Key Note Speakers:

Joris Voeten, MSc

Steve Williams

With an MSc in Tropical Forestry from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Joris translates his knowledge of plant and tree growth to create livable and green cities. Worldwide, people move to cities and sufficient and high quality green infrastructure in the urban environment is essential to create livable cities for tomorrow, today.

Joris develops functional green space for cities by designing durable tree-pit growing sites in dense and hardscaped urban areas and by creating innovative usable and multifunctional green space on rooftops. Energy reduction, storm water attenuation, material re-use, biodiversity, urban heat island mitigation and local circular processes play a key role in all of the designs and concepts, each with its own composition of structural- and water management systems, soils and substrates and plant species selection. And to be able to research the actual functionality and effect of the designed concepts, pilot projects are always part of the package.

Steve Williams

Steve received his Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2005.  During his studies he was an engineering tutor, ASCE student chapter president, captain of the men’s varsity golf team and worked for the New York State Department of Transportation.  

After University Steve went on to work for ABT, Inc, a leading manufacturer of storm water management systems as the Regional Manager for the Northeastern United States. 

Over the last 4 years he has served as the Director of Environmental Products, consulting with design professionals on effective storm water management solutions with an emphasis on water conservation, green infrastructure and sustainability.