About this Event
Join leaders from across the infrastructure sector for a discussion on how New York can deliver projects that create lasting value for communities — not only by managing cost and schedule, but by improving resilience, sustainability, social value, and long-term performance.
As the city faces aging assets, extreme weather, population growth, and changing community expectations, infrastructure owners, designers, contractors, and policymakers are being asked to rethink how projects are planned and delivered.
This panel will explore how organizations are applying these priorities to real projects across the region, including the barriers to change, opportunities for collaboration, and practical steps the industry can take to deliver better outcomes for people, communities, and the environment.
What we’ll discuss
· Resilience to climate and disruptive events
· Community benefits and social value
· Sustainable project delivery
· Long-term infrastructure performance
· Collaboration across owners, designers, contractors, and policymakers
Who should attend
Owners, planners, engineers, contractors, policymakers, sustainability professionals, and others working in infrastructure delivery.
This is a free event. Registration is required to secure your spot.
If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to Pia Abercromby [email protected]
PANELISTS
Kate Aglitsky - TBC
Environmental Management System and Sustainability Director, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Construction and Development
Kate leads MTA Construction and Development’s Environmental Management System and Sustainability work, with a focus on environmental compliance, decarbonization, resilience, and sustainability in the built environment. Her work includes advancing MTA’s EMS program, supporting sustainability and resilience initiatives, and advising on policy and guidance in an evolving regulatory environment. She also teaches and mentors students and has presented at major industry conferences.
Irem Alexandra Yargici
Chief Sustainability Officer, Halmar International
Irem leads Halmar International’s sustainability, ESG, and compliance initiatives across major infrastructure and heavy civil construction projects. Her work includes decarbonization, sustainable procurement, ESG reporting, and regulatory compliance. With experience across both construction and legal sectors, including international and human rights law, she brings a practical understanding of how policy, regulation, and project delivery intersect in infrastructure.
Sofia Zuberbuhler-Yafar
Assistant Commissioner, Sustainability & Urban Design, NYC Department of Design and Construction
Sofia leads the NYC Department of Design and Construction Infrastructure Division’s integration of climate readiness, sustainability, resiliency, and equity. A registered Landscape Architect and urban designer, she oversees green infrastructure, cloudburst management, landscape architecture, and urban design work. Her experience spans planning, design, and construction management for public and private built environments, with a focus on resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
Leslie Brunell
Education Director, Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
Leslie oversees educational programming for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, including the Envision Sustainability Professional credential, continuing education courses, and training for Envision verifiers and trainers. A registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey and an ASCE Fellow, she previously served as a teaching professor at Stevens Institute of Technology and worked as a water resources engineer before transitioning to academia.
MODERATOR
Edith Coco
Associate Technical Director, Sustainability Lead, COWI
Edith is a licensed professional engineer with more than 18 years of experience in bridge design and rehabilitation. Since earning her ENV SP credential in 2021, she has focused on integrating sustainability principles into infrastructure projects and helping shape COWI’s North American sustainability strategy.
Event venue & nearby stays
Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street/ Wall Street Plaza, New York, United States
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