Harnessing Advanced Technology for Wildfire Mitigation: Insights from Utilities and Fire Agencies

Dan Nuñez  
Senior Manager Wildfire Planning & Analytics, Portland General Electric  
Portland General Electric 

Dan Nuñez is the Senior Manager of PGE Wildfire Planning & Analytics and chair of the risk chapter of International Wildfire Risk Mitigation Consortium. At PGE Dan leads and champions PGE’s wildfire mitigation strategies to manage long-term & near-term wildfire risk reduction. This includes developing multi-year asset plans for system hardening and situational awareness investments that are best value for the region and PGE customers. 

Dan graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo B.S. Civil Engineering and worked with Bonneville Power Administration for 14 years developing and establishing BPA’s asset management and wildfire program.

Fire Chief Phil Schneider, Ret.
Clackamas Fire District

Phil Schneider, a lifelong resident of Sandy, served the community for over 47 years, retiring in 2024. He began his career as a Fire Explorer at age 15, later joining the department full-time in 1991 as a Firefighter/Driving Instructor. Over the years, Phil held every ranking position within the Sandy Fire District, eventually being appointed Fire Chief in January 2015. During his tenure, he led significant improvements, including expanding staff, upgrading equipment, and overseeing the seismic rehabilitation and remodel of the main fire station. Chief Schneider’s legacy is one of dedication and service to the community.

Arvind Satyam 
Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer 
Pano AI 

Arvind is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Pano AI, a company specializing in AI-driven wildfire detection technology. He leads teams in sales, marketing, customer success, and strategic partnerships. Previously, he held executive roles at Cisco in sales, business development, and strategic alliances. Passionate about wildfire prevention, Arvind combines his expertise in technology and innovation to enhance community safety.

He holds degrees in Computer Engineering and Finance from the University of New South Wales and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. Arvind was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.