Plenary sessions

Confirmed Speakers/Keynotes


Opening Ceremony

Vicente Andreu Guillo (ANA)
Prof. Slobodan Simonovic (Unversity of Western Ontario)


Plenary Session "International Flood Initiative - IFI"

Dr. Wolfgang Grabs (WMO)
Dr. Ai Sugiura (ICHARM – UNESCO)
Prof. Alfonso Gutierrez Lopez (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
Mr Giacomo Teruggi (WMO)
Prof. Xiaotao Cheng (IWHR)
Mr. Christopher Dunn (USACE)


Plenary Session "Large Cities"

Prof. Ricardo Toledo (USP)
Dra. Charlotte Kendra Gotangco (Ateneo de Manila University; Manila Observatory)
Prof. Xiaoxin ZHANG (Beijing City)


Plenary Session "Climate Change"

Dr. Jerad Bales (USGS - U.S. Geological Survey)
Prof. Hans-Peter Nachtnebel
(Inst. of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering - BOKU: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences)
Prof. Carlos E. M. Tucci (IPH/RS)


Plenary Session "Lessons Learns"

Professor Nigel Wright (University of Leeds)
Mr. James Dalton (Chief, Engineering and Construction, USACE)
Mr. Paul Kovacs (ICLR - Canada)

Prof. Hans-Peter Nachtnebel

Hans-Peter Nachtnebel is Professor. Emeritus and Full Professor and Head of the Inst. of Water Resources Management Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering. His Main fields of interests are water resources systems and risk analysis, impact of climate change on water resources, conflict analysis, stochastic hydrology, multi-objective decision making, geographical information systems and their application in water resources management. Professor Nachtnebel was recently award with the "Golden Needle of the Austrian Association of Water and Waste Management. Professor Hans-Peter is also member of de Editorial board of "Soil and Water Res. Inst. f. Soil and Water Cons., Prague".

Mr. Giacomo Teruggi

Holding a MSc in Hydraulics, Hydrology and Environmental Engineering, Giacomo Teruggi is working in WMO Climate and Water Department since 2004.
For the past five years he has been taking care of the APFM activities, particularly focusing on capacity building, while at the same time assisting in the setup of the Integrated Drought Management Programme, launched in March 2013.

Vicente Andreu Guillo

Vicente Andreu Guillo é bacharel em Estatística formado pela Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp). Antes de se tornar diretor-presidente da Agência Nacional de águas (ANA), foi Secretário de Recursos Hídricos e Ambiente Urbano (SHRU) do MMA, entre 2008 e 2010 e também foi secretário municipal de Planejamento, Desenvolvimento Urbano e Meio Ambiente da Prefeitura de Campinas, entre 2007 e 2008.

Presidiu a Usina Termelétrica Nova Piratininga Ltda. e a Sociedade de Abastecimento de Campinas (Sanasa). Desde o ano de 1982, é empregado sem vencimentos da Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz (CPFL Paulista), tendo sido diretor sindical do Sindicato dos Eletricitários de Campinas, entre os anos de 1987 e 1995.

Dr. Slobodan Simonovic

Dr. Simonovic has over thirty five years of research, teaching and consulting experience in water resources engineering. He is teaching courses in civil engineering and water resources systems. He actively works for national and international professional organizations. He has received a number of awards for excellence in teaching, research and outreach. He has been inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering in June of 2013. Dr. Simonovic has been invited to present special courses for practicing water resources engineers in many countries. He is assisting in the publication of water resources Journals, and participates actively in the organization of national and international meetings. He has published over 400 professional publications and three major textbooks.

Dr. Simonovic's primary research interest focuses on the application of systems approach to, and development of the decision support tools for, management of complex water and environmental systems. Most of his work is related to the application of computerized simulation, optimization and multi-objective analysis tools in deterministic, probabilistic and fuzzy form. The second focus area of Dr. Simonovic's research includes risk management. He is developing, and implementing, probabilistic and fuzzy set methods for water resources risk management. He has undertaken applied research projects that integrate the mathematical modeling, spatial and temporal data-base management and intelligent interface development into decision support tools for water resources decision makers. Most of his research is being conducted through the Facility for Intelligent Decision Support (FIDS) at the University of Western Ontario.

