States, and as director of sustainability for the City of Ithaca, where he led the design and implementation of the first city-scale electrification program in the United States. Dr. Aguirre-Torres is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Senior Executive Group on Net Zero Carbon Cities, and co-chair of the New York State Climate Impacts Assessment Technical Working Group for Society and Economy. He is also the former Chairman of the Latin America and Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy (LAC-CORE). In 2012 and 2016, he was recognized by President Obama and the White House Office of Science and Technology for his work in sustainable innovation and climate justice in Latin America. He holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering, a M.S. in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University College London. He also holds a Certificate in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy from Yale University, and in Systems Thinking from Cornell University.

relations, and information assurance. He is also a U.S. Army combat veteran.

Once the youngest MPP in the Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Caucus, he is now the longest serving member in the Ontario Legislature. For many years, Ted has served as a presiding officer (assistant speaker). While in opposition, he was the PC critic to several ministers and while in government, served as parliamentary assistant to the minister of education, the deputy premier, the minister of the environment, and minister of economic development and trade. Many of his private member’s bills and resolutions have been passed by the House or adopted as government policy. Ted became Ontario’s 42nd speaker on July 11, 2018. As well as presiding over the Legislature, Speaker Arnott chairs the Board of Internal Economy, the committee responsible for all financial and administrative matters relating to the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker also has a diplomatic role, welcoming visiting dignitaries to the Legislative Building and representing Ontario’s parliament both in Canada and abroad. Speaker Arnott served as the 2021 chair of CSG East and presided over the 2021 annual meeting, which was held virtually due to Covid-19. He is also the co-chair of the 2023 Annual Meeting, along with MPP Jamie West. Ted lives in Fergus with his wife, Lisa, who teaches French immersion at James McQueen Public School. They have three adult sons.

Over the course of his career, he has collaborated on research projects with community organizations and government, contributing to the development of effective social programs and policies. In 2012, he received the Contribution to Evaluation in Canada Award from the Canadian Evaluation Society. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association).

While at the CPUC, she led the development of the Commission's Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan 2.0. Prior to that, she worked as a program analyst at the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, where she developed engagement and outreach programs focused on distributed energy resources. Before earning her law degree, Keishaa held a variety of roles with media and entertainment companies including Urban One Inc., BET Networks, and Capitol Music Group. Keishaa earned her law degree at Texas Southern University and her bachelor’s degree from Howard University. Keishaa is from Los Angeles, CA.

to elected office after a career as a writer, museum professional, and longtime leader of not-for-profit organizations. As a member of the Assembly, she is Chair of the Assembly’s Energy Committee, and also serves on the Committees on Agriculture, Environmental Conservation, and Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development.

energy and carbon ratings for homes. As part of this work he analyzed the energy performance of thousands of North American homes, worked with the U.S. Department of Energy to analyze and compare operational and modeled home performance, and helped design a system that identified low-performing homes based on public-record data. Keith is a LEED® Accredited Professional and holds Master’s degrees in Sustainable Design Studies from Boston Architectural College and Computer Science from Boston University.

Tommy is the founder and Executive Director of the Philly Peace Park, a city-wide green revitalization project and is the President of Peacetown Commons Land Trust (PCLT), a 501(c)(3) charitable trust registered in the State of Pennsylvania. Since 2018, the Philly Peace Park has given away more than 30,000 pounds of fresh, healthy produce, introduced local youth to agricultural practices, and hosted many community programs and events in the park's "fence-free" gardens.

in 1995 after 17 years of service. Sharon has an A.S. degree from Mount Wachussett Community College, as well as a B.A, M.A., and A.B.D from the University of New Hampshire. Sharon is an adjunct professor at Nashua Community College. She has also taught at the University of New Hampshire and at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester as an adjunct professor after completing her postgraduate studies. She also served on the Rockingham County delegation’s executive committee for two terms and was the chair of the Registry of Deeds. Sharon and her husband, Greg, have been married for 37 years and have two daughters, Alicia and Deirdre. They have lived in Londonderry and the State of New Hampshire since 1989. Greg is a New Hampshire native. Senator Carson has a deep passion for the state that she serves. She loves New Hampshire and its rich history; she shares her knowledge of the early settlers and the stories of Nutfield and Portsmouth, and has a deep respect for the people she serves.

of Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, and also serves on the Senate Government Operations Committee. In addition, Alison is a member of the Legislative Climate Solutions Caucus and the Women’s Caucus, and she serves on the State Workforce Development Board. Before moving to Vermont, Alison was a theater producer in New York for 15 years – where she produced plays on, off, and off-off Broadway. Alison is married to Oliver Goodenough, a professor at the Vermont Law School, and they are the proud parents of two sons, Ward and William.

