There is a burgeoning innovation corridor developing on Route 29 North, bolstered by the emergence of major municipal projects like Rivanna Futures and the North Fork Discovery Park, UVA’s flagship Manning Institute for Biotechnology, and statewide efforts to foster a new Biotech Accelerator. This tremendous growth has attracted a unique blend of organizations and experts to the Charlottesville area, prompting a key question: How can cross-sector collaborations position our region as a premier destination for innovation?
As part of the 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival, a group of key leaders in Albemarle County will gather on April 17th at the CODE Building for a discussion on this topic, sharing strategies for cultivating an innovation ecosystem that fuels both startups and established industries. Part of the Technology Track of the Tom Tom Festival’s EVOLVE Conference, this session will look to the future, asking what coordination will be necessary to align strategies and vision in this thriving quarter of Virginia.
Speakers
Dr. Philip Potter, Executive Director, National Security Data and Policy Institute
Dr. Philip Potter is the founding director of the National Security Data and Policy Institute (NSDPI), the University of Virginia’s sixth university-level institute. A professor of politics and the founding director of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy’s National Security Policy Center, Dr. Potter’s decades of research have focused on US foreign policy, military affairs, data analysis, and international security. He has published dozens of articles, policy papers, and government reports on these topics as well as two books, and serves as a university expert for the Intelligence Community and a senior advisor in the Department of Defense. An active voice in both academia and government on national security research and policy, Professor Potter launched the NSDPI to build collaborative networks of experts and practitioners across government, industry, and academia to address the country’s most pressing national security challenges.
Emily Kilroy, Director of Economic Development, Albemarle County
Emily Kilroy has more than 15 years of public service experience working in local government. She currently serves as the Director of Economic Development for Albemarle County, VA, leading a team to create opportunities for job creation, redevelopment, and enhance our community’s quality of life. She has experience in legislative affairs, communications, public engagement, and urban planning. Across these varied roles, her focus is always on how to make local government accessible and working for all.
Emily has a master’s in urban & environmental planning from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s in international development from American University. She serves on the boards of the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Venture Central, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau. In her spare time, Emily enjoys hiking with her husband and two children.
Jennifer Siciliano, Chief External Affairs Officer, UVA Health
Jennifer Siciliano currently serves as Chief External Affairs Officer for UVA Health where she oversees all aspects of UVA Health's relationships with external stakeholders for the health system. Jennifer was instrumental in creating and executing the legislative strategy that led to Virginia's substantial investment in the recently announced Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Virginia.
Prior to her appointment at UVA Health, Jennifer spent 14 years as Chief External Affairs Officer at Inova Health System. During that time, she oversaw all Government, Community Affairs, Marketing and Communications functions. With almost two decades of experience on and around Capitol Hill, Jennifer has served Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate. After leaving the Hill, she represented many high-profile clients as a consultant with a bipartisan government relations/public relations firm.
Jennifer’s career began in the U.S. House of Representatives where she held numerous positions with the Congressman from Alaska. She continued in the House as Director of Communications to the House Science Committee. Following her service in the House, she was asked to join the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee staff as Director of Communications where she was the official spokesperson and single point of contact for all media inquiries relating to the activities of the Committee, its thirteen subcommittees and the Chairman.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/Public Relations from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and a Master of Arts in Public Communications/Government Relations from American University in Washington, DC.
Nikki Hastings, Executive Director, CvilleBioHub
Nikki Hastings is an operations biotech executive and entrepreneurial ecosystem builder with over 15 years of experience with early-stage biotech/medtech and medical device companies. She has held executive management roles at companies across multiple industry sectors including HemoShear Therapeutics, Contraline, and Cerillo. Dr. Hastings co-founded CvilleBioHub in 2016 and is also Biotech Track Director in the UVA McIntire School of Commerce. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Rebecca Ivins, Western Division Manager, Hourigan Group
Rebecca's experience in construction and real estate development spans nearly two decades, working on both the owner and construction manager side. Rebecca’s passion is construction, economic development, civic engagement, and growing business communities. Rebecca strives to forge partnerships early among stakeholders and is quick to look for ways to improve processes. Her servant attitude and friendly personality have helped to create deep relationships with clients. A large external focus has been centered around the local chamber, public policy, infrastructure, early childhood, and workforce development. As such, Rebecca is an enthusiastic participant on several Boards regionally, allowing her to be the connective tissue between each group’s efforts. She attended University of Akron, followed by a mini-MBA from University of Richmond and remains an active, life-long learner. Rebecca is a golf enthusiast and has enjoyed watching her four children grow into adulthood.
Tom Tom, aka “Tomorrow Tomorrow,” is a nonprofit music, art, and ideas festival that annually gathers 25,000+ people to explore the future of the community. Tom Tom reaches across all neighborhoods, socio-economic divides, sectors, and industries to ask the question: What happens if we all gather together to envision the future? It’s a bold and innovative opportunity to collectively explore themes of technology, spirituality, criminal justice, education, housing, wellness, and entrepreneurship. The end goal: bring together engaged citizens to bridge divides, create solutions, and build a brighter tomorrow. The festival’s 2025 theme, EVOLVE, explores how we — as individuals, communities, organizations, and societies — adapt to change and grow into something new. Harnessing hope, creativity, and determination, we turn challenging circumstances into strength and resilience.
About the EVOLVE Conference
The EVOLVE Conference is where innovation meets purpose. This gathering brings together citizen leaders, visionaries, and changemakers to explore the intersections of technology, business, society, and wellness that are shaping the future of community. You'll dive into cutting-edge advancements, transformative business strategies, and the latest societal trends, all while engaging in deep conversations about meaning and purpose. More than a conference, it's a call to evolve the way we think, live, and lead.