Expertise:
• Subject Matter – Systems modeling; Risk management; Water resources and environmental systems analysis; Computer-based decision support systems development; Water resources education and training.
• Topical Area – Flood control; Hydropower energy; Reservoirs; Operational hydrology; Climatic Change; Integrated water resources management.

Dr. Ricardo Toledo Silva

Dr Ricardo Toledo Silva is a Full Professor (Professor Titular) of Infrastructure Technology in the School of Architecture and Urban Studies (FAU) of the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), which he led as Dean from 2002 to 2006. He is currently serving as Deputy Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Energy in the State Government of São Paulo. He is the Coordinator of FAU-USP's Urban Information Research Nucleus (INFURB), and was a researcher at the Institute of Technological Research (IPT) of the State Government of São Paulo. He coordinated integrated research projects and interventions in degraded urban areas in Brazil and abroad. He previously served as Secretary of Urban Development in the Brazilian Ministry of Housing, Urban Planning and Environment as well as Deputy Secretary in the Brazilian Ministry of Housing and Social Welfare. Prof. Toledo Silva has published about 70 works on Architecture Technology, Urban Infrastructure and Public Management. He earned a bachelor's degree, master's, and Ph.D. in architecture from FAU-USP, after carrying out graduate research at the Bouwcentrum in Rotterdam (Holland) and the Politecnico di Torino (Italy).

Dr. Carlos E. M. Tucci

• Engenheiro Civil, UFRGS 1971; MSc Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento, 1975; PhD Colorado State University, 1978.
• Professor titular aposentado do IPH/UFRGS; proprietário e diretor de Rhama Consultoria Ambiental Ltda.
• Atua: Águas Urbanas, Modelagem de sistemas hídricos, Gestão de Recursos Hídricos, Previsão e alerta de sistemas hídricos, Gestão de água e meio ambiente.
• Consultor atuando nos últimos 35 anos junto a empresas e entidades nacionais e internacionais como: Unesco, Banco Mundial, BID, ANEEL, ANA, Itaipu, entre outros.
• Autor de mais de 300 artigos científicos, livros, capítulos de livros.
• Contato: tucci@rhama.net

Prof. Xiaoxin ZHANG

Senior Engineer Professor,Chinese Certified Planner, the director of Department of Municipal Plan in Beijing Municipal Institute of City Plan and Design. His research focus is on storm water management, flood control and disaster reduction, and sustainable water resources management. He has completed more than twenty projects funded by Beijing Municipal government. Recently he is the team leader of The Planning of Local Flooding Control in Beijing Central Area.

Dra. Charlotte Kendra Gotangco

My interest centers on the climate change science-society nexus and human-environment dynamics. I believe in approaching complex environmental problems with a big-picture perspective and harnessing interdisciplinary knowledge, methods and skills. My dissertation focused on using the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) with dynamic vegetation to simulate different tropical forest deforestation, analyzing both the carbon and biophysical impacts on climate, and exploring the policy implications. I also continue to work on the co-benefits aspect of managing climate change risks, such as synergizing climate change action planning (specifically adaptation) with disaster risk management and sustainable development. I have also expanded my modeling work to utilize the systems approach and systems dynamics in an urban risk management context.

Professor Nigel Wright

Presentation: "UK flooding in the winter of 2013/4"

: Nigel Wright has over 30 years experience in modelling fluid flow in the built and natural environment. Particular applications are inundation prediction, vulnerability assessment, river flows and low-head hydropower. Modelling techniques encompass Large Eddy Simulation, Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, Godunov-based methods, parallel processing and model encapsulation.