House Environment and Natural Resources Committee. In the House, Representative Cortvriend has been a leader in efforts to mitigate climate change and pollution, address public shoreline access, support education and prevent substance abuse, particularly among youth. In 2022 she led a commission, created by legislation she sponsored in 2021, that studied issues related to protecting Rhode Islanders’ constitutionally guaranteed right to access the shore, resulting in a proposal to address questions around public access. In 2022, her years-long effort resulted in two new laws prohibiting polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging and legislation requiring the Department of Health to establish maximum contaminate levels of PFAs in drinking water. She was a cosponsor of the Act on Climate. Before her election to the House of Representatives, Representative Cortvriend served on the Portsmouth School Committee from 2004 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2018, the last four years as chairwoman. She graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 1980 and is a graduate of Miami Dade Community College. She also studied business management at Florida International University and accounting at Community College of Rhode Island. Representative Cortvriend is the owner of Ocean Link, Inc., a marine plumbing firm that she founded in 1989. She previously worked as a yacht captain, and held a USCG Captain’s license and a private pilot’s license. She is a member of the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce and the International Yacht Restoration Program Advisory Committee. She is the mother of Savanna J. Cortvriend Cavacas and the grandmother of Wilder Andrew Cavacas, and lives in Portsmouth with her partner, Charles A. Perry.​​​

an executive councilor and two terms as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In addition to his career in public service, Senator D’Allesandro enjoyed professional success in education. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Franklin Pierce University, Daniel Webster College, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art. He also holds degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Rivier University, New England College, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Senator D’Allesandro served as the CSG 2019 National Chair. He and his wife, Patricia, currently reside in Manchester.

agronomist and crop diversification specialist for Manitoba Agriculture focusing on no-till agriculture and sustainable food production. In this research and extension role, he worked with more than 60 different crops and a myriad of crop protection products and new equipment technologies. His responsibilities included planting over 2,000 test plots annually in 10 different locations, making him a seasoned expert in a wide variety of crops and production systems. Scott has direct farming experience not only in North America, but also in Australia and Europe and has been an adviser to governments, universities and farm groups in Europe (Ireland, UK, Ukraine) and Australia. He has won numerous achievement awards for his ag extension work and promotion of no-till agriculture, including “Zero-till Farmer of the Year” and “Conservation Farm of the Year.” Scott is a regular speaker at international conferences regarding advanced crop research and recently spoke at AgriTechnica in Hannover, Germany and Crop World in London, England. He is also a contributing author of several books including “The Search for Sustainable Agriculture” and “Rainfed Farming Systems Around the World.”

Committee; the Rhode Island Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Committee; the Aquidneck Land Trust; the Sakonnet Preservation Society; the United States Navy League; the Physics First Advisory Board; the St. Philomena School Board of Trustees; the Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair; the Rhode Island Space Grant consortium; the UMASS Dartmouth Computer and Electrical/Computer Engineering Advisory Committee and serves as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Lucy's Church. A 1979 graduate Notre Dame Catholic High School, he went on to earn a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Bridgeport in 1983 and a Masters in Computer Science from Brown University in 1989. Senator DiPalma served on the Middletown Town Council from 2004-2008 before elected to the Rhode Island Senate. Lou is married to Margaret and they have two children, Kellie and Abigail. He is employed as a Technical Director for Raytheon.

the first openly gay speaker in Maine's history. He also served as the Maine House assistant majority leader and as chair of the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development during his terms in the Maine Legislature from 2014 to 2022. Ryan's primary legislative achievements included the creation of a state tax incentive for affordable housing, instituting housing-friendly zoning and land use regulations, investing in vocational and trade schools, implementing a child care worker wage stipend, and expanding dental coverage to over 200,000 Mainers. Ryan graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 2014. He has previously worked for a construction trade publication, a food insecurity non-profit, a data and analytics firm, and operated two small businesses. He resides in his hometown of Biddeford with his partner and two doodles Pancake and Jax.  

