in the Bay Area, including the Port of Oakland and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, and served as staff in the California State Legislature, including as Chief Consultant in the state Assembly. He was an appointee to the Alameda County Planning Commission from 2003-2015, serving three terms as chair, and has been on the board of directors of the non-profit affordable housing development company Satellite Affordable Housing Associates since 2007.
Mike holds a JD from the University of California, San Francisco College of Law (Hastings) and a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, California Lawyers Association, State Bar of California, and the United States Supreme Court Bar.
Joost de Nooijer
Project Engineer / Project Manager Flood Risk Management Port Development, Port of Rotterdam
Joost de Nooijer is a Civil Engineer and Project Manager specializing in Flood Risk Management at the Port of Rotterdam. He is responsible for the technical management of port development projects, including the construction of quay walls, jetties, and other maritime infrastructure. Since 2015, he has taken part in the Port’s Flood Risk program, working in close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders—such as the Municipality of Rotterdam, national agencies, private companies, and utility providers. Together, they have developed climate adaptation strategies to address future flood risks across various subregions of the Rotterdam port area, one of Europe’s most economically valuable outer-dike zones.
Colleen Liang
Director of Environmental Programs and Planning, Port of Oakland
Colleen Liang is the Director of the Environmental Programs and Planning (EP&P) Division at the Port of Oakland (Port). She has been at the Port for 24 years and manages environmental compliance, planning, and permitting in support of development and operations at the Port. Currently she is managing the environmental planning process for the OAK Terminal Modernization and Development Project and supporting the Oakland Harbor Turning Basins Widening Project. She also supports sustainability programs including the Port’s overall goal of achieving zero emissions (ZE) operations Port-wide. This includes collaborating with internal and external stakeholders on transitioning equipment to ZE, connecting with community stakeholders, pursuing grant funding opportunities to allow the Port to implement ZE initiatives, and participating in carbon/environmental reduction programs to further document the Port’s commitment of a ZE port. Colleen also manages climate resilience projects such as preparations of a Port-wide sea level rise and groundwater intrusion vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan and a sustainability management plan. Colleen is excited to be a part of the Port’s mission of environmental stewardship and its goals of sustainability and ZE operations.
Stas Margaronis
President, Propeller Club of Northern California
Stas Margaronis is the California Ports Reporter for the American Journal of Transportation (AJOT).
Kristi McKenney
Chief Operating Officer, Port of Oakland
Kristi McKenney was named Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Oakland Feb. 5, 2020. In her role she oversees Port operations with responsibility for Engineering Services, Environmental Programs and Planning, Utilities and Information Technology. Before receiving the COO title, Ms. McKenney had been Assistant Director of Aviation at the Port’s Oakland International Airport since 2014. A graduate of San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics, Ms. McKenney received a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Adrienne Newbold
Assistant Chief Harbor Engineer at Port of Los Angeles
Adrienne Newbold serves as the Assistant Chief Harbor Engineer for the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s busiest container port. Appointed to this position in 2024, Newbold oversees the Structural, Specifications, Electrical, and Architectural sections of the Engineering Division and is responsible for managing the Divisions $257M Capital Improvement Program.
Newbold has 20 years of experience with the Port of Los Angeles specializing in the planning, design, construction, and operation of container terminals, transportation networks, and waterfront development. Newbold is the program manager for the Port of Los Angeles Sea Level Rise Adaptation Study which assessed the vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and developed resiliency strategies for all port assets.
Newbold holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University, a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of California Los Angeles, and a Project Management Certificate from University of California Los Angeles. She is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer, Project Management Professional, Senior Certified Professional from the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP), and certified International Code Council California Building Plans Examiner. Newbold was awarded the ASCE LA Outstanding Civil Engineer.
Newbold is past Board Chair for the COPRI Technical Group, an active member of ASCE, Women In Transportation, Women’s International Shipping and Trade Association, Loyola Marymount Council for Industrial Partners, and the International Association of Ports and Harbors Risk and Resiliency Committee.
Emily Parker
Senior Route Analyst, Routing Advisory Services, StormGeo
Emily Parker is a passionate meteorologist with over nine years of experience as a Route Analyst at StormGeo. She specializes in guiding shipping vessels safely across global routes by helping them navigate and avoid severe weather conditions. Beyond her operational expertise, Emily contributes regularly to StormGeo Insights, where she translates complex scientific concepts into clear, accessible articles for both technical and non-technical audiences. As a member of the Route Analyst Technical Team, she also collaborates closely with the Development department to enhance and streamline StormGeo’s operating systems, driving innovation and efficiency within the organization.
Kristine Zortman
Executive Director, Port of Redwood City
Kristine A. Zortman is the executive director of the Port of Redwood City where she is responsible for implementing long-range organizational goals and policies for the seventh largest port in California.
While serving in this role, Zortman has spearheaded several key initiatives that have positioned south San Francisco Bay’s only deep-water port for long-term success. This includes developing the port’s first-ever strategic vision plan, which will guide the port’s development through 2025. The plan calls for maximizing land use, improving infrastructure, diversifying maritime and commercial business efforts, improving operations and protecting the environment – all with the overall goal of strengthening the port’s impact on the region’s economy and quality of life.
Zortman’s port experience also includes eight years at the Port of San Diego where she worked on commercial real estate negotiations for cargo and maritime trade growth. She also served as vice president of neighborhood investment for Civic San Diego, a non-profit economic development agency. She began her career working in the environmental and biological realms for the National Park Service and Heitman Financial, a real estate investment management firm in Los Angeles.
Zortman was named the 2021 Chamber San Mateo County’s Businesswoman of the Year; serves as vice president of the California Association of Port Authorities; and is a board member for the Bay Planning Coalition, California Marine Affairs & Navigation Conference, and the San Francisco Marine Exchange.
Her unique ability to navigate the complex intersection of public and private interests has led to the successful implementation of pioneering policies, including cost recovery initiatives, environmentally conscious practices and unique development opportunities.
She holds a degree in biology from George Mason University and has pursued graduate studies from the University of Utah and University of California Los Angeles.