I am a land use lawyer with 40 years of experience representing public agencies, developers, builders, Indian tribes, and non-profit organizations, in connection with a broad range of land use and environmental issues, including water resources. I hold a Ph.D. in urban planning and have been admitted to the American Institute of Certified Planners. I have taught courses in law and urban planning at the University of Southern California, UCLA, UC Irvine and UC San Diego, and I write and lecture regularly on land use and environmental issues.
In addition to my legal practice, I am a credentialed mediator affiliated with the Land Use & Environmental Mediation Group of the National Conflict Resolution Center. I also provide strategic planning facilitation services to non-profit organizations and public agencies.
For many years, I have been involved in policy and regulatory issues pertaining to water quality and water supply. I have served in several appointed positions relating to water, including as Chair of the City of San Diego Wetlands Advisory Board, as Chair of the San Diego City Council Water Policy Implementation Task Force, as a Director of the San Diego River Park Foundation, as a member of the San Diego Bay Water Quality Improvement Plan Consultation Panel, as a member of the City of San Diego Pure Water Working Group, and as a member of the City of San Diego Water Sustainability Stakeholder Working Group.
I am an experienced grant writer specialized in scientific, technical, and medical/healthcare projects. I advanced clients’ strategic objectives by researching issues, finding solutions and engaging experts in team collaborations, as well as by writing proposals and papers. My curiosity, acuity and accuracy got a 40-year workout in San Diego. After my M.S. in Psychology and statistics (Tulane, 1983), I worked as Editor for Sociological Abstracts, then Assistant Director and Director of Development for major community services agencies, followed by UCSD School of Medicine Development; and from 2000 on, in medical writing and senior regulatory affairs positions at Ligand, CancerVax and Pfizer. I enabled leading agencies and companies to create and communicate social benefits, based on unifying principles as well as facts and models. Water security is a focal unifying issue for San Diego and its major industries, I realized thanks to BIOCOM, the biotech industry advocacy organization founded to ensure water security for its members. Since our region is at the end of long pipelines from drying northern California and the Colorado River, regional resilience must be strengthened in the face of climate change, which will reduce these two water resources of water. We can and will solve our water challenges (I believe, as the daughter of an engineer and programmer) with reuse engineering and programmatic regulations and incentives, along with low-energy water treatment and distribution innovations. Water tech alliances of water sector companies and people who work on such innovations —locally, nationally and globally—will be keys to secure our regional water availability in the challenging future ahead.
Cristina Ahmadpour is the President of Isle Inc. and Managing Director (Americas) of Isle Utilities, a leading global consultancy in the water sector (and an independent partner to over 80 water utilities in the USA and 400 globally, with a world-renowned Technology Assessment Group [TAG]). Isle brings economies-of-scale to solving shared challenges and interests that manage risk, save time and resources, and strategically drive value for organizations, communities, and collaborative partnerships. Cristina specializes in emerging technologies and innovative best practices, and leads a team that supports the most progressive water utilites to assess their needs, identify, evaluate, and engage best solutions, as well as accelerate innovation across the industry. The American Water Works Association contracted Cristina’s team to create the now highly successful “Innovation Lounge” for the AWWA’s Annual Conference and Expo (ACE2018-2022), featuring the most exciting new water technologies of the year. Cristina is a top speaker and moderator of water innovation-focused sessions at events such as the World Water Tech North America Summit, in 2021 discussing the role of the water sector in achieving carbon neutrality, and technological opportunities at the water-energy nexus. Repeatedly honored as a communicator (e.g, Donald G. Hileman Educator of the Year Award) for her abilities to “move the needle” toward innovation, Cristina points to her educational background: “I’m a proud graduate of Vermont Law School (summa cum laude) and the California State University system. I’m also honored to have been recognized by the Water and Wastewater Digest in 2016 and 2018 as a top water professional under the age of 40.” We’re honored to have San Diego-based Cristina Ahmadpour on the Board of the San Diego regional Water Tech Alliance.
Tama Snow, P.E., is a Senior Principal Engineer and Business Center Operations Leader for Stantec —a global engineering, architecture and consulting firm. Her three decades of experience leading planning, designing and construction of water conveyances and delivery systems, as well as recycled and waste water treatment and storage facilities, include her industry-leading work on the Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System. Tama Snow has served as the Principal in charge and manager for water projects contracted by the Water Authorities of the City of Chula Vista, City of Vista and City San Diego (the latter her current focus), as well as the Water Districts of Coachella, Indio, Mission Springs, Otay and Simi Valley. Snow is an active member of the American Water Works Association, California Water Environment Associate, and WateReuse Association, which seek her participation on commmittees ranging from technical to industry engagement, including mentoring and community outreach, as well as colleagial collaboration. Tama is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine, with a Master’s degree in Engineering from CalPoly Pomona. We are proud to have the Tama Snow’s leadership for the Board of our San Diego regional Water Tech Alliance.
Founder & Former Board Member
I am Vice Chair of the South Area San Diego County Democratic Party, the executive in charge of Democratic Party activities in the South Area of the County, an area roughly from the 94 to the border and the ocean to the mountains. In 2014, Democrats won 23 of 27 races by turning out Democratic voters, teaching them to vote all the way down the ballot and by presenting our message which is about our community engaging cross-over Republican voters. I’ve been responsible for oversight of field Campaign offices, fundraising, party and candidate strategies, communication and messaging.