2013 Texas Tribune Festival

Satija covers the environment for The Texas Tribune. Previously, she worked for a number of East Coast news outlets, including the New Haven Independent, the Connecticut Mirror and WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio. She has also been a regular contributor to National Public Radio. Satija received her bachelor’s degree from Yale University.

Carnes was elected mayor of Uvalde in 2012 after serving on the Uvalde City Council. He has served as president of the Texas Vegetable Association, as a board member and director for the Texas Produce Association and as a member of the Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council.

Hegar, R-Katy, has represented District 18 in the Texas Senate since 2007. He serves as the chairman of the Nominations Committee and sits on the Finance; Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Homeland Security; and Natural Resources committees. Previously, he represented District 28 in the Texas House for two terms.

Huffman currently serves as Texas state director for The Nature Conservancy and head of the Conservancy’s U.S. Urban Conservation program. She speaks regularly on freshwater protection, conservation and other environmental issues. She previously worked as an assistant city manager for the city of Austin. Huffman received her MPA from The University of Texas at Austin.

Puente was appointed president and CEO of the San Antonio Water System in 2008. He previously served in the Texas House, where he was first elected in 1991. In 2003 he was appointed chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which develops water policy for the state.

Previous to his role as chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, Rubinstein was appointed in 2009 by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Rubinstein is an executive committee member of the Western States Water Council and serves on the Environmental Council of States, the Border Governors Sustainable Development Worktable and the Environmental Flows Advisory Group.