More recently Nigel's research has focused on river basin management and integrated water resources management and the wider physical, social and economic aspects of each of these. Nigel has published over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He has been awarded and managed grants over £4 million from a wide variety of funding agencies. Along with co-authors in 2009 he was awarded the Harold Schoemaker Award of the IAHR for the best journal paper in the period 2007-9.

Until 2009 Nigel was a professor at UNESCO-IHE in Delft, the Netherlands where he still holds a zero appointment.

Mr. James Dalton

Presentation: "Lessons Learned From Water Disasters: How The Past Shapes the Future". including information beyond Hurricane Sandy (such as information from Katrina and the Mississippi River events) in addition to addressing your suggested content re impacts on metropolitan life, strong concerted action results, and difficulties envisioned in implementation

: Mr. James C. Dalton currently serves as Chief of the Engineering and Construction (E&C) and is responsible for policy, program, and technical expertise in the execution of over $10 billion of design and construction programs for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, other Federal agencies, and over sixty foreign nations. He provides leadership to a field organization consisting of 8 divisions, 41 districts, and approximately 15,000 personnel and guides the development of engineering and construction policy for the Corps world wide Civil Works, Military, and Environmental Missions. He also serves as the Corps South Atlantic Division Regional Integration Team (RIT) leader.

Mr. Dalton served as the Regional Business Director for the South Atlantic Division in Atlanta, Georgia from July 2005 to May 2007. He led strategic initiatives, performed strategic evaluations of long-term workload trends, promoted and managed workload sharing between the districts and other Corps of Engineers business centers. He also led the Programs and Project Management Business Process throughout the South Atlantic Division by ensuring standard business processes and policies in all programs. He was responsible for providing regional support in Contracting, Engineering, Construction, Information Management, Resource Management, and Public Affairs.

Dr. Slobodan Simonovic

Presentation: "Through Hell and High Water - Canada 2013"

: Dr. Simonovic has over thirty five years of research, teaching and consulting experience in water resources engineering. He is teaching courses in civil engineering and water resources systems. He actively works for national and international professional organizations. He has received a number of awards for excellence in teaching, research and outreach. He has been inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering in June of 2013. Dr. Simonovic has been invited to present special courses for practicing water resources engineers in many countries. He is assisting in the publication of water resources Journals, and participates actively in the organization of national and international meetings. He has published over 400 professional publications and three major textbooks.

Dr. Simonovic's primary research interest focuses on the application of systems approach to, and development of the decision support tools for, management of complex water and environmental systems. Most of his work is related to the application of computerized simulation, optimization and multi-objective analysis tools in deterministic, probabilistic and fuzzy form. The second focus area of Dr. Simonovic's research includes risk management. He is developing, and implementing, probabilistic and fuzzy set methods for water resources risk management. He has undertaken applied research projects that integrate the mathematical modeling, spatial and temporal data-base management and intelligent interface development into decision support tools for water resources decision makers. Most of his research is being conducted through the Facility for Intelligent Decision Support (FIDS) at the University of Western Ontario.

Dr. Jerad Bales

Dr. Jerad Bales is the U.S. Geological Survey's Chief Scientist for Water. In this position, he is the senior executive re­sponsible for the planning and devel­opment of national research and monitoring programs related to the hydro­logic environment. Dr. Bales has conducted research on water-resources, hazards, and water-quality issues throughout the U.S., has published more than 120 articles and technical reports on this work, and continues to publish and provide expert advice on water-resources issues. Dr. Bales represents USGS on a number of interagency committees, including serving as Co-Chair of the Interagency Freshwater Adaptation to Climate Change Work Group, and as a member of National Science Foundation's Critical Zone Observatory Advisory Committee.

