Dr. David Abraham
Project Director and Lecturer, School of Natural Sciences
Leads the World Cup 2026 urban sustainability platform and coordinates the project teams.
Contact Dr. David Abraham at DAbraham@Rice.edu.
World Cup 2026 platform
Urban Sustainability Team
Planning team, sustainable ecologies reviewers, and urban data analysis judges from the World Cup 2026 Urban Sustainability internal team document.
Internal Planning Team
Rice University and sustainability partners coordinating the World Cup 2026 urban sustainability platform.
Dr. Evan Siemann
Professor, School of Natural Sciences
Supports ecological framing, research review, and university coordination.
George Ristow
University Architect
Brings campus planning and built-environment context to installation and site work.
Dr. Kristianna Bowles
Associate Director for Sustainability, Office of Sustainability
Connects project activities with sustainability operations and campus engagement.
Dr. Robert LikamWa
Professor, School of Engineering
Contributes engineering and technology perspective to data and implementation planning.
Dr. Xinwu Qian
Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Supports urban infrastructure, transportation, and environmental systems analysis.
Sustainable Ecologies Installations
Fabrication support and external reviewers advising installation concepts, public value, urban ecology, and sustainability performance.
Parke MacDowell, AIA
Fabrication Director, PAYETTE
Fabrication and constructability reviewer with experience connecting design concepts to buildable installation strategies.
Aaron Tuley, AICP, ENV SP, CNU-A
Planning Director, Baxter & Woodman
Planning reviewer focused on resilient infrastructure, sustainable communities, and urban design implementation.
Dr. Frazier Wilson
Foundation Director, Shell
Community investment and sustainability reviewer bringing corporate foundation and civic partnership experience.
Julian Ramirez
At-Large City Council Member, City of Houston
Quality of Life Committee chair providing Houston civic context for public-facing sustainability work.
Kristi Rangel
Local Artist
Houston artist advising cultural expression, visual interpretation, and public engagement.
Elizabeth Carlson
Sustainability Chair, FIFA HOU26
Supports event sustainability alignment, stakeholder coordination, and host-city implementation context.
Cinnamon Baldwin
Manager, Hermann Park Conservancy
Parks and public realm reviewer with experience in urban green space stewardship.
Daniel Palomo, MBA, MSc
Senior Director, Houston First
Tourism and global sales leader advising visitor experience, destination strategy, and event legacy opportunities.
Lady Franciscar Nicolas-Kassama, AICP
Co-Chair, APA Sustainable Communities Division
Planner advising sustainable community practice and professional planning standards.
Phil Kim
Chair and Managing Director, Jerde
Urban design and place-making reviewer with international experience in destination districts and public environments.
Franklin Carrero-Martinez
Sustainability Director, National Academies
Sustainability director advising climate, institutional performance, and evidence-based review.
Sarah Hussain
Head of Environment, FIFA26 Inc.
Event sustainability reviewer connecting installation ideas to FIFA26 environmental priorities.
Ed McFarland
Lecturer, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and College of Environmental Design
Urban sustainability and design advisor supporting business, planning, and built-environment review.
Dr. Leslie Brunell, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP
Director, ENVISION / Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
Infrastructure sustainability expert advising performance criteria and Envision-aligned best practices.
Dr. Mark Roseland, RPP
Professor, Arizona State University
Sustainable community development scholar advising planning, indicators, and urban sustainability strategy.
Urban Sustainability Data Analysis Judges
Judges supporting the virtual hackathon and data analysis work across transportation, infrastructure, AI, public health, and sustainable city systems.
Dr. Diana Jue-Rajasingh
School of Business, Rice University
Supports judging for business strategy, innovation quality, and implementation potential.
Dr. Jackie Stenson
Managing Director, UNLEASH
Global innovation and sustainability leader advising challenge design and solution impact.
Ron Huijsman
Partner, AxVe
Data, energy, and infrastructure advisor supporting feasibility review and technical judging.
Heng Wang
Transportation Modelling Manager, H-GAC
Transportation modeling expert supporting mobility, access, and regional planning analysis.
Jeremy Liu
Chief Housing Officer, FwdSlash
Housing and civic technology leader advising urban equity and practical deployment.
Anthony Eden
Founder and CEO, Iridium Credit
AI and fintech infrastructure founder judging applied analytics, technical feasibility, and product strength.
Ed McFarland
President, Sustainable Cities Group
Sustainable cities advisor supporting urban systems, design, and implementation review.
Dr. Vinitra Swamy
Co-Founder, Schole AI
AI and education technology advisor supporting innovation, analytics, and solution clarity.
Bo Peng
Urban Sustainability Data Analysis Judge
Supports hackathon judging and technical review for urban sustainability submissions.
Sarah Hussain
Head of Environment, FIFA26 Inc.
Supports environmental judging and alignment with FIFA26 sustainability priorities.