Going with the Flow: Tapping Into Water & Music
Description
Water runs through every live event, backstage and across crowds of thousands, but rarely lands on the sustainability agenda with the urgency of energy or waste. This conversation puts it center stage.
Water is essential, keeping crowds hydrated, restrooms functioning, catering safe, and venues clean. It's about health, safety, and environmental responsibility in real time. Managing it well protects both the people who depend on it and the local watershed.
Attendees will gain practical insights into managing water at live events: where to start, what to prioritize, emerging technologies, and how water conservation and replenishment fit into a broader sustainability strategy.
Lineup
Emma Bell – Sustainability Manager, Legends Global
Emma Bell is the Sustainability Manager at Legends Global, the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands at 450+ venues globally, where she helps drive responsible venue operation practices. With over 4 years of experience in the venue management sustainability space, she supports achieving company-wide energy, waste, water, food & beverage, and social impact goals by leading initiatives such as internal environmental and social data tracking across 100+ venues, facilitating peer groups to share best practices, and conducting onsite sustainability venue assessments. She holds a bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina Upstate, where she was also an NCAA Division I soccer player, and a bachelor's in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Will Sarni – Practice Lead, Water & Nature, Earth Finance
Will Sarni is the Practice Lead, Water and Nature at Earth Finance. Prior to Water Foundry's acquisition by Earth Finance, Will served as the firm's founder and CEO. He was a managing director at Deloitte Consulting where he established and led the global water strategy practice. He was the founder and CEO of DOMANI, a sustainability strategy firm, prior to Deloitte. Will is a visionary leader in corporate water and nature strategy, technology innovation, and technology investing. He is an investor in water and ag tech companies and has been a sustainability and water strategy advisor to multinationals, water technology companies, investors, and non-governmental organizations for his entire career. Will is in high demand for his innovative view on challenging the status quo and creating significant revenue-generating and cost-saving business value by deploying water and nature stewardship strategies. He is the author numerous publications on water strategy and innovation including the following books. • “Corporate Water Strategies” (Earthscan 2011, and in Chinese by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press 2013) • “Water Tech – A Guide to Investment, Innovation and Business Opportunities in the Water Sector” (Sarni, W. and Pechet, T., Routledge 2013) • “Beyond the Energy – Water – Food Nexus: New Strategies for 21st Century Growth” (Dō Sustainability 2015) • “Water Stewardship and Business Value: Creating Abundance from Scarcity” (Sarni, W., and Grant, D., Routledge 2018) • “Creating 21st Century Abundance through Public Policy Innovation: Moving Beyond Business as Usual” (Sarni, W. and Koch, G., Greenleaf Publishing 2018) • “Digital Water: New Technologies for a More Resilient, Secure and Equitable Water Future” (Routledge, 2021). • “Water, I Wonder” (Sarni, W and Dunnigan, T., American Water Works Association, 2026). • “Oceans, I Wonder” (Sarni, W and Dunnigan, T., American Water Works Association, Forthcoming, 2026) • “Groundwater Gurus: Stories from Geraghty & Miller, Inc.” (Sarni, W. et al, Bookbaby, August 17, 2026) • “Innovation in Corporate Water Strategy: Unlocking Co-Benefits for Nature and Society” (Sarni, W., and Grant, D., Earthscan Studies in Water Resource Management, Forthcoming, 2027). Will is a host of the podcast Distilled by Qatium and co-host of The Stream with Will and Tom. He is on the board of Heart Water, WaterMarq, and the Rocky Mountain Rowing Club, an advisor to Kreneon, True Elements and Ketos. He was the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the WAITRO Global Water Innovation Summit 2020 and was on the Scientific Program Committee for Stockholm World Water Week from 2013 through 2019. His advisory work includes working with the 2020 X-PRIZE (Infinity Water Prize), as a Bold Visioneer for the 2016 X-PRIZE Safe Drinking Water Team, and a Technical Advisor for the Climate Bonds Initiative: Nature- Based Solutions for Climate and Water Resilience. He is also on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Water Security. He was ranked as Worth Magazine Worthy 100 for 2022, A Key Player Pressuring Businesses to Care About Water, and one of the Top 15 Interviews In Smart Water Magazine 2019.
Heather Schrock – Director, Environmental Partnership, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Heather Schrock is the Director of Environmental Partnerships at Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), where she builds and maintains relationships with businesses of all sizes, from small local companies to large corporations, as well as universities and nonprofit organizations. She helps partners understand and address their carbon, water, and energy impacts by building portfolios of Carbon Credits, Water Restoration Certificates® (WRCs), and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that fit their goals, budgets, and reporting needs. Beyond credits and certificates, Heather connects partners with BEF’s broader mission programs, from Tribal renewable energy to watershed restoration, so they can find the opportunities that best match their values and deepen their impact. With a multifaceted background in sustainability, outreach, marketing, and sales, Heather brings a well-rounded perspective to her role. She regularly represents BEF at conferences and workshops nationwide, delivering presentations and trainings on topics such as greenhouse gas accounting and water footprinting. (And yes, BEF offsets all of her travel emissions.) Since 2016, Heather has been an active member of BEF’s BRIDGE Team (Building Respect, Interconnection, and Dignity for Growth and Empowerment), contributing to the organization’s ongoing efforts to foster equity and inclusion. A Portland native, she loves the Pacific Northwest for its outdoor adventures and fantastic food.
Joel Makower (Moderator) – Chairman, Trellis Group & Strategy Director, MSA
In addition to his role at MSA, Joel is chairman and co-founder of Trellis Group, a media and events company focusing at the intersection of business, technology and sustainability. For more than 30 years, through his writing, speaking and leadership, he has helped companies align environmental and social issues with business success. The Associated Press has called him 'The guru of green business practices.'
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