Water Innovation Lab
EXPERTOS INVITADOS
Dr. Jaime Parada-Ávila
Mexico
Director General of the Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer of Nuevo Leon, and Director of the Research and Technology Innovation Park
(PIIT) of Nuevo León
Dr. Jaime Parada-Ávila
Director General of the Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer of Nuevo Leon, and Director of the Research and Technology Innovation Park
(PIIT) of Nuevo León
Jaime Parada has over 39 years experience in the fields of Research, Science and Technology Development, Innovation and Business Management. He currently holds the position of Director General of the Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer of Nuevo Leon, and also is the Director of the Research and Technology Innovation Park (PIIT) of Nuevo León. He obtained a degree on Mechanic and Electric Engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México (UNAM), and served as a professor in the Faculty of Engineering of the same University for over 15 years. He has also completed graduate courses on diverse subjects such as strategic planning, quality assurance systems, research and technological development. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Engineering from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Prior to his current position, he was appointed by the Mexico´s President as Director General of the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), due to his renowned experience on the field. He held this position from January 2001 to September 2005.
Before that, he made a career as Chief Technology Officer in private companies such as Vitro and Cydsa, which are internationally recognized. He also held positions at director level on companies and government institutions, such as Technology director of Sidermex Group, Director General of the Mexican Institute of Manufacturing Research and Program Director of Research and Technology Centers at CONACYT.
In 2005, he founded Innovation and Competitiveness, SA de CV (Inncom), an expert consulting firm on competitiveness and innovation, advising governments and companies on issues of strategy, technology and organization, to making them more valuable through
technology and innovation management. Also, he is Founder and President of the board of Nanomateriales SA de CV, high-tech company in the field of Nanotechnology.
His contributions to the field of Science, Technology and Innovation have been acknowledged by several countries and institutions, such as the Order of Merit of the German Republic, which gave him the Decoration in the degree of Grand Officer. He is Vicepresident of the Mexican Academy of Engineering and, in recognition for his contributions to administrative and legal reforms to the science and technology and international cooperation policies, he was honored as a member of the Mexican Academy of International Law.
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Carlos Hurtado Aguilar
Mexico
Sustainable Development of Water Resources Manager for FEMSA Foundation
Carlos Hurtado Aguilar
Sustainable Development of Water Resources Manager for FEMSA Foundation
Carlos Hurtado Aguilar is the Sustainable Development of Water Resources Manager for FEMSA Foundation. He has directed the organization’s water related programs since the Foundation’s creation in 2008. He was Senior Consultant at the Center for Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation at the Graduate School for Public Management of Tecnológico de Monterrey from 2005 to 2008. During this period he coordinated strategic projects for the Presidency of Mexico, municipal governments, and international organizations such as the United Nations. From 2003 to 2005 he was Senior Analyst in structured finance for subnational governments at Banorte.
He studied Economics at Tecnológico de Monterrey and has a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management by the Graduate School for Public Management of Tecnológico de Monterrey.
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Carlos Hurtado Aguilar es Gerente de Desarrollo Sostenible de Fundación FEMSA y ha dirigido sus programas de agua desde su creación en 2008. Fue Consultor Senior del Centro de Análisis y Evaluación de la Política Pública (CAEP) de la Escuela de Graduados en Administración Pública del Tecnológico de Monterrey de 2005 a 2008. En ese periodo coordinó proyectos estratégicos para la Presidencia de la República, gobiernos municipales y organizaciones internacionales como las Naciones Unidas. De 2003 a 2005, fue Analista Senior en finanzas estructuradas para gobiernos subnacionales en Banorte.
Es egresado de la carrera de Economía del Tecnológico de Monterrey y Maestro en Administración Pública y Política Pública por la Escuela de Graduados en Administración Pública y Política Pública del Tecnológico de Monterrey.
