Utah Lake Symposium 2026
Friday, Nov. 6, 2026
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
More details to come!
Click here to buy tickets.
Reserve your sponsorship slot by emailing shelby@utahlake.gov.
Featuring:
Keynote address by Congressman Mike Kennedy, M.D.
Congressman Mike Kennedy, M.D., was raised by a single mother alongside his six siblings in Michigan. From a young age, Mike learned the value of hard work, starting his first job at just 12 years old—a foundation that would shape his adult life.
Dr. Kennedy served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and upon his return, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. He then pursued his medical degree at Michigan State University, becoming a dedicated family physician. His passion for helping others led him back to Brigham Young University to pursue a law degree, driven by a desire to better advocate for his patients and ensure they received the best care possible.
Throughout his 35-year marriage to his wife, Katrina, Dr. Kennedy has raised eight children and now delights in his role as a grandfather to 12.
With a lifelong commitment to service, Congressman Kennedy has served in both the Utah House and Senate while maintaining his family medicine practice. He was sworn into the United States House of Representatives in January 2025, where he is focused on restoring fiscal responsibility, securing America’s borders, and pushing back against federal overreach.
Featuring:
Women in Water Panel
Three women are the heads of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Division of Water Quality and the Great Salt Lake Commission. The Utah Lake Symposium is please to host these women for a panel on water, leadership and more.
Jamie Barnes was appointed as DNR commissioner in August 2026 by Gov. Spencer J. Cox. In this role, she leads nearly 2,500 employees across nine divisions, three offices, and one authority. Her team oversees Utah’s most pressing natural resource priorities, including water security, energy and critical mineral development, wildfire management, forest health, state parks, outdoor recreation, and public lands stewardship.
Barnes previously served as Utah State Forester and director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) beginning in 2021, capping over 15 years with the agency. During her tenure, she managed sovereign lands to safeguard Utah’s navigable lakes and rivers under the Public Trust Doctrine. Her leadership on the Great Salt Lake, including establishing a framework for critical mineral extraction and negotiating a major water donation with Compass Minerals, earned her the 2025 Utah Water Pioneer Award from the Utah House of Representatives. She was also named the 2019 DNR Employee of the Year.
She began her career in the private legal sector before joining FFSL as a paralegal in 2011, building a strong foundation in regulatory policy, field operations, and inter-agency coordination. Barnes holds a Master of Natural Resources from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Weber State University. A lifelong Utahn, she enjoys exploring Utah’s beautiful mountains with her husband and two children.
Hannah Freeze, the Commissioner of the Great Salt Lake, possesses over 15 years of extensive experience in conservation work. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Great Salt Lake under Brian Steed. In that role, Freeze collaborated closely with various stakeholders to advance legislation offering enhanced conservation tools to water users across the basin. Additionally, she built strong relationships with numerous state and federal agencies that contribute vital expertise to conservation initiatives for the Great Salt Lake.
A significant portion of her career was spent at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, where she established and oversaw multiple conservation programs, including the Agricultural Water Optimization Program. Through this program, Freeze guided initiatives to assist producers in maximizing water efficiency using new technologies and upgraded irrigation systems. Her professional journey has been defined by building solid relationships with agricultural producers across the state, helping to unify and amplify their perspectives in conservation dialogues.
Freeze holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Utah State University and entered the conservation field shortly after her graduation.
Candice Hasenyager was appointed Director of the Utah Division of Water Quality in January 2026, bringing nearly two decades of state water leadership to the role, including four years as Director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.
In her current role, she oversees statewide programs to advance clean water statewide and promote watershed protection through critical planning and funding, in close coordination with federal, state and community partners. She represents the state on multiple boards and commissions, including the Utah Lake Authority, Utah Conservation Commission, Western States Water Council, and the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum. She is a licensed professional engineer and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Utah.
About the Utah Lake Symposium
Each year, the Utah Lake Symposium brings together scientists, policymakers, community leaders, students, and residents to focus on the ongoing management of Utah Lake and the larger watershed. Through expert presentations, panel discussions, and community collaboration, attendees gain new insights into how we can protect, restore, and celebrate one of Utah’s most important natural resources. The symposium invites everyone to take part in shaping the story of our shared watershed.