Lian Plass is a Senior Manager for the Urban Land Institute’s Urban Resilience program, which aims to equip members, communities, and the public across the United States with the necessary information to enhance the resilience of buildings, development, and cities in the face of climate change and other environmental threats. In addition to her role at ULI, Lian also serves as Vice Chair of the American Planning Association's Technology Division and teaches Geographic Information Systems at Georgetown University. She brings with her a wealth of experience from her previous work as a Senior Planner in the private sector and Sustainability Administrator for the City of North Miami. Lian is passionate about applying technology to resolve difficult planning problems equitably, expeditiously, and cost-effectively. This includes leveraging new massive caches of publicly available data to learn more about communities, alongside finding creative ways to convey critical information about development projects and generate engagement in the planning process. Lian holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida, and a Bachelors of Arts in Sustainable Development from Columbia University.

Tom Sanchez earned his PhD in City Planning from Georgia Tech and is now a Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech in the National Capital Region (Washington, DC/Northern Virginia). He conducts research in the areas of technology, urban planning, and scholarly impact. His recent books include: Networks in the Knowledge Economy (with Denise Bedford), published in 2021, and Planning Knowledge and Research, published by Routledge in 2018. He has co-authored three other books including Planning as if People Matter: Governing for Social Equity (2012), The Right to Transportation: Moving to Equity (2007), and The Social Impacts of Urban Containment (2007).

Emily Schwartz is an accomplished media relations and communications expert who has spent nearly 15 years working at the forefront of technology, business, and policy. Her experience includes leading the media strategy for Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, where she created and managed an unprecedented 156 organization international media consortium as well as preparing CEO's and executive teams for high-pressure media situations from Congressional testimonies to 60 Minutes to The Daily Show. She is a known expert in the technology reform space. Last year, she helped to pass groundbreaking legislation in California that requires tech companies to prioritize children's safety and privacy in the design of their products. Prior to joining Bryson Gillette, Emily led Uber's global data sharing policy, advising the company on regulatory issues surrounding privacy and mobility data and where she developed a passion for the intersection of urban design, equity and policymaking. This year she has been working with technologists and advocates to educate the media and policymakers on the impact, risks and possibilities of artificial intelligence. In March 2023, she worked with the Center for Humane Technology to brief 25 different newsrooms and over 250 policymakers and technologists on AI risk and governance strategies.