Building a Resilient Virginia Is Theme of November 2 VCPC Conference
Va. Governor Ralph Northam to speak about his administration's resilience initiatives
State and local government officials, state legislators, environmental scientists and the Chief of the Pamunkey Tribe will gather on Friday, November 2, in Williamsburg for “Building a Resilient Virginia,” the Sixth Annual Conference presented by the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC) at William & Mary Law School.
VCPC is a partnership between the Law School, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) at William & Mary, and Virginia Sea Grant. The conference will be held at the William & Mary School of Education, 301 Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Preregistration is required and includes continental breakfast, lunch and a post-conference reception. Visit the conference website for information about the day’s presentations and to register. Visit the School of Education website for directions and parking information.
“VCPC is excited to host such an important event for the Commonwealth and honored that the Governor will be joining us to discuss his administration’s resilience initiatives,” said Elizabeth Andrews, VCPC Director. “We are also looking forward to introducing the Governor’s new Special Assistant for Coastal Adaptation and Protection, Rear Admiral Ann Phillips.”
The morning program will feature discussions about building resilience for Virginia’s green and gray infrastructure, followed by a legislative panel composed of Senator Monty Mason and Delegates David Bulova, Keith Hodges, and Christopher Stolle to discuss legislative options for building resilience in the state.
In the afternoon, attendees will hear from representatives of organizations involved in creating a water management economy in Louisiana, discussing how such an effort could be pursued in Virginia. Panelists include representatives of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio, and “The Water Campus,” a collaborative research campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that focuses on coastal restoration and sustainability. A final panel will explore the economic benefits to Virginia of land conservation and ecotourism.
Keynote addresses will be given by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Chief Robert Gray of the Pamunkey Tribe, and Rear Admiral Ann Phillips (U.S. Navy, ret.), the newly appointed Special Assistant to Governor Northam for Coastal Adaptation and Protection.
Other speakers include:
The Honorable Matt Strickler, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources;
Dr. Carl Hershner, Director of the Center for Coastal Resource Management at VIMS;
Dr. Troy Hartley, Director of Virginia Sea Grant College;
Karen Forget, Executive Director, Lynnhaven River NOW;
and Stephen Moret, President and CEO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Sponsors of the event include Virginia Sea Grant, the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission.
Members of the press may attend free of charge and are asked to indicate that they plan to come by calling Suzanne Clavet in the William & Mary News & Media department at (757) 221-1631 or by emailing [[w|scseur]]
About William & Mary Law School
Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America's oldest law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.