TIP NYC 2026 SUMMIT
Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) NYC returns to New York City in April 2026 at a moment when the infrastructure sector is entering a markedly different operating environment.
The past few years have been defined by scale, historic federal investment, expanded capital programs, and an unprecedented pipeline of projects moving into delivery. The next phase will be defined by something harder, performance. As major federal programs approach their sunset, infrastructure owners and operators are being asked to stretch every dollar further, manage assets longer, and deliver outcomes that endure well beyond initial construction.
At the same time, new pressures are reshaping the system. Rapid growth in data centers and the AI economy is driving surging demand for power, transmission, water, land, and digital connectivity, often faster than infrastructure planning, permitting, and delivery frameworks were designed to accommodate. Financing models are becoming more dynamic and locally driven. Permitting timelines remain misaligned with the pace of economic and technological change. And communities expect infrastructure that is not only functional, but resilient, reliable, and responsive to daily life.
New York City sits at the center of these dynamics. Few places concentrate as much infrastructure complexity, institutional fragmentation, climate exposure, and economic intensity in one system. What works in New York, and what doesn’t, matters for the rest of the U.S. and the world.
TIP NYC 2026 will explore how New York City can remain dynamic, resilient, and responsive to community needs, drawing on best practice from across the United States and around the world, and translating those lessons into insights relevant for infrastructure systems nationwide.
EVENT DETAILS
- Date: 16 April 2026
- Time: 10am – 4pm
- Venue: IBM Flagship HQ,
1 Madison Ave, New York,
New York, 10016
AGENDA
Time | Session | Speakers (Title, Organization) | Overview |
Wednesday, April 15 | |||
6:00 – 7:30 PM | Opening Reception, British Consulate Residence NYC | An informal gathering of senior leaders, partners, and speakers to open TIP NYC 2026 and set the tone for the discussions ahead. | |
Thursday, April 16 | |||
9:00 AM | Doors Open & Registration Begins | Doors open for arrival, registration, and early networking ahead of the formal program. | |
10:15 AM | Welcome and Scene Setting | Rory Linehan, Director, Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems | Opening remarks to frame the Summit’s focus on improving infrastructure performance across planning, delivery, and operations. |
10:20 AM | Chairperson’s Address: The State of Infrastructure Performance in 2026 | Mark Coates, Vice President, Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems | A global perspective on infrastructure performance, highlighting progress, systemic challenges, and opportunities to deliver better outcomes. |
10:25 AM | ASCE Plot Points Podcast Episode (Fireside Chat): Inside PANYNJ’s Record $45B Reinvestment: Technology, Delivery, Resilience | Ben Walpole, Host, ASCE Plot Points Podcast Rizwan Baig, Chief Engineer, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | A candid discussion on delivering one of the largest capital programs in the United States, focusing on risk, delivery, and the role of data and technology. |
10:55 AM | Twin Talk #1 Keynote: Congestion Pricing and the Future of the MTA Capital Program | Allison L.C. de Cerreño, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer, MTA Bridges and Tunnels | Examining how congestion pricing is generating sustained revenue and enabling accelerated delivery and long-term financial sustainability. |
11:05 AM | Twin Talk #1: Funding the Next Generation of Transit – New Revenue, New Coalitions, New Capital | Moderator: Anmay Ditman, Managing Director and Head of the Climate Finance Partnership, BlackRock Allison L.C. de Cerreño, MTA Sabrina Sussman, Chief Program Officer, Choose How You Move (Nashville) Samantha J. Biddle, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Maryland Department of Transportation | Exploring how cities and states are structuring innovative infrastructure funding models and what lessons can be scaled across the United States. |
11:45 AM | Morning Session Highlights | Ross van Dongen, Chief of Infrastructure and Workforce Development, Accelerator for America | Key insights and takeaways from the morning sessions. |
11:55 AM | Lunchtime Break | Time for networking, informal discussions, and refreshments. | |
1:00 PM | Master Class: Can U.S. infrastructure keep up with the AI economy? | Professor Rick Geddes, Founding Director, Brooks Center for Infrastructure | Examining how AI-driven demand is placing new strain on infrastructure systems while also creating opportunities to improve performance. |
1:10 PM | Twin Talk #2 Keynote: Turning AI into Infrastructure Performance | Santiago Garces, Chief Information Officer, City of Boston | Demonstrating how AI is being deployed in practice to improve infrastructure performance and service delivery. |
