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Meeting the Moment: Climate Science, Solutions, and Policy
Venue: Main Ballroom clear filter
Wednesday, May 13
 

8:30am MDT

Check in and Breakfast
Wednesday May 13, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am MDT
Main Ballroom

Wednesday May 13, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am MDT
Main Ballroom
  Networking

9:00am MDT

Welcome & Wilkes Center Overview
Wednesday May 13, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am MDT
Main Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Fielding Norton

Fielding Norton

Climate Scientist & Educator, Re/insurance Executive, Venture Investor/Advisor
Fielding Norton is a climate physicist, award-winning teacher, and seasoned re/insurance executive. He invests and serves as a senior advisor to innovative startups, especially in the Climatech and Insurtech space. Norton began his career teaching high school chemistry and biology... Read More →
avatar for Taylor Randall

Taylor Randall

President, University of Utah, University of Utah
Taylor Randall is the 17th president of the University of Utah and the first alum in 50 years to lead the U. President Randall has an infectious energy and passion for his alma mater. Since stepping into the role in August of 2021, he’s been on a mission to make the U a top-10 public... Read More →
avatar for Mitzi M. Montoya

Mitzi M. Montoya

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Utah
Mitzi M. Montoya, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and a thought leader in higher education. Throughout her career she has supported student and faculty success, enhanced entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems and led collaborative initiatives to find solutions... Read More →
avatar for John Lin

John Lin

Scientific Director, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy
John Lin is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and the Scientific Director of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy.  He has over 20 years of experience researching the emissions and transport of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants, publishing... Read More →
avatar for Peter Trapa

Peter Trapa

Vice Provost and Senior Dean of the Colleges and Schools of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Utah

Wednesday May 13, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am MDT
Main Ballroom
  Plenary

9:30am MDT

Morning Keynote Speaker
Wednesday May 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am MDT
Main Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Natalie Gochnour

Natalie Gochnour

Associate Dean, David Eccles School of Business/Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, University of Utah
Natalie Gochnour serves as an associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business and director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. She also serves as the chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber. In these roles, she provides policy leadership that... Read More →
Wednesday May 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am MDT
Main Ballroom
  Plenary

10:30am MDT

Climate Prize Finalist Presentations
Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm MDT
Main Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Max Nelen

Max Nelen

Founder & CEO, Agros
Max Nelen is a mission-driven entrepreneur passionate about accelerating climate-smart solutions for smallholder farmers across Southeast Asia. As Founder and CEO of Agros, Max leads the company’s strategy, partnerships, and market development to make irrigation more sustainable... Read More →
avatar for Diego Hoter

Diego Hoter

CEO and co-founder, ucrop.it
Diego Hoter is CEO and co-founder of ucrop.it, the verified field-to-market data layer for agriculture. ucrop.it operates across 72M+ acres in 17 countries, serving 58 enterprise clients including Nestlé, Heineken, Mondelez, Bayer, and Neste with audit-grade compliance records u... Read More →
avatar for Adi Yehezkeli

Adi Yehezkeli

Co‑founder and CEO, Fabumin
Adi Yehezkeli is an entrepreneur in the fields of food tech and sustainability, and the co‑founder and CEO of Fabumin. This is the second company she has founded in the alternative protein space, following "Human Nature", a company that produces vegan cheeses. Both ventures were... Read More →
avatar for Dougald Coulson

Dougald Coulson

CEO and Co-founder, Gyre Energy
Dougald Coulson is CEO and Co-founder of Gyre Energy, an Oxford‑founded clean energy company that uses AI and thermal energy storage to reduce cooling costs and emissions in cold storage and data centres. Prior to Gyre, Dougald was a corporate lawyer for 10 years and was most recently... Read More →
avatar for Yang Xia

