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Managing Director of Policy and Solutions at National Housing Trust | Author, Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation
Strong leadership and a sense of integrity are part of Kona’s DNA. As a firm leader with 30 years of experience in 30+ countries, his global design and management sense has positively shaped many environments. Kona envisions welcoming places that promote community and vitality in diverse neighborhoods around the world. Blending sensitivity, regional resources, and innovative design solutions, he unites a client’s vision with his own vanguard designs to produce invigorating environments with emotional purpose and presence
A Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Kona currently serves as ASLA President Elect. He recently served as the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board ASLA Representative. Kona is a Past President of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and active Urban Land Institute member. Kona serves on the University of Miami Architecture School and Nova Southeastern University Business School Real Estate Advisory Boards, as well as Virginia Tech Landscape Architecture and University of Georgia School of Environment + Design Advisory Councils. He is a registered Landscape Architect holding a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Georgia and Commercial Real Estate Certificate from Cornell University.
At EDSA, Kona’s award-winning projects are inspired by a passion for creative design solutions that solve meaningful global issues. His portfolio ranges in multiple scales with emphasis on communities, parks, hospitality, urban public realms, mixed-use destinations, healthcare, and campus spaces. With an uncompromising dedication to quality, he consistently takes into consideration important factors like community, heritage, environment, and the constant pursuit of improving humanity through Landscape Architecture.
Senior Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for the Environment and Health
Dr. Duhaime is a senior pediatric neurosurgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital and is the Nicholas T. Zervas Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School. Her neuroscience research investigates mechanisms, pathophysiology, imaging, and treatment of injury in the immature brain, using translational and clinical approaches to study injuries occurring in infants and young children, including those seen most commonly in child abuse. The work also investigates plasticity, recovery, and return of brain function in children and adolescents during maturation.
Dr. Duhaime also has a longstanding interest in the relationship between brain and behavior, and in environmental issues. She is a Faculty Associate of the Harvard University Center for the Environment. Beginning with a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute in 2016 she has explored the neurobiology of reward circuitry and plasticity and its relevance to pro-environmental behavior, and also worked with a diverse team to design a prototype advanced “green” biophilic pediatric hospital. Her book on this work, Minding the Climate (Harvard University Press), was awarded the Sustainability Book of the Year in 2023 by Project Syndicate. She now serves as Associate Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for the Environment and Health, supervising the Research pillar, and as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Climate Change and Health.
Principal, ESDA, Inc.
Strong leadership and a sense of integrity are part of Kona’s DNA. As a firm leader with 30 years of experience in 30+ countries, his global design and management sense has positively shaped many environments. Kona envisions welcoming places that promote community and vitality in diverse neighborhoods around the world. Blending sensitivity, regional resources, and innovative design solutions, he unites a client’s vision with his own vanguard designs to produce invigorating environments with emotional purpose and presence.
A Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Kona currently serves as ASLA President Elect. He recently served as the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board ASLA Representative. Kona is a Past President of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and active Urban Land Institute member. Kona serves on the University of Miami Architecture School and Nova Southeastern University Business School Real Estate Advisory Boards, as well as Virginia Tech Landscape Architecture and University of Georgia School of Environment + Design Advisory Councils. He is a registered Landscape Architect holding a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Georgia and Commercial Real Estate Certificate from Cornell University.
At EDSA, Kona’s award-winning projects are inspired by a passion for creative design solutions that solve meaningful global issues. His portfolio ranges in multiple scales with emphasis on communities, parks, hospitality, urban public realms, mixed-use destinations, healthcare, and campus spaces. With an uncompromising dedication to quality, he consistently takes into consideration important factors like community, heritage, environment, and the constant pursuit of improving humanity through Landscape Architecture.
Economist, The Data Center
Robert Habans, PhD, is the economist at The Data Center of Southeast Louisiana, where his work focuses on greater New Orleans and coastal Louisiana. Prior to returning home to New Orleans in 2018, he was a researcher based at UCLA and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has authored numerous applied studies on economic development, issues related to employment and work, and drivers of change and inequality at the neighborhood and regional levels. He has a PhD in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a masters from UNO, and a bachelors from University of California, Berkeley.