on Education & Workforce Development. In the 34th Legislature, her second term, she served with distinction as President - only the third female president in U.S.V.I. history. During her tenure as President, Frett-Gregory was deliberate about improving employee morale and was instrumental in developing administrative policies and procedures for the smooth and efficient operation of the institution. A graduate of the Charlotte Amalie High School Class of 1983, Donna holds a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University, Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morgan State University. She also received a Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government certificate in senior executive leadership and holds an advanced government finance certification from the Government Finance Officers Association. Prior to serving as Senator, Frett-Gregory served as Chief Financial Officer for the Virgin Islands Port Authority, Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Education, and Director of Operations at the Virgin Islands Department of Justice. Her early career started in the 18th Legislature where she served as an accounting clerk in the Business Division and was later promoted to a budget analyst in the Post Audit Division. She boasts that her biggest accomplishment is being the proud mother of four adult children: Kaylen, Alani, Anwar and Agyei Gregory, and two grandchildren, Aycen and Ayla Gregory.

research, talent, and commercialization. He previously served as CEO of Aon Hewitt Canada and as a member of the Global Executive Committee of Aon Hewitt. Prior to joining Aon Hewitt, Tony was a Managing Partner at Accenture, president and CEO of BellNexxia, and CEO of BCE Emergis. He has also worked internationally in leadership roles with MCI Telecommunications, SHL Systemhouse Inc., and Andersen Consulting. He is also the founder and CEO of the Lambay Group, a board and business advisory company. Tony holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.A.I.) degree and M.A. from Trinity College Dublin and is a graduate of the Rotman Corporate Directors program (ICD.D).

in Rhode Island and served for several years as chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Education. She has been instrumental in numerous education initiatives, including landmark legislation establishing an equitable, predictable, and transparent formula for funding education in Rhode Island. She led the charge for funding of full-day kindergarten statewide, which was enacted in 2015, and has been a leading advocate for universal prekindergarten programming. She was also the Senate sponsor of a law making civics proficiency a requirement for Rhode Island public high school graduates. In addition, she has been instrumental in bills to cut government red tape to allow businesses to operate more efficiently, thereby enabling them to grow their workforces. She has been active in efforts to improve workforce development programs so all Rhode Islanders have access to quality, good-paying jobs. Sen. Gallo was appointed as the chair of the CSG East Education and Workforce Development Committee in 2023. She and her husband, Russell, have two daughters, Julie and Laura.

Joint Standing Committee on Taxation. Lori earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of New England and has more than 35 years of experience in non-profit prevention-based social work, advocacy and social justice initiatives.

and has more than 25 years of public service. He currently serves clients as a policy and political consultant. Earlier in his career, Peter was the first-ever visiting fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Previously, he had been the director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education during the first term of President Barack Obama. Peter served as the 47th president of the Colorado State Senate. He was the first African American in Colorado to ascend to the post and only the third African American in the nation’s history to hold the gavel as state Senate president. Peter served in the Colorado General Assembly for nearly 10 years and passed landmark education innovation, criminal justice, and health care legislation. Peter has a B.A. from the University of Redlands and a J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law.

Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus. Harris graduated from St. Benedict's Preparatory School in 1999, and served in the United States Navy until 2009. He later graduated from Washington Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in general studies in 2011, and Walden University with a Master of Science degree in leadership development in 2014.

the planning and environment committee, two years as deputy mayor (2018-2020) and eight years on the transit commission. He is particularly interested in the intersection of housing, mobility and climate policy and actionable strategies to build cleaner, greener and more affordable cities and communities. He was named one of London’s Top 20 Under 40 in 2019. Jesse is a graduate of University of Waterloo (BA) and Queen's University (MPA) and is currently a PhD Candidate in political science at Western University, where his research focuses on the political participation gap between homeowners and tenants (www.greatsuppression.ca). He teaches part-time at Western in the local government program and at Huron University College in the governance, ethics and leadership program. Jesse lives with his wife, Kate Graham, and their daughter, Flora, in Old North.

on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Biotechnology and a member on the Education, Energy and Environment Committee. During her first term, Senator Hester passed over 30 pieces of bipartisan legislation by bringing together diverse groups of experts, advocates, and legislators to collaborate on public policy with an emphasis on cybersecurity, renewable energy, mental and behavioral health, agriculture, and environmental resilience. Before entering public service in 2018, Senator Hester spent 20 years working on sustainable development, Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning to solve large, complex problems. She has advised Fortune 500 companies, governments, communities, and non-profits on creating win-win partnerships. Hester graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and is a Professionally Accredited Partnership Broker.  She lives in Howard County with her husband and two daughters.

