CLOSING KEYNOTE
Dr. Matthew Berg
CEO & Principal Scientist, Simfero Consultants
Matthew Berg leads Simfero, a science-based research and strategy firm. For over 20 years, he has worked on sustainability issues across multiple sectors. Dr. Berg has briefed U.S. Congress delegations, had his work cited in reports guiding legislation, and advised efforts from Texas to Africa. He is a partner of the Network for Engineering With Nature and was selected to Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Dr. Berg completed his doctorate at Texas A&M University through a federal program to train the next generation of science leaders and received the school’s top award for research and mentoring.
Jaime González, M.Ed.
Executive Director, University of Houston Institute for Ecological Resilience (UH IER)
Jaime González is the Founding Executive Director of the University of Houston’s Institute for Ecological Resilience (IER), where he leads at team to activate strategies, partnerships, and fundraising efforts to advance research and community engagement around nature-based solutions. Through IER, he and his team works to bridge academia, policy, and practice to foster ecological resilience, public health, and environmental justice across the Greater Houston region and beyond.
With over 27 years of experience in conservation, One Health action, and urban greening, Mr. González is nationally recognized for building multi-sector coalitions that deliver tangible environmental and social benefits and as a keynote speaker.
He also served as Board Chair of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), as a Climate Adaptation and Justice Advisor to the City of Houston and Harris County, and as a Community Fellow with the Rice University Center for Environmental Studies. Previously, he held leadership and programmatic roles with The Nature Conservancy, The Student Conservation Association, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, and the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.
Mr. González holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction–Science Education and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston, along with professional certificates from Cornell, Duke, Yale, and the University of Alaska–Fairbanks.