Dr. Wolfgang Grabs

With hydrology as professional background, Mr Grabs has been working for development agencies and the German Federal Government in various developing countries in the world on hydrology projects related to water management and floods. From 1999 until 2014, he has been the Chief of the Hydrological Forecasting and Water Resources Management Division in the UN – World Meteorological Organization (Geneva). In this function, Mr Grabs has conducted several projects related to the establishment of regional flood information systems. He also headed the Technical Support Unit of the WMO/GWP Associated Program on Flood Management (APFM). Over the years and as part of his work portfolio he cooperated closely in the development of the UNESCO-WMO International Flood Initiative (IFI). After retirement from WMO, Mr. Grabs has now the position of Chief, International Water Affairs at the Federal Institute of Hydrology in Koblenz, Germany

Dr. Ai Sugiura

Specialist Researcher in Water-related Hazard Research Group in ICHARM, the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management under the auspices of UNESCO and lecturer at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies from May 2011 participating in IFAS (Integrated Flood Analysis System) improvement and implementation to Upper Indus in Pakistan through a UNESCO project.

NGO experience for 14month from January 2010 at the Centre for Appropriate Technology for Waste Management, PUSTEKLIM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Prof. Alfonso Gutierrez Lopez

Civil Engineer, with a Master degree in Hydraulics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), with a specialty in flood modeling by the University of Glasgow and a Ph.D. in Geophysical Media and Environment by the Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, France.

In Mexico, Dr. Gutierrez has general management responsibilities as Coordinator of the Water Research Centre (Coordinador del Centro de Investigacionesdel Agua) at the Autonomous University of Querétaro (UAQ). He is a Research Professor in the Graduate Studies division of the same University and also serves as Coordinator of the PROMEP SEP (UAQ-CA-46) Hydraulics Academic Program. He is a professor with 23 years experience teaching a numerous different subjects to both undergraduate and graduate programs at the Engineering faculties of UNAM and UAQ. Within the PROMEP SEP Program, Dr. Gutierrez is in charge of the real-time monitoring network of extreme rainfall in the metropolitan area of Queretaro City (www.redciaq.uaq.mx). Internationally, he has been designated since August 2007, General Coordinator of the International Flood Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean (IFI-LAC) and is a member of the International Experts Panel on Natural Disasters; both within the International Hydrological Program (IHP) of UNESCO. He is also the Coordinator of the Extreme Events Warning and Prevention Program for Latin America at the Center for Economic and Social Studies of the Third World CEESTEM (Consultative Organization of the UN).

Dr. Gutierrez is currently working on the publication of two books: one in English on the subject of hydrological regionalization "Regional Hydrological Transfer Modeling" which will be published by the International Hydrological Program, IHP, UNESCO and is currently underreview. The other book is being developed jointly with Virginia Garcia Acosta PhD under the theme "Water and Poverty." Dr. Gutierrez has just received the National Award in Hydraulics "Enzo Levi" 2012-2014 as the best national researcher in the field ofhydraulics. He has also received international recognition, having been twice granted with the "Honor and Merit" (Honneur et Mérite) award by the Quisqueya University and UNESCO on November 2008 and November 2012, for his teaching labor and scientific work in Haiti (this is the pre-recognition which is set to be followed by the Honoris Causa Doctorate). He has also earned the Honorable Mention on the Alejandrina Award 2009 and the Recognition for his 15-year professional career as a public servant and 10 years of academic services at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM.

Prof. Xiaotao Cheng

Professor, Vice Chief Engineer of China Institute of water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR); Executive Editor of Journal of Hydraulic Engineering-CHES Emergence response expert for the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters; Member of the expert committees of the China's National Disaster Reduction Commission (NDRC)

Mr. Christopher Dunn

Mr. Dunn has been the Director of the Hydrologic Engineering Center (CEIWR-HEC) for the last eight years, leading a staff of about 45 FTEs, consisting primarily of hydraulic engineering specialists, and overseeing an annual budget of approximately $15 million. CEIWR-HEC's diverse program focuses on hydrologic and hydraulic engineering and planning analysis encompassing research, software development, special projects, training and technology transfer, and technical assistance to USACE field offices, HQUSACE, other agencies, and other nations.