role, she is focused on the implementation of land border transportation policy issues, including international bridges and joint initiatives with the U.S., as well as preclearance-related responsibilities in the air, marine, and rail modes. She also leads policy research and advice related to motor carrier issues (international and domestic trucking). She has 20 years’ experience in the areas of transportation, trade, and agriculture with a special focus on North American transportation infrastructure, supply chain fluidity, and resilience. Mrs. Hristeva holds a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from McGill University and executive training credentials from McGill Executive Institute and Harvard Kennedy School.

for Medicare Advocacy for nearly 20 years. She is currently a law partner in the Willimantic-based private practice law firm O’Brien & Johnson, Attorneys at Law, working with her husband, retired Judge of Probate Dennis O’Brien. Johnson and her husband also co-host “Let’s Talk About It" - a weekly public affairs show on WILI-AM and FM radio that Rep. Johnson helped launch in 1998 - and a local cable access TV show called “Windham Works.” Rep. Johnson is serving her third term as a Deputy Majority Leader and is a member of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, Education Committee and Human Services Committee. She has been serving as a member of the Medical Assistance Oversight Council (MAPOC) since 2012. Rep. Johnson also helped create and served as co-chair of the English Language Learners legislative Task Force. In 2019, Rep. Johnson successfully championed legislation that established a taskforce to analyze the state Workers' Compensation Commission's claims process. The taskforce to studied the extent of unreasonably contested or delayed workers' compensation claims and made recommendations on how to prevent bad faith handling of insurance claims. Rep. Johnson also advocated for funding to support Connecticut veterans by expanding access for mental health services to recover from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or military sexual violence, and social reintegration.

Jones also held the distinction of being the first African American woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tem in the Maryland House of Delegates, serving in that capacity under Speaker Mike Busch for 16 years. Speaker Jones served on the House Appropriations Committee, and was Chair of the Capital Budget and Education, and Economic Development Subcommittees. She has been a delegate since 1997. Speaker Jones has long been known by her colleagues for her steadfast leadership and no-nonsense approach to legislating. She has focused on education policy and funding issues, most notably school construction, during her tenure in the legislature. She has also made significant advances in ensuring diversity and fair treatment of state employees. Speaker Jones was born in Cowdensville, Maryland, a historic African-American community located near Arbutus in Southwest Baltimore County. She attended Baltimore County Public Schools, graduating from Lansdowne High School and is a proud alumna of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. She attended The National Security Seminar, U.S. Army War College in 2007. In 2008, she received an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. She is the mother of two adult sons and proud grandmother of two wonderful grandchildren, Jalen and Janelle Jones.

family’s dairy farm and in 1996 started work as a corrections officer with the New York State Department of Corrections. He served as mayor of Chateaugay from 2009 to 2013 and as a Franklin County legislator starting in 2010, becoming chair in 2013. During his tenure, Billy successfully reformed ethics laws to make government more transparent. Assemblymember Jones is active with various organizations throughout the North Country, including the Chateaugay Rotary Club; he is also a board member of the United Way of the Adirondack Region. He was a member of the North Country Economic Development Council, where he supported numerous projects that help local businesses grow the region’s economy. Assemblymember Jones remains very engaged with issues facing the Canada-U.S. border and was named the honorary co-chair of the Quebec-New York Corridor Coalition, and serves as chair of The Council of State Governments Eastern Region’s Canada-U.S. Relations Committee. He chairs the Task Force on New York Canada Relations and the Subcommittee on Agriculture Economic Development and Farmland Protection. He is a member of the Committee on Agriculture; the Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; the Committee on Small Business; the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development; the Committee on Veterans' Affairs; and the Committee on Governmental Employees. In the Assembly, his legislative priorities are lowering taxes for middle-class families, improving the education system, rooting out government corruption, and creating good-paying jobs so North Country families can thrive for generations to come. Assemblyman Billy Jones is the proud father of a daughter, Ella Liberty Jones, born on July 4th.