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Flor Garcia-Becerra
Mexico
University Researcher, Professional Engineer (Ontario, Canada) and PARAKATA’s CTO
Flor Garcia-Becerra
University Researcher, Professional Engineer (Ontario, Canada) and PARAKATA’s CTO
As a university researcher, professional engineer (Ontario, Canada) and PARAKATA’s CTO, Flor Garcia-Becerra aims to create and implement interdisciplinary science-based solutions to current and future issues within our socioecological systems. Via systems thinking, social innovation, design thinking, action-research, and ecological engineering, she addresses issues surrounding strategic decentralized systems. She is currently teaching and researching at the Department of Processes and Technology at UAM-C through a Cátedra CONACYT. Her current research lines include both biological engineering and inter/transdisciplinary projects. On the engineering side, she focuses on waste biomass valorization; micropollutants biodegradation in wastewater treatments; and decentralized water and sanitation solutions (rainwater harvesting, dry toilets, and constructed wetlands) from an ecological engineering perspective. In her transdisciplinary work, she studies sustainable and resilient climate change adaptations in cities. As a member of the PARAKATA team, she aims to socialize and valorize eco-engineered solutions through the promotion of eco-entrepreneurship. Parakata does this by developing business models for sustainable and resilient technology-based entrepreneurship. Flor also has 3 years of industrial experience in process design of municipal wastewater treatment processes and asset management.
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Daniel Salas Limon, M.I., Phd
Mexico
Servicios de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey
Daniel Salas Limon, M.I., Phd.
Servicios de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey
Professional specialized in Hydraulic Engineering and Water Sciences with emphasis in Urban and Environment Risks; 31 years of experience in the academic field, functioning as private and public consultant for various institutions. Leader of different projects at a National and International level establishing specialized work teams to manage financial resources for hydric projects with higher socioeconomic profitability under the context of the Integral Management of Watersheds.
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Dr. Aldo Iván Ramírez Orozco
Mexico
National Coordinator of the International Flood Initiative
of IHP/Unesco and Professor of Hydrology at ITESM
Dr. Aldo Iván Ramírez Orozco
National Coordinator of the International Flood Initiativeof IHP/Unesco and Professor of Hydrology at ITESM
El Dr. Aldo Iván Ramírez Orozco es Ingeniero Civil, Maestro en Ingeniería Hidráulica y Doctor en Hidrología. Su experiencia profesional incluye diversos puestos en el Gobierno de Michoacán, el Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, la Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro y el Tecnológico de Monterrey. El Dr. Ramírez tiene 32 años de experiencia docente a nivel licenciatura y posgrado y la impartición de cursos de educación continua. Ha dirigido 33 tesis de licenciatura y posgrado. Ha escrito y supervisado más de 200 informes técnicos. Tiene 106 publicaciones en revistas arbitradas y congresos nacionales e internacionales y ha dictado 52 conferencias por invitación. Es autor de seis libros, diez capítulos de libro y ha editado tres obras técnicas. Actualmente es profesor investigador titular del Departamento de Tecnologías Sostenibles y Civil y del Centro del Agua para América Latina y el Caribe del Tecnológico de Monterrey. Es revisor en siete revistas técnicas y dictaminador de proyectos y programas del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). En 2010 fue reconocido con el Premio Nacional Enzo Levi a la Investigación en Hidráulica. Actualmente es Investigador Nacional nivel 1 del CONACYT, miembro de la Academia Mexicana de Ciencias, Coordinador Nacional de la Iniciativa Internacional sobre Inundaciones dentro del Comité Mexicano del Programa Hidrológico Internacional de la UNESCO y Vicepresidente de la Asociación Mexicana de Ingeniería, Ciencia y Gestión Ambiental (AMICA).
Aldo I. Ramirez has a Ph.D. degree in hydrology. He has 32 years of teaching experience and has advised 33 theses at the professional, master and doctoral levels. He has published 106 published in journals and congresses and is the author of nine books and twelve chapters in books. He has dictated 51 conferences by invitation. Currently, he is a professor – researcher at Tecnologico de Monterrey. He is member of several advisory committees at the regional and national levels and a National Researcher Level 1. He is also the National Coordinator of the International Flood Initiative of IHP/Unesco, the Vicepresident of the Mexican Association of Environmental Engineering, Science and Management; and has an active participation in editorial and peer-review groups and several professional societies. In 2010 he received the Enzo Levi National Award for his contributions to research in hydraulics.
