AWE+ 2025 Collaborative

October 16, 2025 – Reno, NV

Wildfire & Beyond – Building an Adaptable and Resilient World

AWE+ A DRI Global Initiative: Adaptable World Environment
Register now!

The AWE+2025 Collaborative will carry forward and reinforce the objectives of AWE+, a DRI global initiative formed in 2024 to strengthen collaborative efforts in building an Adaptable World Environment against weather extremes such as wildfire, heatwaves, flooding, and droughts. AWE+2025 will build upon conversations started at the August 2024 AWE+ summit where DRI brought together stakeholders of various disciplinary backgrounds to consider matters of resilience and recovery in light of the devastating impacts of wildfires occurring with increasing intensity across the United States and Canada.

We invite 2024 participants to continue the conversation
and welcome interested persons new to the AWE+ experience to join right in.

2025 Featured Speakers

Dr. Kumud Acharaya in a blue blazer and DRI pin in front of trees.

Dr. Kumud Acharya

President
DRI

Headshot of Marybel Batjer outside in front of a green park with trees wearing glasses and white shirt.

Marybel Batjer

Partner
California Strategies, LLC

Headshot of Jessica wearing glasses and smiling.

Jessica Block, M.S. 

Associate Director of Emergency Response
Societal Computing and Innovation Lab, UC San Diego 

Tim Brown smiling at the camera in front of trees.

Dr. Tim Brown

Director
Western Regional Climate Center at DRI

Headshot of Ariel Choinard in black and white.

Ariel Choinard, M.A.

Project Coordinator, Nevada Heat Lab and California-Nevada Adaptation Program
DRI

Headshot of Naomi Duerr wearing red glasses and a dark blue suit against a neutral background.

Naomi Duerr, P.G., M.A.

City Councilmember, Ward 2
City of Reno

Headshot of Scott outside with greenery in the background and wearing a collared shirt and tie.

Scott Epstein, PhD 

Planning and Rules Manager, Air Quality Assessment
South Coast Air Quality Management District 

Headshot of Dr. Vic Etyemezian outside with trees in the background.

Vic Etyemezian, PhD

Vice President of Research, DRI 
DRI

Headshot of Stacey taken outside at sunset.

Stacey Frederick 

Wildfire Community Preparedness
UNR Living with Fire 

Headshot of Alexis Hill wearing glasses and a green suit jacket.

Alexis Hill

Chair
Washoe County Board of Commissioners

Headshot of Naresh Kumar outside with trees in the background and wearing a navy blue suit.

Naresh Kumar, PhD

Executive Director, Division of Atmospheric Sciences
DRI

Headshot of Anukool wearing a hat and smiling outside.

Anukool Lakhina, PhD 

Cofounder and CEO
BurnBot 

Headshot of Sean McKenna in a blue collared shirt and pine trees in the background.

Sean McKenna, PhD

Executive Director, Division of Hydrologic Sciences
DRI

Jesse Murray smiling for the camera in a blue polo shirt.

Jesse Murray

SVP of Energy Delivery
NV Energy

Headshot of Nicholas Nassikas wearing a dark grey suit against a neutral background.

Nicholas Nassikas, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School

Headshot of Vera Samburova outside in front of pine trees smiling with arms crossed.

Vera Samburova, PhD

Associate Research Professor, Division of Atmospheric Science
DRI

Headshot of David Shew smiling and wearing glasses against a neutral dark background.

David Shew

Fire Administrator
Napa County, California

Kara Steeland smiling for the camera in a black suit jacket.

Kara Steeland

Hydrologist
Truckee Meadows Water Authority 

Headshot of Francisco Vega wearing a grey suit against a neutral background.

Francisco Vega, P.E., MBA 

Division Director of Air Quality Management
Northern Nevada Public Health

Tamara Wall in a green cardigan and white blouse.

Dr. Tamara Wall

Deputy Director
Western Regional Climate Center at DRI

Tamara Wall in a green cardigan and white blouse.

Dr. Michael Wara 

Director of Climate and
Energy Policy Program
Stanford University