CEO. As a respected speaker, strategist, entrepreneur, urban planner, and real estate developer, Keesmaat continues to advance cities of the future, with an emphasis on collaboration across sectors and broad engagement with municipal staff, councils, developers, business leaders, NGOs, and residents associations. Keesmaat has been recognized for her expertise in transit planning, heritage preservation, strategy development, communications, housing development, sustainable economic development and the creation of walkable, complete communities. In 2018, Keesmaat ran for Mayor in the City of Toronto on a platform that included addressing the housing crisis by building at scale on city-owned land and implementing a Rent-to-Own program; neighbourhood-based crime prevention through the development of Community Wellbeing Plans for each neighborhood in the city; redesigning city streets to prioritize vulnerable users such as children, seniors, pedestrian and cyclists; the development of five Cultural Hubs to instigate renewal outside of the core; and the tearing down of the Gardiner Expressway to build a new walkable, transit-oriented waterfront neighbourhood community. Jennifer leads The Keesmaat Group, along with her team of city-building experts, and is a co-founder of Markee Developments with her partner Jason Marks. Together they have over 2,000 rental homes in the development pipeline. Jennifer’s award-winning and widely acclaimed podcast can be found at invisiblecitypodcast.com.

Institution, a professor at the University of Virginia’s Department of Economics and Darden School of Business, and provides research support at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and the Centre for the Governance of AI. Korinek received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2007, after several years of work experience in the IT and financial sectors. He has also worked at Johns Hopkins and at the University of Maryland and has been a visiting scholar at Harvard University, the World Bank, the IMF, the BIS, and numerous central banks. In his past research, he investigated the mechanics of financial crises and developed policy measures to prevent future crises, including an influential framework for capital flow regulation in emerging economies.

organizations. His experience includes management roles in financial services, impact investing, consulting, and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining the center, Alan was part of the leadership team for a fintech startup focused on financial inclusion. He led partnerships with organizations such as the World Bank, Mastercard, and FICO to expand access to finance for more than one million entrepreneurs across the globe. Alan earned a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Texas and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University.

facility. She then became active with a group of residents meeting to discuss the disruptions to their community. They soon formed Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL). CRCQL started as a community advocacy organization driven by the ultimate goal to shut down the nation's largest incinerator. In 1993, Zulene became the Chairperson of CRCQL. Since that time, CRCQL, under Zulene's leadership, has defended its community against everything from three proposed plants to burn tires to the siting of the largest pet crematory in the country. Under Zulene's leadership, CRCQL’s work has been covered nationally and internationally by NPR, The Guardian, The Associated Press, and the Washington Post. Zulene is recognized as a fierce leader and advisor to many communities. She has served on the Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Justice Advisory (NEJAC), member of the New Jersey Environmental Alliance, founder/advisor to The Campus Coalition Concerning Chester (C4), National Black Environmental Justice Network. Zulene is a highly sought after speaker on many college campuses teaching about environmental racism and terrorism in Chester and similar communities.

two years at Red Ventures Puerto Rico, a digital marketing and technology company focused on investing in top talent and technology to build world-class companies in Puerto Rico. While at Red Ventures, Mercader led efforts to expose young students to the professional world, specifically in digital marketing and technology. Before joining Red Ventures, I spent two years working in V2A Consulting, a Management Consulting firm based in Puerto Rico. Mercader has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, where he co-led HackPR, an organization that organized the biggest student hackathons in the Caribbean.

operations, human resources, procurement, communications, and administration. Holly first joined the Ministry of Education in 2015 and led the modernization of child care licensing and enforcement following the passage of the Child Care and Early Years Act. Most recently, she helped lead Ontario’s discussions with the federal government, resulting in the successful negotiation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement.

has held roles of increasing responsibility, facilitating collaboration and innovation within and among agencies and stakeholders in the state, nationally, and internationally. With broad perspective and experience in transportation and community planning, environmental stewardship, and social equity, Debra is an ardent champion for making transportation decisions that support a sustainable society.

Office’s (FAO) Chief Financial Analyst and Deputy Officer, where he led the financial analysis of Ontario provincial government programs and proposals. Prior to joining the FAO, Jeffrey held senior positions in the Ontario Public Service (OPS), including at Treasury Board Secretariat, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Research and Innovation, where he oversaw provincial budget planning, fiscal policy analysis, and expenditure management and reporting. Before joining the OPS, Jeffrey was a financial services lawyer with the national law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. Jeffrey holds an M.A. in Economics from Queen's University and a J.D. (Law) and M.A. in History from the University of Toronto.