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Blanca Brambila
Mexico
Directora de S&RSC en HEINEKEN México y Directora de Fundación HEINEKEN México
Blanca Brambila
Directora de S&RSC en HEINEKEN México y Directora de Fundación HEINEKEN México
Blanca Brambila es una apasionada del desarrollo económico sostenible, graduada del Tecnológico de Monterrey como licenciada en Mercadotecnia, cuenta también con una maestría en Administración de la Universidad de Monterrey.
En su posición como Directora de Sustentabilidad y Responsabilidad Social Corporativa en HEINEKEN México y Directora de Fundación HEINEKEN México, es responsable de la ejecución de la estrategia de sostenibilidad de la compañía operativa más grande de HEINEKEN a nivel mundial, estrategia que busca asegurar el cumplimiento de la visión de HEINEKEN México de convertirse en la empresa más sustentable de México.
El trabajo de Blanca se enfoca en asegurar que las metas ambientales y sociales de HEINEKEN México se cumplan; con objetivos específicos en Protección del Agua, Reducción de Emisiones de CO2, Energía Renovable, Eliminación de Desperdicios y Abasto Sostenible, todos bajo una perspectiva de Economía Circular, así como compromisos en Promoción del Consumo Responsable, Salud y Seguridad para empleados y programas de Educación y Deporte para comunidades vulnerables.
Su experiencia en seguridad hídrica incluye: el seguimiento a la estrategia de mitigación de HEINEKEN México, así como el diseño y operación de las estrategias de balanceo y acceso al agua de la misma empresa. Actualmente, funge como Consejera del Fondo de Agua Metropolitano de Monterrey (FAMM).
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Gabriela Dominguez
Mexico
Trade commissioner for Clean Technologies for Global Affairs Canada
Gabriela Dominguez
Trade commissioner for Clean Technologies for Global Affairs Canada
Gabriela Dominguez, currently is a trade commissioner for clean technologies for Global Affairs Canada, providing advice and assistance to Canadian companies trying to enter new markets and increase policy best practices exchange. Attended Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, received a BSc. In Engineering Physics, worked for ABB, then attended RES The School for Renewable Energy Science at Akureyri, earning a MSc. In Renewable Energy with focus on energy systems and policies, at a joint degree from the University of Iceland and the University of Reykjavik, later worked as an environmental consultant for a political analysis firm (IEXE-Polaris), earned another degree from ITESM as Master on Energy Management
and Renewable Resources, and worked for Grupo Norm in multiple positions providing services inside the group (sustainability for the group of companies and reengineering of Industrias Norm) and outside of the group, consulting for firms and performing municipal diagnostics. Co authored a book on sustainability. Love reading, cats, learning, travelling and increasing adoption of sustainable practices within industry.
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Bassel Daher
Lebanon/United States
Research Associate at Texas A&M University’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus Research Group
Bassel Daher
Research Associate at Texas A&M University’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus Research Group – Lebanon/United States
Beyond his role as Research Associate at Texas A&M University’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus Research Group, Bassel is also a Coordinator of the San Antonio Case Studies at the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Initiative (since 2016). Bassel’s work focuses on policy-oriented research in natural resource management, environmental sustainability, and resource security. He is particularly interested in developing Water-Energy-Food Nexus solutions that respond to biophysical, socioeconomic, governance, and financing constraints, at multiple scales, and in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. He has expertise in water-energy-food nexus analytics and the development of resource allocation assessment tools. His focus lies in developing analytics to catalyze dialogue, and improve cooperation, between cross-sectoral stakeholders.
Bassel is soon to graduate with a PhD in Water Management and Hydrologic Sciences at Texas A&M and holds a B.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the American University of Beirut (2010), and an MSE (2012) from Purdue University, Biological and Agricultural Engineering-Multi-Scale Hydrology Group. He was also a Research Associate (2012-2014) with the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Doha and has contributed to multiple chapters of the UN Global Sustainable Development Report, co-authored a report on “Renewable Energy and the Water, Energy, and Food Nexus” for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and has contributed to or authored more than 20 journal articles, book chapters, and policy briefs relating to the interconnected water-energy-food securities and nexus assessment tools, including with Chatham House, Water International, and Science of the Total Environment.
