The North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute’s (WRRI) annual conference announces plenary speakers. A panel on flood science and another on the power of art to engage with residents about water resources will shape the March 25-26 conference.

Day 1 Plenary: Flooding in Focus: Navigating the Complexities of Planning, Recovery, and Resiliency

Flooding in Focus: Navigating the Complexities of Planning, Recovery, and Resiliency will focus on the complexity of flooding and how the state can learn from the past to prepare for, and recover from, future storms. The panel will share stories and experiences, as well as guidance on how people can stay informed and mitigate flooding in their own communities.
Meet our Speakers – Plenary 1 – March 25

Dr. Brett Hartis, the Lead Hydro Licensing Project Manager for Duke Energy’s Water Strategy and Hydro Licensing Team

Brett Hartis is the Lead Hydro Licensing Project Manager for Duke Energy’s Water Strategy and Hydro Licensing Team, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, he oversees Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing of Duke Energy’s hydroelectric assets, and works at the intersection of energy, natural resources, and environmental stewardship. Hartis has expertise in bringing practical, science-based solutions to complex, stakeholder-driven challenges—balancing technical requirements with the diverse needs and perspectives of communities, agencies, and various other user groups. Throughout his career, Brett has been an active voice in the natural and aquatic resources communities. He has served in leadership roles with the Aquatic Plant Management Society—including as President—and served in advisory roles for various other organizations including the North American Lake Management Society, National Hydropower Association, National Habitat Conservation Planning Coalition, and North American Invasive Species Management Association.

Dr. Katherine Anarde, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at NC State University (NCSU)

Dr. Katherine Anarde is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at NC State University. She is a coastal engineer and geomorphologist. Her research is largely interdisciplinary and focuses on the long-term habitability of coastal communities. This body of work encompasses projects investigating threats to roadways and the people that depend on them, including chronic flooding from higher sea levels, storms, shoreline erosion, and barrier island change.

Stuart Brown, Flood Resiliency Blueprint Program Manager at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)

Stuart Brown is the Flood Resiliency Blueprint Program Manager at the North CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Quality. Previously, he served as Assistant Administrator for Planning and Research at the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), where he led the Strategic Planning Branch and oversaw the development of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, as well as CPRA’s research initiatives. During his tenure at CPRA, Brown also worked on the Governor’s Adaptive Governance Initiative, assisting fellow state agencies with data-driven, long-term resilience planning.

Art Moves: Connecting Communities to Their Water Resources

Art Moves: Connecting Communities to Their Water Resources will focus on ways art can be used to educate and raise awareness about water resources in our communities. Panelists will reflect on their experiences at the intersection of water resources, art, and community engagement.

Kelly Pajek, Director of 4Culture Public Art in King County, Washington

Kelly Pajek is the Director of 4Culture Public Art in King County, Washington bringing over 25 years of public art experience to high profile, large scale permanent and temporary art projects throughout the United States. Kelly has made a mark on the programs she has been part of – from New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts & Design, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art, Fort Worth Public Art in Texas, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and currently 4Culture.

At 4Culture Kelly collaborates with a dynamic nine-person Public Art Advisory Committee and dedicated eight-person public art team to cultivate unique art experiences with partners throughout King County such as Facilities, Metro Transit, Natural Resources and Parks, Wastewater Treatment and Harborview Medical Center. Kelly’s current focus are multi-tiered art plans tied to large regional bond initiatives. She is responsible for the County’s yearly 1% for Art plan. Recent accomplishments include the precedent setting designation of Robert Morris’ Untitled Earthwork (Johnson Pit #30) in the Washington Heritage Register and inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Kelly also cultivates relationships with private developers and public agencies on consulting projects throughout the region. She believes in the power and personality artists bring to daily life and their ability to impact civic landscapes in a dynamic way.

Tiffany Baker, Brooklyn-based visual artist and the creator of The Dear Neighbor Project

Tiffany Baker (she/her) is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based visual artist and the creator of The Dear Neighbor Project, a multi-site public art initiative that turns the voices of Gowanus residents into large-scale murals, reflecting lived experiences of flooding in the neighborhood. 

Tiffany’s walkable art installation, The Reflective History, honors the historic first Black subdivision in Raleigh, NC, Rochester Heights. The commission is made possible by The Conservation Fund’s Parks with Purpose. Working with fused glass, she created three portraits commemorating foundational members of the Rochester Heights community.

Erin Boyd, a conservation and efficiency analyst for the Department of Water Management with the City of Durham

Erin is a conservation and efficiency analyst for the Department of Water Management with the City of Durham with 10 years of experience in environmental management and education. Known for creative science programming, she has developed virtual tours and innovative resources for educators. She recently partnered with Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program and local artists to bring art to the community and highlight the value of water infrastructure. Her passion for science communication and water resources drives her work with the City of Durham.

Join us March 25 – 26, 2026 at the McKimmon Center on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

About the Conference: The WRRI annual conference brings together all sectors and disciplines working in water resources across North Carolina. Through networking opportunities, panels, poster sessions, lightning talks, and exhibitors, this two-day conference features best practices and new research on one of North Carolina’s most valuable resources. To register for the conference, see the conference website.