Energy Inclusion Associate, Greater New Orleans, Inc
Salem's background is in social entrepreneurship, leading community initiatives to address needs in food waste, water access, and financial literacy. Salem now leads GNO, Inc.’s efforts around diverse workforce development and entrepreneurial advancement in the energy sector.
AVP for Economics and Policy, Environmental Defense Fund
Carolyn Kousky is Associate Vice President for Economics and Policy at Environmental Defense Fund. Dr. Kousky’s research examines multiple aspects of climate risk management and policy approaches for increasing resilience. She is the author of Understanding Disaster Insurance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future and an editor of A Blueprint for Coastal Adaptation. She is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance at the U.S. Department of Treasury, a non-resident senior fellow in the Brookings Metro program, a member of the High-Level Advisory Board on the Financial Management of Catastrophic Risks at the OECD, and a member of the Roundtable on Risk and Resilience of Extreme Events at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She has a BS in Earth Systems from Stanford University and a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard University.
Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Matilda Kreider is a researcher on the wind energy stakeholder engagement and outreach team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where she conducts research and engagement related to the social, equity, and policy and planning aspects of offshore and land-based wind energy. She currently leads NREL's research on community benefit agreements, studying the impacts they have on wind development and identifying trends in how community benefits are used on the national scale. Matilda holds a master’s degree in environmental justice and environmental behavior from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in political communication from George Washington University. She was born and raised in coastal New England but now lives in Denver, Colorado.
President & CEO, Gulf Coast Housing Partnership
As Gulf Coast Housing Partnership’s President and CEO Kathy Laborde provides overall leadership to GCHP, overseeing the organization’s project pipeline, financing, construction, asset management and property management activities.
Over the course of her career Ms. Laborde has developed more than 7,000 affordable and market-rate homes and commercial and community facilities both directly and in partnership with local non-profits, city and state government, and the private sector. Prior to joining Gulf Coast Housing Partnership in 2006, Ms. Laborde operated Kaliope, LLC, a real estate development and consulting company which she established in 1999. Previously, she was founder and executive director of the first bank-owned community development corporation in Louisiana. Before settling in Louisiana, Ms. Laborde held a variety of management positions with private sector real estate developers in Missouri and North Carolina.
Ms. Laborde holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and an MBA from Tulane University. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Housing Partnership Network, Louisiana Land Trust, Regional Community Finance, Mississippi Association of Affordable Housing Providers, the Louisiana Association of Affordable Housing Providers, and the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge.
President/CEO, Center for Planning Excellence
A native Louisianan, Camille Manning-Broome is internationally recognized for her expertise in resilience and adaptation planning. Her leadership on issues of land loss, coastal community sustainability, climate change resilience and adaptation as well as resident-led community planning has contributed to the transformation of cities, towns and parishes throughout Louisiana and has created knowledge of interest to peers throughout the U.S. and the globe, from South Africa to Scotland to Denmark. As President and CEO, Camille oversees CPEX’s multidisciplinary team as they develop plans and provide technical assistance, data and research, policy guidance, communications support, and thought leadership to communities seeking to make thoughtful decisions about how they develop and grow. Camille’s prior career experience includes work in nonprofit, private and government sectors. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she was among the first planners on the ground, working across 36 parishes to develop the Louisiana Speaks regional plan. She served as Assistant Deputy of Operations for FEMA’s Long-Term Community Recovery group and was later recruited to the Shaw Group where she co-authored Louisiana’s first Coastal Master Plan. She has also attended Congressional delegation trips to the Netherlands and Japan to study water and disaster management.
Director of Planning, Center for Planning Excellence
Kim has 28 years of community planning experience at the regional, parish, municipal and neighborhood scales. She has specialized in working with local governments, leading community planning efforts, and finding creative solutions to address local issues. She also has experience in post disaster recovery and long-term community resilience building. Understanding local values and goals while also considering big ideas underpin the approach that she takes when working with local communities. Kim has worked in the Capital Region for the past eight years and in Louisiana for 15 years. Prior to moving to Louisiana, Kim was a community planner in Washington state for 13 years.
Health and Wellness Coordinator, Move Bunkie Forward
Meet Michelle Reynolds, a devoted wife of 14 years and a nurturing mother of three. Holding a Bachelor's degree in English from Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Michelle has channeled her education into a remarkable journey of empowerment and community impact.