Bassel is keen to develop bridges around the theme of “Building Resilience in Water-Energy-Food-Health systems” through his work on this topic in the Unites States, through opportunities for collaboration that develop at WIL in Mexico and by tying learnings to the WIL in Lebanon given his involvement in the latter as well.
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Dr. rer.nat. Martin H. Bremer Bremer
Mexico
Director of Soluciones Estrátégicas e Innovación Sostenible S.A. de C.V.
Dr. rer.nat. Martin H. Bremer Bremer
Director of Soluciones Estrátégicas e Innovación Sostenible S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
Geophysical engineer at UNAM in 1984, Masters in 1988 and PhD in Natural Science in 1992 by the Technical University of Clausthal in Germany. Expert in Geoenvironmental Systems and Innovation for Sustainability with extensive experience in professional training and delivery of lectures and conferences in Spanish, English and German. International experience, mainly in Germany, USA and some Latin-American countries with projects, conferences, seminars, studies, etc. Profesional interests include:
- Innovation for Sustainability: focused on Circular Econnomy and the Nexus Energy-Water-Waste.
- Geo-Environmental Systems: focused on Natural Risks and Contaminated Sites (specially Brownfields restoration)
Specialties:
Circular Economy, Innovation for Sustainability; Integrated Energy-Waste-Water Management; Evaluation of contaminated sites; Natural Risk Assessments for urban planing; Sustainable Energy, Green Building
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Alberto Mendoza
Mexico
Director of the Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean
Alberto Mendoza
Director of the Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean
Alberto Mendoza is the Director of the Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Leader of the Energy and Climate Change Research Group of the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnologico de Monterrey. He obtained his BS in Chemical Engineering and MSc in Environmental Engineering from Tecnologico de Monterrey, and his PhD in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In January of 2001 he became a faculty member of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tecnologico de Monterrey, with an adjunct position in the Center for Environmental Quality, where que served as Director of the Center for Clean Technologies. Dr Mendoza is member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers and the Mexican Academy of Sciences. He has lead research projects, conducted professional consultant activity and has been appointed to national and international committees in areas related to energy and the environment.
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Core Team
Dona Geagea
Canada
Global Lead – Water Innovation Labs
Dona Geagea
Global Lead – Water Innovation Labs
Dona is the Global Lead at Waterlution for the Water Innovation Labs (WIL) program, a world-class Waterlution training in 21st century skills for young water leaders, and is leading the planning and delivery of the first WIL in Mexico. She has over a decade of experience working in multi-sector environments, and has spent the past 7 years working in the water sector. She has been involved in the Water Innovation Labs since 2013 in countries ranging from Canada, to Scotland, Netherlands, India, Portugal and Australia. Trained in the Art of Hosting, OASIS methodology, Processwork, Systems-thinking, and Cooperation Pedagogy, she has been designing transformative experiences for people and projects at the intersection of social and technical innovation and leadership. As a member of the global organisation Water Youth Network, she has been an advocate of inclusion of youth in high level decision making, and facilitated numerous workshops on the global platform (including 7th & 8th World Water Forums in South Korea and Brasil, Singapore International Water Week, Budapest Water Summit). Dona holds a Master degree from the Centre for Globalization and Human Condition at McMaster University (Canada), and a joint graduate diploma from the United Nations University- Institute for Water, Environment and Health (INWEH). She is keen to best prepare the next gen of water leaders to lead and innovate in a complexity-ridden and uncertain future. She is keen to see the first WIL in Mexico in action and is already working on developing WIL in Lebanon, Australia and Nile Region over the next years.
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David Araiza
Mexico
makesense Consultant in charge
David Araiza
makesense Consultant in charge
With an MSc in Sustainability and Eco Innovation at Rennes School of Business in collaboration with L’Ecole des métiers de l’environnement, a BA in Industrial Design from Tecnológico de Monterrey and a diploma in EcoDesign by the ELISAVA Design College in Barcelona, Spain, David is a unique facilitator of innovation and co-creation processes. He has work experience in Germany for Deutsche Telekom within the Innovation Center developing user research, mapping trends in innovation and projection of future scenarios for service design. He is now in charge of spearheading collective impact and social innovation projects for makesense in Mexico.