1:20 PM | Twin Talk #2: AI and the Infrastructure Sector – Opportunity, Pressure, and Practical Delivery | Moderator: David Gilford, Managing Partner, PolicyAlpha Professor and Founding Director, Brooks Center for Infrastructure Santiago Garces, City of Boston David Goldwater, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, Stantec Olivia Volkoff, Director, Data Economy Strategy, Constellation Energy | A practical discussion on where AI is driving new infrastructure demand and delivering measurable operational value. |
2:05 PM | Coffee and Network Break | A short break for networking and refreshments. | |
2:20 PM | Masterclass and White Paper Launch: Reimagining Mega Programs – Leveraging Once in a Generation Infrastructure Investment to Maximize Impact | Veronica Vecchi, Chair, Infrastructure Commission, Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics; Professor of Public Management, Bocconi University | Introducing a framework for delivering mega programs that prioritize long-term social, economic, and environmental outcomes. |
2:30 PM | Twin Talk #3 Keynote: Preparing for America’s Mega Stages: LA Metro’s Role in LA28 and FIFA 2026 | Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Exploring how Los Angeles is accelerating infrastructure delivery while leaving a lasting mobility legacy. |
2:40 PM | Twin Talk #3: Mega Programs for Community & Climate – Lessons from Milan & LA | Moderator: Victoria Johnson, Vice President, HDR Stephanie Wiggins, LA Metro Veronica Vecchi, Bocconi University Joseph G. Quitter, Senior Vice President and Southern California Regional Executive, AECOM | Lessons from global mega programs on governance, delivery, and long-term impact. |
3:25 PM | The Infrastructure Podcast Closing Episode (Fireside Chat): Penn Station Redevelopment | Antony Oliver, Host, The Infrastructure Podcast Andy Byford, Special Advisor to the Amtrak Board of Directors | A forward-looking discussion on Penn Station and regional connectivity. |
4:05 PM | Afternoon Session Highlights | Julie Chang, Chief Executive Officer, JCA Strategic Solutions | Key reflections and takeaways from the afternoon program. |
4:15 PM | Chairperson’s Closing Remarks | Mark Coates, Vice President, Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems | Final reflections on key themes and next steps. |
4:20 PM | Event Concludes | Close of TIP NYC 2026. |
WHY TIP & WHY NOW
TIP NYC is not designed as a general forum or a policy debate. It is a working summit for leaders responsible for real systems, real assets, and real consequences.
Across the program, TIP NYC 2026 will examine how infrastructure leaders are responding to changing circumstances by evolving how infrastructure is planned, governed, financed, and managed over time.
The program will tackle the disconnect between how assets are delivered and how they are operated, maintained, and funded across decades of service. It will examine where technology is already improving decision-making, and where expectations exceed practical reality. And it will confront the hard trade-offs facing infrastructure owners as demand accelerates, funding tightens, and systems are pushed to operate closer to their limits.
LEADERSHIP
TIP NYC Chair
TIP NYC 2026 Co-Chairs
Mark Coates
Vice President, Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems
Julie Chang
CEO, JCA Strategic Solutions
Ross Van Dongen
Chief of Infrastructure and Workforce Development, Accelerator for America
SPEAKERS
Andy Byford
Special Advisor, Amtrak
Stephanie Wiggins
Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Veronica Vecchi
Chair, Infrastructure Commission, Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympics & Professor of Public Management, Bocconi University
Samantha J. Biddle
Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Maryland
Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer, MTA Bridges and Tunnels
Rizwan Baig
Chief Engineer, Port Authority of NY and NJ
Rick Geddes
Professor and Founding Director, Brooks Center for Infrastructure
Antony Oliver
Host, The Infrastructure Podcast
BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
REGISTER NOW
Join a select group of infrastructure leaders, policymakers, and innovators for a meaningful exchange of ideas. These invite-only gatherings offer a chance to explore forward-thinking approaches, share your perspective, and help shape the future of infrastructure. Space is limited, register early to secure your spot.
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We respect your privacy. By submitting this form, you consent to us collecting, storing, and processing your personal data in accordance with GDPR. Your information will be used solely for event registration and for sharing post-event content and marketing materials, as outlined in our Privacy Policy. We will not share your information without your explicit consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting our team.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Thank you for your interest in this event. Registration is now closed.