In her role as the Health and Wellness Coordinator at Move Bunkie Forward, a nonprofit organization, Michelle leverages her passion for well-being to create and implement programs that inspire healthier lifestyles. Her dedication resonates deeply within the community, motivating individuals to prioritize their physical and mental health.
Michelle is also the proud owner of BeEncourage Upscale Resale in Bunkie, Louisiana. Through this local business, she not only contributes to the local economy but also fosters sustainability by offering thoughtfully curated second-hand items. Her entrepreneurial spirit encourages others to embrace choices for growth.
Professor, Texas A&M University
Thomas W. Sanchez, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. He earned his PhD in City Planning from Georgia Tech and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His research and teaching focus on planning methods, technology, and scholarly impact. His most recent books include Networks in the Knowledge Economy (with Denise Bedford) and Planning Knowledge and Research. His forthcoming book, AI for Urban Planning will be published by Routledge in 2025. Sanchez serves as the American Planning Association (APA) Education Committee Chair and as a member of APA’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Foresight Community.
Program Officer-NAS, National Academy of Sciences
John-Ben Soileau is a Program Officer for the Board on Environmental Change and Society at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where he has worked on climate resilience and community engagement efforts since 2019. His work integrates multidisciplinary perspectives with local experiential knowledge to mitigate the damage and decrease the suffering of communities impacted by environmental disruptions. He is the director of the National Academies consensus study, Managed Retreat in the US Gulf Coast Region, which utilizes the lived experiences of Gulf Coast residents at risk of climate-induced displacement. John-Ben has a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of New Orleans, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane, and is finalizing a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also volunteers as the Brazil Coordinator for The Minga Foundation, a non-profit that collaborates with underserved communities to improve socio-economic and health equity.
Senior Vice President Offshore Wind and PortNYC Planning, NYCEDC
Max Taffet, AICP, is an urban planner working to implement waterfront projects for the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). As Senior Vice President of Offshore Wind and PortNYC Planning, Taffet focuses on implementing NYC's climate and offshore wind goals and stewarding planning NYC’s maritime assets. NYCEDC is a quasi-governmental entity holding economic development and maritime contracts on behalf of the City of New York. In addition to offshore wind and associated electricity transmission projects, Taffet's project portfolio includes starting the City's first tidal wetland mitigation bank; maritime community support for PortNYC facilities; in-water public amenities visioning and implementation; and broad strategies to support innovative freight movement in NYC. Taffet represents the City on the Port of NY and NJ Harbor Operations Steering Committee and at the New York State Maritime Technical Working Group for Offshore Wind. Taffet holds a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelors degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
Planning & Urban Design Manager, Center for Planning Excellence
David has a background in urban planning, urban design, public policy, and development-related disciplines. He has over 20 years of experience in developing long-range plans and urban design strategies; drafting code amendments; planning and implementing capital projects; and managing economic development tools. In both the public and private sectors, David’s work advances innovative planning practices that improve the built environment; evaluates municipal policies and business processes through the lens of fostering more vibrant cities; and capitalizes on strategic opportunities to create unique and enduring places. His prior work includes leading an urban design studio for the City of Dallas and developing plans and ordinances throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana—including the City of Gonzales, as well as Ascension and St. John the Baptist Parishes. David’s practice has evolved to have an increasing emphasis on the connection between the built environment and human health, including managing capital improvements that address environmental conditions to improve both physical health and mental well-being. David holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University.
Offshore Wind Lead - North America, Energy & Power, Jacobs
Michael leads Jacobs’ offshore wind (OSW) strategy for the North American market. He has broad market experience, from lease and PPA auctions, through permitting, port development and interconnection. He has been involved in OSW projects across three continents – North America, Europe, Australasia and on all coasts of the US, from the Carolinas to New England, the Gulf of Mexico and California. He has a broad understanding of market dynamics and client needs, having advised multiple OSW developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), as well as Government entities. Prior to relocating to the US, Michael was a leading practitioner in infrastructure planning in the UK, responsible for regulating the development of North Sea offshore wind farms, terrestrial power stations and transmission lines. He also promoted complex highway schemes as the permitting, stakeholder engagement and land acquisition (eminent domain) lead. Michael has held infrastructure planning-related Board-level and advisory roles with a national remit