Infrastructure design is evolving in response to new net-zero laws and policies focused on resilience. On Thursday, May 19, 2022, Patricia B. Gary, Esq. will moderate a panel of two leading experts in the areas of mitigation and adaptation:

• Molly Dee-Ramasamy, Head of Deep Carbon Reduction at Jaros, Baum & Bolles in New York City, will speak about her work with low-carbon design strategies and electrification technologies to achieve decarbonization, and compliance with New York City’s trailblazing climate legislation, Local Law 97 and Boston’s new decarbonization ordinance, BERDO.
• Julie Eaton Ernst, Lead Resiliency Engineer at Weston & Sampson in Massachusetts, will speak about her work on RMAT’s first-in-the nation web-based beta Climate Resilience Design Tool, which is now available to help agencies, municipalities and private entities to assess climate exposure.
• Patricia B. Gary, Of Counsel at Donovan Hatem, will conclude with a brief discussion of the synergies between mitigation and adaptation, and the professional standard of care.
• Abbie Goodman, Executive Director, American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA), will provide a brief update on current climate-related Legislation in Massachusetts.

This roundtable is in cooperation with American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA)

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About Our Speakers

Molly Dee-Ramasamy is Director of JB&B’s Deep Carbon Reduction Group, a team focused on decarbonization in the built environment.  Her experience includes identifying opportunities for implementing energy conservation measures and low-carbon design strategies with the intent of improving energy efficiency, driving down carbon emissions, and helping clients realize energy cost saving associated with energy improvements and upgrades.  She has experience in a wide range of market sectors, successfully providing energy services, new building commissioning, existing building commissioning, engineering surveys and studies, and special inspections. 

Julie Eaton Ernst, PE is the climate resilience team leader at Weston & Sampson. A Professional Engineer and MVP Certified Provider, she is responsible for providing targeted engineering services and advice related to resiliency and adaptation, including multi-hazard risk assessments, resilience planning, and the identification of flexible, engineered adaptation strategies. Julie approaches climate resilience from the dual perspectives of policy/planning and design/engineering to communicate the need for planning and preparedness, evaluate potential impacts to vulnerable infrastructure and natural resources, and develop a range of resilient design strategies that emphasize flexible approaches, manage risk and uncertainty, and create value. She specializes in using a risk-based approach to assess, identify, and prioritize adaptation strategies. Julie routinely leads interdisciplinary project teams and has special expertise with translating climate projections into design standards and implementing resilience across planning and design projects. 

Patricia B. Gary focuses her practice on the defense of professional liability actions against architects and engineers. She handles complex commercial disputes for individuals and businesses across a broad range of industries. She provides legal advice to construction project participants in drafting and negotiating their design and construction contracts to carefully allocate risks and responsibilities, and minimize exposure.