2026 Florida Resilience Conference: Full Schedule

8:30am EDT

Multi-Benefit Resiliency in West Galveston Bay

Friday September 25, 2026 8:30am - 8:50am EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Rhett Blackmon

Vice President - Federal Program, Callan Marine

Friday September 25, 2026 8:30am - 8:50am EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B4

8:50am EDT

How Human Infrastructure Threatens Biodiversity by Squeezing Sandy Coasts

Friday September 25, 2026 8:50am - 9:10am EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Christine is a coastal ecologist with more than 15 years of experience innovating ecological restoration and nature based solutions design, resilience planning technologies and multi-sector collaboration processes. She currently serves at the Vice President for Nature Advisory Services... Read More →

Friday September 25, 2026 8:50am - 9:10am EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B4

9:10am EDT

When Seaweed Meets the Shore: Bacteria, Arsenic, and Beach Decisions in South Florida

Friday September 25, 2026 9:10am - 9:30am EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Afeefa Abdool Ghany, PhD,

Senior Water Resource Engineer, WSP

Afeefa Abdool Ghany, PhD, is a Senior Water Resources Engineer at WSP specializing in water quality assessment, environmental monitoring, and regulatory support for public?sector clients across Florida. Her work includes applied research and project delivery related to coastal water... Read More →

Friday September 25, 2026 9:10am - 9:30am EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B4

9:30am EDT

Coastal Resilience through WeRestore a Co-working model of Collaborative and Community-Driven Marine Restoration

Friday September 25, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

David Weinstein

Board member- Director of Science, Ocean Rescue Alliance Intl.

Dr. David Weinstein is an award-winning marine scientist and strategic leader with over 15 years of experience spanning federal agencies (NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Navy), academia, and nonprofit ocean conservation. He holds a Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Geophysics from... Read More →

Shelby Thomas

CEO and Founder, Ocean Rescue Alliance Intl. and Coastal Resilience Solutions

Dr. Shelby Thomas is a marine conservation scientist, eco-entrepreneur, and Founder & CEO of Ocean Rescue Alliance International (nonprofit) and Coastal Resilience Solutions, where she leads innovative, community-driven ocean restoration and coastal resilience initiatives that integrate... Read More →

Friday September 25, 2026 9:30am - 9:50am EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B4

9:50am EDT

Shaping the Shoal: Lake Worth Inlet Flood Shoal Dredging

Friday September 25, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Gina Chiello

Associate Principle, Cummins Cederberg, Inc.

Gina is an associate principal at Cummins Cederberg and marine scientist who brings over 17 years of experience in regulatory permitting, mitigation planning, habitat characterizations, marine resource surveying, coral relocation, and biological monitoring throughout South Florida... Read More →

Ian Eyeington

Operations Director, Florida Inland Navigation District

Ian brings over ten years of experience working with Florida waterways as a biologist and project manager.†

Friday September 25, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B4

10:10am EDT

Cedar Key Marina Revitalization and Coastal Protection: Building Resilience for an Exposed Historic Working Waterfront

Friday September 25, 2026 10:10am - 10:30am EDT

Royal Tern A

Speakers

Jackie Brower, PhD, PE

Senior Coastal Engineer, Kimley-Horn

Experienced coastal/waterfront engineer and research scientist specializing in coastal resiliency and flood protection, waterfront structures, water resources, urban waterfront development, beach nourishment, Engineering With Nature, and gray-green marine infrastructure design. Over... Read More →

Friday September 25, 2026 10:10am - 10:30am EDT
Royal Tern A

Beaches, B4