Speaker Insights

Ahead of the WEX Global Bioeconomy Summit, we asked our speakers to share their perspectives on the opportunities, challenges and innovations shaping the global bioeconomy.

1. Why is now such an important moment for the water and bioeconomy sectors?

We have reached a moment where some regions have completed the most obvious steps to advance environmental and public health protection through activities in the water sector, while other regions still have far to go. However, with the growing challenges related to the changing climate, population shifts, and resource limitations, we cannot afford to conclude that we have already identified and implemented the best work we can do in this area. It is a critical moment for partners across the water and bioeconomy sectors to join together to open up new opportunities to be even more efficient and effective in our efforts to benefit the communities we serve.

2. What is the biggest opportunity in wastewater and resource recovery?

There are tremendous new opportunities to leverage AI and machine learning tools to better illustrate and understand the life-cycle costs associated with different management options for our bioresources at water resource recovery facilities. There has been a great temptation to view these issues in very narrow contexts, for example, the level of concern we may have related to land application of solids containing micro-contaminants without full consideration of the benefits associated with that activity, or the potential concerns that may arise through alternative management strategies we may consider. We have to think more broadly, and it is essential that we develop tools that allow us to do so.

3. Who are you hoping to connect with at the WEX Global Bioeconomy Summit?

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with thought leaders from around the world that are taking on these issues at the same time that we are at The Water Research Foundation. There is so much that we can learn from one another, and duplicating efforts is just silly when we can be working together to bring the best new ideas forward!