Before his current role, David led makesense´s Acceleration Program for social businesses, a leading social business development program with a strong focus in Sustainable Cities and Urban Water. For this reason, David brings an holistic and informed perspective to WIL Mexico 2019.
On top of fostering valuable knowledge transfer through David´s participation, the partnership between Waterlution and makesense will integrate the tools of a reputable global initiative with the network and insights of a local capacity building organization. All of this with a distinctive focus on water challenges.
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Melissa Gonzalez-Soto
Mexico
Program Designer and Process Facilitator
Melissa Gonzalez-Soto
Melissa is a program designer and process facilitator. Melissa participated in WIL Netherlands in 2015 and is keen to be involved in bringing WIL to Mexico. Her goal is to open spaces for cooperative learning, collaboration and co-creation, particularly around topics of environmental sustainability. To make it happen, Melissa designs and facilitates programs based on methodologies such as LEGO(R) SERIOUS PLAY(R), Oasis Game, Business Modelling, Onthological Coaching, etc. Melissa has an extensive experience working and living abroad (Canada, Germany, China, Finland and Brasil). She is based in Mexico City and enjoys visiting the neighboring mountains.
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Roque Saenz Espósito
Chile
Agri Engineer and founder of TAMBO ROCA
Roque Saenz Espósito
Agri Engineer and founder of TAMBO ROCA
Roque is an Agriculture Engineer specialized on Ecologic Agriculture and Agroforestry Systems. He is a Sustainability Designer and Permaculture Teacher, and founder of TAMBO ROCA, a center for social innovation and regenerative entrepreneurship. He is also the General Coordinator of Programa Huerta Huerta and Creator of Desiertos Comestibles. He leads reforestation activities and empowers people through speeches, workshops, consultancies and project development in Chile, Latin America and The Caribbean. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Agriculture Engineering from Pontificie Universidad Católica, in Chile and a specialization in fruticulture.
Roque participated in WIL Brasil which was an incredible experience for him. Through his experience at WIL he encountered a tribe of engaged young leaders and local solution makers looking for conscious business and smart governance on water issues. He saw in Brazil’s young leaders a unique sensitive way of understanding nature as guardians of the water.
Roque is very keen to join WIL Mexico, to contribute and promote an ecologic and creative point of view for WIL participants, their ideas and prototypes, adding value and creating new ways of innovation for hydric future scenarios in Mexico. He is also looking to build a bridge between Chile and Mexico, sharing experiences and knowledge for food resilience on climate change. Both Chile and Mexico have a huge desert and diverse climates, share a language and a rich culture heritage and are producers of raw materials for developed countries. Both have similar social problems and ecological challenges for the future of water. As Roque works on developing WIL Chile, he is committed to bring his experience and skills to support the WIL Mexico learning ecosystem.
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Daniela Veloz
Mexico
Co-founder of SEA Ambiental
Daniela Veloz
Co-founder of SEA Ambiental
Daniela Veloz is a Mexican biochemical engineer currently living in Monterrey. She holds a Master degree in Environmental Technology and Engineering through an Erasmus Mundus joint program at Ghent University (Belgium), UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands) and ICTP (Czech Republic). Daniela has been working on water research and projects for 11 years, and spent 5 years collaborating with PEMEX, CONAGUA, PROFEPA and non-government offices on soil and water remediation projects for hydrocarbon contamination. Since 2018, she co-founded a consulting company focused on meeting environmental requirements under government regulations. She had the opportunity to live and study in several countries in addition to the ones mentioned above, including Japan and USA. Living abroad has been one of her most enriching learning experiences and she is keen to share her work and learning from around the world with the participants of WIL Mexico. She is also keen to support establishing a water innovation ecosystem for young professionals and young leaders in Mexico and especially in her homebase, the state of Nuevo León.
One of her favorite quotes is “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” – The Lorax.
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