Mr. Dunn holds Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University; is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Oregon; an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); and, is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (D.WRE). Mr. Dunn's technical specialties include: flood risk management and impact analysis; planning analysis; risk analysis, levee certification, river hydraulics, water surface profile modeling, stream stability and scour; surface water hydrology; storm water management, urban drainage design; watershed analysis; IWRM; soil erosion control; ecosystem restoration; and GIS; along with extensive teaching experience

Mr. Paul Kovacs

Paul Kovacs is founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at Western University, and CEO of PACICC.

Since 1996 Paul has been a contributing author to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world's leading forum for the study of climate issues. The Panel won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change". He is Canada's leading authority on insurance and climate change and has been a contributing author to numerous international and Canadian reports on reducing the risk of loss from earthquakes, flood and severe wind.

For more than thirty-five years Paul has been a popular commentator on insurance, disaster safety and economic policy. He has written more than 200 publications and articles and he is a passionate champion for insurance, disaster resilience and adaptation to climate extremes.

Paul has worked in private industry, the public sector and academia. He is Co-Chair of the Infrastructure and Housing Working Group of Canada's Adaptation Platform. He is Co-Chair of the Science and Technology Working Group of Canada's Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction. Paul is also a member of a number of Boards and Advisory Panels. He is a proud husband and father, with a growing collection of bow ties.


PLENARY SESSIONS - INVITED SPEAKERS

Plenary Session "Local Problems"

September 16th, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Moderator: Dr. Mario Thadeu Barros - University of Sao Paulo

Speaker: Dr. Eduardo Mario Mendiondo - CEMADEN/MCTI e EESC/USP
Early Warning Systems for Flood Risk Management at Local Scales regarding Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation Strategies

Speaker: Mr. Luis Ornisni - FCTH/USP

Speaker: Mr. Delfino Luiz Gouveia, Santo Antônio Energia S.A. (SAE)

Plenary Session "International Flood Initiative - IFI"

September 16th, 13:30 – 15:30 PM

Moderator: Prof. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi

SpeakerDr Wolfgang Eric Grabs - Federal Institute of Hydrology in Koblenz, Germany
Benchmarking flood risk reduction in Central Europe – The Elbe River

SpeakerDr Ai Sugiura - International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management
Flood Exposure Assessment Activities in ICHARM

SpeakerDr Alfonso Guttierez Lopez - University of Querétaro, México
Statistical analysis for modelling the hydrological risks in Latin America and the Caribbean

SpeakerDr Xiaotao Cheng - China Institute of water Resources and Hydropower Research - IWHR 
Practices of flood risk mapping under changing environment in China

SpeakerMr Giacomo Teruggi - WMO

SpeakerMr. Christopher Dunn - U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS - USACE
Developing a Comprehensive Water Management System

Plenary Session "Large Cities"

September 17th, 09:00 – 10:30 AM

SpeakerDr. Ricardo Toledo Silva - University of Sao Paulo
Flood control and integrated urban management in São Paulo Metropolitan region

Speaker: Dr Charlotte Kendra Gotangco
Coastal Cities at Risk: A Systems Approach to Metro Manila

SpeakerDr. Xiaoxin ZHANG - Beijing City, China
Flood Challenge in Beijing

Plenary Session "Climate Change"

September 18th, 09:00 – 10:30 AM

SpeakerDr. Jerad Bales - USGS - U.S. Geological Survey
Climate Change and Floods: What Do We Know?

SpeakerDr. Hans-Peter Nachtnebel - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences

Speaker: Dr Carlos E. M. Tucci - Rhama Consulting

Plenary Session "Lessons Learns"

September 18th, 16:00 – 17:30 PM

SpeakerNigel Wright - University of Leeds
UK flooding in the winter of 2013/4

Speaker: Mr. James Dalton - Chief, Engineering and Construction, USACE
Lessons Learned From Water Disasters: How the Past Shapes the Future

Speaker: Mr. Paul Kovacs - ICLR, Canada
Through Hell and High Water - Canada 2013

Speaker: Mrs. Kim Anema

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