Yang Xia

Co-founder and CTO, Solidec
Yang is the co-founder and CTO of Solidec as well as an Activate Fellow. His work focuses on building electrolyzers at scale to pull molecules out of thin air. Yang received his PhD from Rice University in chemical engineering, where he first built Solidec’s technology, and has... Read More →
avatar for Aidan Mickleburgh

Aidan Mickleburgh

Co-founder and CEO, SolidSky
Aidan Mickleburgh is co-founder and CEO of SolidSky, a climate-tech startup commercializing CODAH (CO₂-mediated Oxidative Alkane DeHydrogenation) — a catalytic platform developed with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that turns CO₂ into a feedstock for carbon-negative ethylene... Read More →
avatar for Satpal Kaur

Satpal Kaur

Founder and CEO, UnBOXED
Satpal Kaur is a Design Activist and entrepreneur advancing equitable, high-performance housing. She designed NYC's first affordable Passive Houses, achieving 85% energy reduction and changing building policy nationwide.

Guided by the belief that the greenest building is the one that already exists, she founded UnBOXED to transform legacy buildings through 3D-printed recycled polymer panels that form a second skin over existing facades. Designed for a 100% tenant-in-place approach; no scaffolding... Read More →
avatar for Sean Gunderson

Sean Gunderson

CEO, WoodSyn, LLC
Sean is the Chief Executive Officer and founding partner of WoodSyn, LLC, leading the effort to launch an advanced manufacturing company producing a new category of economically and environmentally sustainable construction materials for the attainable residential and commercial building... Read More →
avatar for Ben Williams

Ben Williams

COO, WoodSyn, LLC
As Chief Operations Officer at WoodSyn, Ben drives the company’s daily operations, implementing strategies to enhance efficiency, streamline productivity, and align organizational goals with the overarching business vision. He collaborates closely with the executive team to ensure... Read More →
Wednesday May 13, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm MDT
Main Ballroom
  Plenary

12:00pm MDT

Lunch
Wednesday May 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Main Ballroom

Wednesday May 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Main Ballroom
  Networking

12:30pm MDT

Both Sides of the Aisle live recording
Wednesday May 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm MDT
Main Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Natalie Gochnour

Natalie Gochnour

Associate Dean, David Eccles School of Business/Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, University of Utah
Natalie Gochnour serves as an associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business and director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. She also serves as the chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber. In these roles, she provides policy leadership that... Read More →
avatar for Shireen Ghorbani

Shireen Ghorbani

President and CEO/ Co-host, Both Sides of the Aisle, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah
Shireen Ghorbani is the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and Planned Parenthood Action Council of Utah. Shireen is a tireless advocate for patient’s access and rights who joined PPAU in 2023 as the chief corporate affairs officer. Prior to her experience... Read More →
avatar for John Dougall

John Dougall

Former Utah State Auditor/Co-host, Both Sides of the Aisle
John Dougall is a former State Auditor who took office on January 7, 2013, and served until January 2025. He was recognized for enhancing transparency in state finances and increasing accountability within government operations.Before his role as State Auditor, Dougall served for... Read More →
Wednesday May 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm MDT
Main Ballroom
  Plenary

1:00pm MDT

Announce Wilkes Policy Prize for Climate Leadership Winner(s)
Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Main Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Ross Chambless

Ross Chambless

Community Engagement Manager, Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy
Ross Chambless is a writer, creative producer, and communications strategist.  He is Community Engagement Manager for the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy at the University of Utah. Previously he was Communications Director for the Democrats in the Utah House of Representatives... Read More →
Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Main Ballroom
  Plenary

1:15pm MDT

Both Sides of the Aisle recording with Policy Prize Winner(s)
Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Main Ballroom

Wednesday May 13, 2026 1:15pm - 1:45pm MDT
Main Ballroom
  Plenary
 

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Wednesday, May 13
Dumke Reception Room (1st Floor)
Foyer
Henricksen Conference Room (1st Floor)
Main Ballroom
  • Early Afternoon Breakout Session
  • Late Afternoon Breakout Session
  • Networking
  • Plenary
  • Popular