PEOPLE 2023-Short Course – PEOPLE NETWORK

PEOPLE 2023 Short Course
Circular Economy Solutions for Tackling Water-Related Challenges and Achieving SDG 6
Speakers • Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatla (virtual) United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), Belgium; McMaster University, Canada; Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), Bolivia • Dr. Paula Cecilia Soto Rios (in-person) Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), Bolivia • Dr. Sanae Okamoto (virtual) The United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), Netherlands • Dr. Brenda Acevedo Juarez (in-person) Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de los Valles, Mexico Date: Monday, August 7, 2023 Time: TBD (90 minutes) Location: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Room TBD Course Description： In this course, we will highlight the current gaps and needs in circularity practices in the water sector, emphasize the importance of integrating circular economy-focused advances and innovations into water management strategies to achieve SDGs. Through discussions on the roles of various stakeholders, we noted the need for a coordinated and collaborative effort to create a sustainable and circular water management system that benefits all. The workshop session will highlight the potential of circularity-focused innovations in agriculture, aquaculture, and industry competitiveness to promote sustainable production chains that are inclusive and aim for water-sensitive economic growth. By prioritizing the sustainable circulation of water through the adoption of circular economy principles, integrated management of water resources and wastewater could help reduce inequalities, promote local community development, and enhance the resilience of informal systems, indigenous communities, and gender-sensitive water planning and policies. Overall, the workshop will showcase and discuss best practices and explore a framework for the effective integration of circularity into water management strategies while answering the set of questions outlined below. Q1: What are the main challenges to establishing effective circular economy systems, policy institutions in the water sector via national and regional collaboration, and how can they be overcome? Q2: How to ensure that organized and ad hoc collaboration for circularity in the context of specific goals and targets like SDG is boosted, can this approach help transform into long-term sustainability partnership and practice? Q3: What are the most effective ways to foster cooperation in establishing circularity in the water sector? On what basis should social inclusion take place in such scenarios? Q4: Does circularity governance require its own institutional setup, such as committees and commissions, or should it be integrated into regional/sectoral organizations, such as the wastewater management authorities and environmental impact assessment frameworks? Learning outcomes 1. Better understanding of key areas for integrating circular economy-focused advances and innovations into water management and how can this contribute to the achievement of SDGs. 2. Boost understanding of current gaps and needs within existing practices of circularity in the water sector and how existing frameworks can influence future water strategies. 3. Enhance understanding of the potential of circularity-focused innovations in water use in agriculture, aquaculture, and industry competitiveness in global supply chains committed to local sustainable development toward inclusive and water-sensitive economic growth. 4. Boost understanding of strategies for integrating water security into economic, social, and environmental aspects of urban and regional planning to reduce inequalities, promote local community development, and enhance the resilience of informal systems, how to ensure that these models are sensitive of the setting of indigenous communities, and need of gender groups. 5. Develop an understanding of integrated management approaches for water resources and wastewater that prioritize the sustainable circulation of water through the adoption of circular economy principles. 6. Understand the roles of youth, civil societies, and entrepreneurs in driving pro-environmental business practices and innovation in the water sector. 7. Explore how a coordinated and collaborative effort from a diverse group of stakeholders can create a sustainable and circular water management system that benefits all and contributes to the implementation of SDG 6 and other related SDGs.

Agenda
Welcome Note and Opening Talk: Workshop Lead: Prof. Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatla (UNU-CRIS, Belgium) (10 mins)
Talk 1: Overview of Circular Economy and Water Security in the Latin American Region: Dr Cecilia Soto (10 mins)
Exercise and interactive discussion based on the case study in Latin America (Cecilia + Brenda) moderated Q and A (Nidhi) (25mins)
Talk 2: Multiple Dimensions in Application of Circular Economy Solutions for Tackling Sustainability Challenges, including Achieving SDG 6: Dr. Sanae Okamoto (15 mins)
Exercise and interactive discussion based on this talk (Nidhi + Cecilia + Brenda) (20 mins)
Concluding Notes and Reflections from Participants (5 mins)