on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy; Founding Chair and current member of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change; and member of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Senator Pacheco has been appointed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) as Co-Chair of the Eastern Regional Conference (ERC) Energy & Environment Committee and to the National ‘Future of Work’ Task Force serving as Chair of the Subcommittee on Smart Government. He has also been appointed to the CSG/ERC Territorial Relations Committee and the National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) Task Force on Energy Supply. Senator Pacheco has been a longtime environmental advocate and an Al Gore Climate Messenger with the Climate Reality Project who has fought hard to implement climate change solutions in the Commonwealth. He was lead sponsor the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008, which was enacted into law to establish an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions and implement comprehensive sustainable solutions in Massachusetts. Senator Pacheco has received numerous awards from various organizations throughout his career including honors from Environment Massachusetts and the Sustainable Future Campaign - an initiative of the United Nations Youth and Student Association. He has received the Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, the highest civilian award given by the Portuguese government; the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star from the Republic of Austria, the fourth highest decoration of merit the country can confer on the federal level; and the Medalha da Ordem de Timor Leste, for his contributions to the U.N. Referendum for East Timor independence. Before his service in the Massachusetts Legislature, Senator Pacheco served for 10 years as an elected member of the Taunton School Committee serving as its chair and as the chief of staff and budget director to the Mayor of the City of Taunton for seven years.

people affected by mental health conditions. Prior to her work at NAMI, Stephanie served as the Policy and Advocacy Associate at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, where she worked on federal policies dedicated to expanding and improving community-based mental health and addiction treatment. Stephanie is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where she earned a B.A. in political science and a Master of Public Administration (MPA).

she joined Eric Holder’s U.S. Attorney’s Office and prosecuted criminals; building cases by working closely with police officers, witnesses and victims in the community. Joseline has served on the board of Casa de Maryland, a community social service organization focused on immigrant issues. Her committee in the House deals with public health and she has made great strides to improve the healthcare system by making it more efficient and in line with the needs of everyday Marylanders. Her legislation to digitize medical records is improving health care delivery and lowering costs. She has also moved many bills into law dealing with women’s and children’s health, including bills on family planning, mammograms, childhood obesity and suicide prevention. She also leads on matters of policing and criminal justice. The Baltimore riots show that we need to create more paths to success for all our citizens and that a broken justice system weakens our communities. She was one of ten Delegates that served on the Workgroup on Public Safety and Policing Practices established after the riots, but her strong record on these issues predates the riots. One of her bills made Maryland the first state to count inmates of state prisons in the place where they lived when arrested, which helps boost representation for the poor communities with the most problems. She co-sponsored the repeal of the death penalty (HB 0295, 2013) and she supported “ban the box” on state employment forms because we need to improve employment options for people with criminal convictions if we are to break the cycle of incarceration. She also has pushed for police accountability, including ending race based traffic stops and promoting legislation for an independent state prosecutor to investigate deaths related to law enforcement. (See, HB 130, 2011.) She is a strong advocate for a people’s democracy and supports public campaign financing to limit the corrosive effects of large contributions and constant fundraising on our democracy.

Times in 2011, he was recruited to teach at Temple University's Richard J. Fox School of Business and Management where he was the Social Impact Fellow at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute and taught social entrepreneurship and organizational innovation. In his fourth year of teaching at Temple, Rep. Rabb helped to successfully unionize 1,500 fellow adjunct professors in a landslide victory for worker rights. He is currently a board member of Friends of the Wissahickon and Race Forward and has been on the faculty of the Institute for Strategic Leadership at Drexel University's Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. A former U.S. Senate legislative aide and writer, researcher and trainer at the White House Conference on Small Business in the Clinton administration, Rep. Rabb is a thought leader at the intersection of politics, media entrepreneurship and social identity. A graduate of Yale College and the University of Pennsylvania, Rep. Rabb is an avid family historian and genealogist. He lives in East Mt. Airy with his two sons.

residents to develop healthy behaviors and shape policies to reduce institutional barriers to adopting healthier lifestyles. Rivera’s passion to improve health and healthcare led to his appointment as chair of the Senate’s Health Committee. As chair, Senator Rivera collaborates with colleagues, stakeholders, and constituents to improve health outcomes, increase access to coverage, and ensure a financially viable system for the 20 million New Yorkers he serves. As a member of the Senate Health Committee, he passed laws to ban smoking around schools, afterschools, and libraries. As ranking member of the Senate’s Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, he championed legislation to allow charitable organizations to post bail bonds for individuals who cannot afford to do so and facilitated development of a comprehensive reentry center. Senator Rivera champions and empowers Latino communities across the state and nation in a variety of ways, including service as a board member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and mentor for the Model State Senate program, “Somos El Futuro,” sponsored by CUNY, SUNY, the New York State Assembly, and the Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force. Prior to becoming an elected representative, Senator Rivera worked as a community organizer for local, state, and national candidates. After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, he moved to New York to pursue an advanced political science degree at the City University of New York.

