iMasons Texas Local Chapter Meeting: Houston | Water & Energy Nexus

  • September 17, 2026
  • 1:00 PM – 6:30 PM CDT
  • Houston, TX

About the Event:

The iMasons Texas Local Chapter will convene in Houston for the Water & Energy Nexus, bringing together industry specialists, leading suppliers, consultants, and policymakers to explore how we can build digital infrastructure sustainably.

The program will feature AI learning workshops designed to equip attendees with practical, next‑generation tools, along with a case study presented by CenTrio on the state of district energy in Houston and reliable, innovative solutions for power and cooling challenges. The event will cap off with an exclusive tour of the high-rise Netrality Data Center to showcase real‑world applications of efficient water and energy management. 

Agenda:

1:00 – 1:30 PM | Check In & Networking
1:30 – 1:45 PM | Welcome Remarks
1:45 – 2:30 PM | Keynote & Fireside Chat: Lauren Barbir & Ashley Dirou on Water-AI Nexus
2:30 – 3:15 PM | Houston District Energy Case Study with CenTrio
3:15 – 3:30 PM | Break
3:30 – 4:45 PM | Breakout Session & Netrality Data Center Tour
4:45 – 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks
5:00 – 6:30 PM | Happy Hour & Celebrations

Keynote & Fireside Chat:

Lauren Barbir, Associate Vice President of HDR, Inc. and Advisory Council Member for Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence with the Water Environment Federation, will chat with Ashley Dirou, Global Data Center Strategy Manager for Grundfos, to help us understand the Water-AI Nexus and unpack those puzzle pieces needed for today’s tech revolution.

Learn how to talk with your stakeholders about building efficiencies into your site, reuse of waste heat, colocation with power plants and water plants, and the power behind community engagement.

Lauren Barbir

HDR, Water-AI Nexus Advisory Council

Lauren Barbir is an Associate Vice President and Business Development Director for HDR’s Tech, Media, & Telecom (TMT) sector. She leads data center client development across HDR’s portfolio of engineering, architecture, and environmental design and consulting services and provides executive oversight for water project delivery. Lauren serves on the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence Advisory Council, 7×24 Exchange Greater Philadelphia Board of Directors, and iMasons Climate Accord Water Working Group.

Ashley Dirou

Grundfos

Ashley Dirou, Global Data Center Strategy Manager for Grundfos, focuses on transforming water and energy for use in the digital infrastructure economy. With more than 18 years in the pump industry, she is passionate about turning a great idea into a tangible facility. She leads the iMasons Texas State Chapter as a Co-Chair based in Houston.

Houston District Energy Case Study:

Speakers from CenTrio, a major North American provider of sustainable district energy and campus utilities, will host a panel on unlocking stranded power and reveal how a single district energy connection can create distinct returns for communities and stakeholders.

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