Speaker Profiles
	Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatla Senior Research Fellow , United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), Belgium; McMaster University, Canada; Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), Bolivia https://cris.unu.edu/nidhi-nagabhatla
Bio: Nidhi Nagabhatla is a Senior Fellow and Cluster Coordinator: Nature, Climate and Health at United Nations University – CRIS Belgium. As a sustainability science specialist and a systems analyst with >20 years of work experience, she has led, coordinated, and implemented transdisciplinary projects in various geographical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe, and Americas working with international organizations and leading research and capacity development initiatives. She is also affiliated with Oxford University (UK) and Leibniz University (Germany) in various roles, mostly related to sustainability research, science-policy interfacing and mentoring young professionals. She serves as Adj. Associate Professor at the School of Earth, Environment & Society McMaster University, Canada, and a Guest Professor at Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Bolivia. She also served as the Chair of The Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (UNEP) and co-leads the ‘Water and Migration Working Group’ of The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. She was a lead author in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment Report. Currently, she is actively involved with three expert working committees of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).
	Dr. Sanae Okamoto Researcher, The United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), Netherlands https://www.merit.unu.edu/about-us/profile/?staff_id=3490
Bio: Dr. Okamoto received her MA in Psychology from Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Japan and her PhD in Psychology from Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University. Her MA and PhD research were conducted at Kyoto University, Japan and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany. Her early research career focused on social dynamics and behaviour in primates (chimpanzees and humans) at Kyoto University and Nagoya University, Japan; the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany; University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA; and the field sites in Republic of Guinea and Republic of Liberia. In the last years, she worked as an assistant professor of behavioural economics and neuroeconomics at the School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University. Before officially joining at MERIT in the early 2021, she was in private sector to address societal challenges and behavioural interventions and contributed to a number of consultancy projects and workshops in behavioural insights informed interventions, business development; program management; university-industry liaison, etc. She is also a member of the Comprehensive Innovation Team - System Transition and Climate Action.
	Dr. Paula Cecilia Soto Rios Professor and Postgraduate Coordinator, Chemical Engineering, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), Bolivia
Bio: Cecilia has a degree on environmental engineering, and she was fortunate to obtain MEXT scholarship to do her Master and PhD in Japan at Tohoku University where she gained wide-range experience in Ecological engineering. Currently, she is Chair of the International Water Association in Bolivia, professor, and coordinator of Postgraduate Programs in Chemical Engineering at Mayor de San Andres University in La Paz, Bolivia. She has been doing research to use biosorbents for water treatment for indigenous communities in order to remove heavy metals from water. She has received two international awards as researcher. She also gained knowledge in resolution of environmental issues in international organizations and NGOs. She is affiliated to other Bolivian Universities as Lecturer Escuela Militar de Ingenieria and Catholic University in the ePC Master Program.
	Dr. Brenda Acevedo Juárez Research Professor (UDG), Guadalajara University, Mexico
Bio: Brenda obtained her PhD and Master in water and Environmental Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. She had received the Best Doctoral Thesis Award FACSA Chair at Universidad Jaime Primero, Spain. She has her degree in Biochemical Engineering at the Technological Institute of Celaya. She has been participating in research projects and joint research with Mayor de San Andres University and collaborative classes with Escuela Militar de Ingenieria in Bolivia. She was administrative Coordinator of the Company AVON S.A. Currently she is member of the National System of Researchers level 1. Her research is focused on the development and optimization of sustainable and biotechnological processes by applying materials for water treatment based on the circular economy model.

PEOPLE 2023 Workshop
	Best Practices in Indigenous Engagement
Speakers: • Dale C. Booth (virtual) Owner, President and a Subject Matter Expert of Innovation Seven (I7) • Catherine N. Mulligan (in-person) Professor & Concordia Research Chair (Tier I) Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Canada • Karen K. Dolan (in-person) Human Resources Manager of Innovation Seven (I7) • Wendy A. Jocko (in-person) Indigenous Liaison of Innovation Seven (I7), member and former Chief of The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation Date: Monday, August 7, 2023 Time:11:00 AM to 3:30 PM ET Location: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Room TBD ABSTRACT Innovation 7 facilitates an interactive workshop and discussion highlighting the best practices in all aspects of Indigenous inclusion on research projects including Indigenous engagement protocols, Indigenous Knowledge in Research, and Indigenous project-based resources and recruitment. The workshop will be conducted to incorporate the following: • A brief historical context and cultural introduction • Introduction to the principles of engagement in the time of reconciliation and how to affect change to bring about equity, diversity and inclusion of Indigenous people • Innovation 7’s methodology in carrying out Indigenous engagement and research project planning with practical exercises • Inclusion in Research Projects, an introduction to “The First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession” – more commonly known as the First Nations Information Governance Centre’s OCAP® • Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into Research Projects and Two-Eyed Seeing examples • Understanding Indigenous inclusion in Project Resource Management and Recruitment • Indigenous recruitment barriers, unconscious bias, transferable skill sets and bona fide occupational requirements (BFORs)