emergency management  and departmental regional offices. Previously, Tom had served as the department’s Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy. Before joining AAFC, Tom held senior positions at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Natural Resources Canada. Earlier in his career, Tom held a number of positions in both the public and private sectors related to economic and public policy analysis in natural resource sectors. This included assignments at NRCan, Industry Canada and the Forest Products Association of Canada. A British Chevening Scholar, Tom holds a M.S. in Environmental and Resource Economics from the University of London as well as Masters and Bachelor’s degrees in Public Administration from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Throughout her time in the Senate, she has fought for equity in educational spaces, acting as the leading force in expanding access to early childhood education throughout the state. She also spearheaded the law to build on the federal free and reduced meal program so that all students who qualify for the program could receive breakfast and lunch at no cost, eliminating the reduced category. Ruiz received a bachelor’s degree from Drew University, was a 2010 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow, and a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. She is vice chair of the Essex County Democratic Party and is deputy chief of staff to Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. She served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

last day of Ramadan a state holiday, recruit more transit drivers, and increase LIHEAP participation. Sanchez is a graduate of Rhode Island College, earning a degree in Public Relations in 2019, and currently works as a case manager helping undocumented young people.

leading Canadian consultancies. He was Vice-President for Climate, Energy and Partnerships with the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s (IISD). He is currently a School Fellow at Carleton’s School of Public Policy and an Executive in Residence with the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa.

the Cooperative Extension, and then dean of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College. Judy Schwank was elected county commissioner for Berks County in 2002, and was first elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in 2011, where she has served as minority chair of the Agriculture Committee. Senator Schwank was appointed as co-chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee for CSG East in 2020.

Challenge. She has extensive experience with youth and families involved in the justice system through direct service, research, technical assistance, and program design. Most recently, Stephanie was the director of violence prevention at the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, where she worked to enhance community-led youth gun violence prevention. Stephanie holds a BS in psychology from the University of Arizona and an MA in community psychology from the University of New Haven.

the execution of the McCain: McDonald's Future of Potato Farming Fund. Serving as a direct connection between agriculture and finance professionals, Sheppard is actively pursuing partnerships dedicated to reducing the barriers to regenerative agriculture across North America. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Smith School of Business at Queen's University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

disabilities, LGBTQ rights, support for youth at risk, mental health and addictions, equity, diversity and inclusion, and innovation. Shields plays an integral role in restructuring Ontario's health care system, serving as co-chair of the Ontario Health Central Region Mental Health and Addiction Table and on committees for planning and performance for both the Centre of Excellence for MHA and Ontario Health Central Region Health System Recovery Table.

to transportation, public-private partnerships, energy, and disaster response issues. He also monitors the fiscal health of the states and edits and produces the State Expenditure Report annually. Prior to coming to NASBO, Sigritz worked as a legislative aide in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served as the caucus staff representative on the Human Services and Aging Committee. He has also served as the legislative liaison to the Mayor of Dayton, Ohio. In addition, Sigritz has authored articles on state fiscal conditions, has been quoted in a number of publications, and has appeared on several television programs. Sigritz graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure University, and received his Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University. He also studied sociology and history while attending Oxford University. Founded in 1945, NASBO serves as the professional organization for all state budget officers of the fifty states and U.S. territories. NASBO collects fiscal data and publishes numerous reports on state fiscal conditions. The association also provides training for members and provides public officials, the media and citizens information on financial management and budgeting.

childhood hometown. Singh completed his Broadcast Journalism education from Mount Royal University’s Centre for Communication Studies in Calgary, while also serving as a reporter for CBC Radio. In 2004, he was chosen as one of eight broadcasting students from thousands across Canada to work for TSN (The Sports Network), based in Toronto, where he worked on the popular sports highlights show, 'Sportscentre'. In the summer of 2007, while working for the CBC, Singh exposed a news story about Citizenship & Immigration Canada regarding a ban on certain east-Indian last names, which received worldwide attention and changed federal government policy. Most people know Harnarayan as the host and play-by-play commentator for Rogers Hockey Night in Canada in Punjabi, a show that he has been a part of for over 500 NHL games during 9 seasons, without missing a single match. He was also the anchor for CBC Calgary’s TV Sports coverage for two NHL seasons along with hosting weekly behind the scenes features for the Calgary Flames website. Harnarayan spends time giving back to the community by speaking through motivational lectures to students across Canada, as well as performing east-Indian instruments, the Tabla and Harmonium.

