Palm Springs Summit on Extreme Heat

Email: diane@bluezones.com

Diane Morales is a public health professional and policy advocate dedicated to advancing health equity through systems change and community-driven solutions. As the Public Policy Lead for Blue Zones Project Palm Springs, she leads initiatives that create healthier, more resilient communities by working alongside residents, local governments, and community partners to develop policies that improve quality of life for all. Her work supports a more sustainable future for Palm Springs by advancing policies that strengthen community well-being and help communities adapt to the impacts of extreme heat and climate change.

Diane's work focuses on the built environment, food systems, and alcohol and tobacco policy. She believes the most effective policies are created by listening to those most impacted and ensuring community voices are reflected in decision-making. Through coalition building and cross-sector partnerships, she has helped advance initiatives that increase equitable access to resources and foster healthier, more resilient communities.

A first-generation college graduate, Diane earned her Bachelor's Degree in Public Health from California State University, San Bernardino, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Health Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. Her passion for public health is rooted in her lived experiences growing up throughout the Coachella Valley, which inspired her commitment to addressing the social and environmental factors that shape health.

As keynote speaker, Diane brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to conversations about creating equitable, climate-resilient communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Email: jlecomte-hinely@HARCdata.org

Dr. Jenna LeComte-Hinely is the Chief Executive Officer of HARC, Inc. (Health Assessment and Research for Communities), a nonprofit research and evaluation organization based in Palm Desert, CA. HARC focuses on community-centric research and evaluation services related to health, wellness, and quality of life. Dr. LeComte-Hinely is also a faculty member at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

Prior to becoming HARC’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. LeComte-Hinely served as HARC’s Director of Research and Evaluation for two years. Prior to joining HARC, Dr. LeComte-Hinely worked in the fields of research and evaluation at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry); the Center for Work-Family Stress, Safety, and Health; and the University of Redlands.

Dr. LeComte-Hinely has served on the Board of Directors of many nonprofit organizations, including Borrego Health, Joslyn Senior Center, HIV+ Aging Research Project – Palm Springs, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Desert Communities Chapter. Additionally, Dr. LeComte-Hinely serves on the steering committee of the Ark of Safety, a movement to promote community resiliency in the Inland Empire.

Dr. LeComte-Hinely has been recognized by several awards, including “40 Under Forty” by Palm Springs Life (recognizing a new generation of desert leaders under the age of 40), “The Big List” by Palm Springs Life (a list of 50 influential people shaping everyday life in the Coachella Valley), and “Women in Philanthropy” by Desert Charities News (an annual publication of leaders and influencers in the nonprofit industry).

Email: anuj.desai@sce.com

Anuj Desai is a Senior Advisor at Southern California Edison (SCE), where he generates thought leadership, policy, strategy, and product launches to help advance the company’s vision for a clean energy utility of the future. This work includes launching a solar/storage marketplace, developing an energy storage new construction incentive program, and helping put together a first-of-its-kind utility climate change vulnerability assessment.

Currently, Anuj’s responsibilities include overseeing climate adaptation engagement and partnership efforts as the company looks to fortify the grid for current and future climate change risk alongside local community efforts to do the same. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University, Yale’s School of the Environment, and Coro Southern California’s Climate Resilience Leadership Network (CRLN) program.

Email: ari@ari.fyi

Ari Simon is a facilitator, engagement specialist, climate policy convener, grief guide, and leadership coach. Ari makes navigating change and spurring resilience the centerpiece of their work – applying it to a myriad of personal, professional, and policy realms.

Through their consulting practice, Inner & Outer Engagement, Ari develops comprehensive and meaningful trauma-aware engagement and resources for climate policy and equity planning processes across California, equipping people to recognize loss as a gateway for transformation. Ari directs initiatives for clients such as the State of California, City of West Hollywood, LA County, San Francisco MUNI, UCLA, Pitzer College, USGBC-CA, and more. Ari's landmark program, Grief at Work, brings grief honoring & loss competent approaches to workplaces, policies, and programs — particularly for professionals working to address planetary health and climate emergencies.

Ari weaves a background in climate policy, planning, and management from the University of Southern California with training in contemplative practice, coaching, wellbeing, and end-of-life care. They live in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County, are from New Jersey, and consider New York City their multigenerational home.

Email: EFelter@esassoc.com

Elizabeth Felter is a Climate Planner with Environmental Science Associates. She is passionate about supporting climate resilience and environmental justice efforts across California, including extreme heat mitigation and preparedness, sea level rise adaptation, and emission reduction plans. She has degrees in both applied mathematics and urban planning and policy, and navigates between systems and direct experiences. Elizabeth believes in the wisdom of community and the guiding power of nature and works her hardest to listen carefully to both.

Email: shelley.jiang@aecom.com

Shelley Jiang is an Associate Principal at AECOM working closely with agencies and stakeholders across California to develop collaborative responses to climate change and extreme heat, including the Los Angeles County Heat Action Plan, and in the Sacramento Region with the City of Elk Grove, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative. Shelley is also the project manager for the SCAG Regional Resilience Framework, which helps local jurisdictions in the Southern California region plan for resilience across a range of shocks and stressors. She has a Master of Public Policy from University of California at Berkeley and an AB in English & American Literature from Harvard University.

Email: christian@kounkuey.org

Christian Rodriguez Ceja is a Community Principal at Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), an international design and community development nonprofit. Based in California's Eastern Coachella Valley, he leads KDI's Coachella office, directing climate resilience planning, participatory design, and large-scale public engagement across the region and Los Angeles. His work spans extreme heat adaptation, transportation planning and outreach, environmental justice youth programming, and anti-displacement planning - all grounded in equity and resident voices.

Christian specializes in translating policy into community-led action and building lasting governance structures from the ground up. His commitment to inclusive planning is backed by years of public service: he served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Indio (2020–2025) and was appointed to the California Inland Empire APA Board (2022–2025).

A lifelong resident of Indio, he lives there with his husband, Felipe, and their grey tuxedo cat, Tavo - and believes the best plans are built with, not for, the community.

Email: ladd@arizona.edu

Dr. Ladd Keith is a climate planner and Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, where he directs the Heat Resilience Initiative. He works with cities, states, and international agencies on how we plan for and govern extreme heat - already the deadliest weather hazard in the United States. He defined heat governance in a Nature comment and co-authored the American Planning Association's first guidebook on heat for planning practitioners. He also serves on the management committee of the Global Heat Health Information Network, a joint initiative of the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization. He argues that we're living through a “heatshed moment” - a turning point at which extreme heat, already the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, must be addressed as urgently as any other climate risk.