Agenda
Indigenous workshop 11:00 to 15:30
11:00 - 12:00	Innovation 7 Presentation
12:00 - 13:30	Scenario Work and Lunch
13:30 - 15:30	Scenario Work Reporting, Cultural Presentation and Wrap-up

Speaker Profiles
	Mr. Dale C. Booth Owner, President and a Subject Matter Expert of Innovation Seven (I7)
	Bio: Dale Booth is the Owner, President and a Subject Matter Expert who specializes in the field of business, community and economic development. With more than 20 years of experience working with Aboriginal people, all levels of governments and in the construction industry, he is known as a visionary leader with special and tested talents for shaping productive, cooperative working environments by eliminating deficits and creating a successful corporate vision for the future. Dale specializes in the provision of advisory services to public sector clients and First Nations communities related to infrastructure development using alternative procurement solutions such as P3, ASD, and AFP. He has held senior positions within Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, the Chief Executive Officer of Assembly of First Nations and Director of Economic Development. He has demonstrated keen abilities in the areas of effective strategic planning, operational management, and financial management
	Dr. Catherine N. Mulligan Professor & Concordia Research Chair (Tier I) Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering Concordia University, Canada
	Bio: Dr. Catherine N. Mulligan obtained her B.Eng. and M. Eng. in chemical engineering and PhD in geoenvironmental engineering from McGill University. She worked for the Biotechnology Research Institute of the National Research Council of Canada and SNC Research Corp. Of SNC Lavalin before joining Concordia University in 1999. She held a Concordia Research Chair in Geoenvironmental Sustainability (Tier I) and is a full professor in the Dept. of Bldg., Civil and Environmental Engineering. She has authored more than 130 refereed papers in various journals, co-authored or edited 8 books, holds 3 patents and has supervised to completion more than 70 graduate students. She is the founder and director of the Concordia Institute of Water, Energy and Sustainable Systems. The Institute trains students in sustainable development practices and performs research in new systems, technologies and solutions for sustainability. Her research is on the treatment of contaminated soils, water, sediment, and mining residues with biosurfactants and other treatment techniques, in addition to energy production via anaerobic treatment and pressure-reduced osmosis. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) and its current Past President and currently the chair of the Sustainable Geotechnics Committee for the CGS. She is also a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and Royal Society of Canada and was a winner of the John B. Sterling Medal of the EIC.
	Ms. Karen K. Dolan Human Resources Manager of Innovation Seven (I7)
	Bio: Karen provides Human Resources services to both Innovation 7 and its clients. She maintains the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation and holds a BA Psychology from Carleton University. Karen obtained her Human Resources Management Certificate, Honours, from Algonquin College in September 2010. She has completed the Workplace Diversity and Human Rights Certificate and Comprehensive Project Management Certificate Program through the HRPA. This has uniquely positioned her to develop and implement HR strategies aligned with Indigenous values in a project management setting. Karen is deeply knowledgeable about the employment and human resource challenges that Canada’s Indigenous populations face. She applies an Indigenous framework to all Human Resources projects and hiring initiatives. She develops, implements HR strategies and initiatives that are aligned with business strategies and Indigenous core values for Innovation 7 and clients. In the last years, she worked as an assistant professor of behavioural economics and neuroeconomics at the School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University. Before officially joining at MERIT in the early 2021, she was in private sector to address societal challenges and behavioural interventions and contributed to a number of consultancy projects and workshops in behavioural insights informed interventions, business development; program management; university-industry liaison, etc.
	Ms. Wendy A. Jocko Indigenous Liaison of Innovation Seven (I7) Member and former Chief of The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation
	Bio: As Indigenous Liaison of Innovation Seven (I7), member and former Chief of The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Wendy has worn many hats from helmet, hard hat to headdress. Wendy joined the military in 1979 and served for over two decades and worked as a supply technician. After the military, Wendy started a new chapter relocating to Scotland where she spent over a decade working as a funeral director and embalmer, rising to the level of regional director of the British Institute of Funeral Directors. After returning to Pikwakanagan in 2015 she continued to build relationships between the Armed Forces and the First Nation. She inaugurated the Remembrance Day parade and feast, which has been held since 1999. Wendy is a member of the Assembly of First Nations Veterans Committee. As Chief, Wendy managed important portfolios in Housing, Health, Child Welfare, and General Administration. Wendy’s reputation for fostering new partnerships with organizations and institutions that benefit the Algonquin Nation has recently earned her an Honorary Degree from Algonquin College.

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