her powerful keynotes, Talaga shares Indigenous stories from across Canada and the world, humanizing the legacy of residential schools and colonization and sharing her hope for a more inclusive and equitable future. Talaga is of Polish and Indigenous descent, with her mother’s family from Fort William First Nation. Her great-grandmother was a residential school survivor, and her great-grandfather was an Ojibwe trapper and laborer. Talaga is a columnist at the Globe and Mail. Prior to this, she was a journalist at the Toronto Star for 20 years. She has been nominated five times for the Michener Award in public service journalism, and won, alongside her teammates, two National Newspaper Awards for Project of the Year. From 2017-2018, Talaga was the Atkinson Fellow in Public Policy through The Canadian Journalism Foundation, and in 2018, she became the first Anishinaabe woman to deliver the CBC Massey Lectures.

policy priorities at the City of Toronto, including the regulation of emerging technologies, COVID-19 economic recovery planning, and a number of housing initiatives. Prior to that, she served as a policy associate at the Mowat Centre, where she authored and coauthored several reports on government transformation and the impact of economic transitions on Canadians’ ability to access social supports. Jordann has had work published through academic journals, media outlets and various research institutions. She holds an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Toronto.

over 17 years’ experience with client services, including Human Resources, and nearly a decade focused on DEI initiatives in nonprofits. Serving clients in a variety of industries — including non-profit and for profit, higher education institutions, government, and the performing arts — Colby has guided organizations for measurable impact and sustainable DEI roadmaps for the future. She is passionate about building inclusive workplaces that empower every person's voice and continually reaffirms the philosophy that an inclusive culture is the bedrock of successful and highly functioning organization.

wealth equality derived from her experiences as a Black woman growing up in a divested Black neighborhood and the myriad roles she has served in, including global and national intermediaries, federal and state governments, and community-based organizations.

of government. He has extensive experience in program and financial management at private non-profit organizations, and most recently led a financial turnaround of the Harrington Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Downeast Maine. Lee began his career in Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress. While employed at the institution’s Congressional Research Service, he learned the value of research and gained an appreciation for the consequential role of information dissemination in creating opportunities. As a staffer for several subsequent years with U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell, Lee developed the foundation for what would become a career-long emphasis on successful interactions with Capitol Hill, federal agencies, and international entities. Throughout his career, Lee has focused on education, healthcare and workforce needs as well as community and economic development, to create, reinvigorate and promote sustainable initiatives through legislative action and access to state and federal programs. As vice president and interim executive director of Math for America, he directed a congressional process establishing a national math and science corps that became public law. Lee has excelled in creating communication and public relations strategies in many roles including Director of Communications for Maine Governor John Baldacci and Community Liaison for Senator George Mitchell in his capacity leading the Northern Ireland peace negotiations. In concert with the start of the Peace Talks in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Lee organized an education and workforce conference with participants from East and West Belfast, the Republic of Ireland, and the United States. He later spent several years building US-Northern Ireland partnerships and helped launch education programs in Ghana. Lee resides in Bangor and is the proud father of two children and five grandchildren.

She received her B.S. in physics with a minor in mathematics from Penn State University. Her graduate degree from the University of Vermont is in secondary education. Anne has been a science and math teacher since 2004. Anne enjoys playing ultimate Frisbee, crocheting, and spending time with her family. She lives in Montpelier with her husband and son.

roots. He is a fierce advocate for human rights and is an eternal optimist who believes in fairness and helping others. Jamie faced poverty growing up, and he knows the importance of government and community services in ensuring that everyone has an opportunity for success. Jamie is a proud graduate of both Cambrian College and Laurentian University. His background includes working in the fields of mental health, construction, mining, and workplace safety.

aide in the Maine House of Representatives. She is a military spouse and officer in the Air National Guard.

author, and speaker, Nora explores how new technology shapes the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. She is the Author ofThe Virtual Self, a 2012 book on how our digital lives are altering the world around us.