What steps can be taken now to turn our short supply of fresh water into a more sustainable resource? How can the global community improve access to clean fresh water for poor and arid nations? What are the roles of public and private sector actors? Those are some of the questions a panel of experts will explore at the 2010 George F. Kennan Forum on International Issues held Wednesday, Sept. 29.

Hosted by the Institute of World Affairs (IWA) and the Center for International Education (CIE) at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), the forum is held at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. in downtown Milwaukee, from 6-8 p.m.

The event, “Water in a Changing World: Who Has It? Who Needs It?” will feature:

• Laurent Auguste, Executive President and CEO, Veolia Water Americas

Appointed president and CEO for Veolia Water Americas in 2008, Laurent Auguste leads the company’s activities in North and South America. Veolia Water is the world's No. 1 water company, serving over 100 million people in 66 countries. Prior to his current position, Auguste served in a variety of leadership roles, supporting Veolia’s water and sanitation operations in France, Japan and South Korea.

• Sandra Postel, Director , Global Water Policy Project and Freshwater Fellow, National Geographic Society

Sandra Postel is a leading authority on international freshwater issues.  She directs the independent Global Water Policy Project which promotes the sustainable use of earth’s freshwater resources, and serves as lead water expert for the National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative.  Postel has authored several acclaimed books and was honored by Scientific American in 2002 for her contributions to water policy.

• Aaron Salzberg, Special Coordinator for Water Resources, US Department of State

Aaron Salzberg is the special coordinator for water resources with the U.S. State Department. He is responsible for providing overall policy guidance and coordinating bilateral, regional, and global aspects of the State Department’s activities on transboundary and freshwater issues. Salzberg holds a Ph.D. in genetic toxicology, a M.S. in technology and policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a M.S. in aerospace engineering.

Admission is free for Institute of World Affairs members, UWM faculty and staff, WPR members, MPTV members, and all area students. Tickets for the general public are $5 and are available from www.iwa.uwm.edu or by calling 414-229-3032. Tickets will also be available at the event.

In addition to the hosts, co-sponsors include the Brady Corporation, Milwaukee Water Council, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee Public Television, Milwaukee World Trade Association, Wisconsin Public Radio and WUWM.

The 2010 program marks the 20^th anniversary of the George F. Kennan Forum. Born in Milwaukee in 1904, diplomat and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian George F. Kennan played a significant role in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy throughout much of the 20^th century. The annual Kennan Forum is named in his honor.

(CONTACT: Rachel Schrag, 414-229-3220, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)