Speakers

Lisa Laws is an infrastructure executive with a deep understanding of the built environment, beginning her career as a project engineer at McHugh Construction, and currently leads strategy, operations, and market growth for Jacobs’ Transportation, Water, and Buildings portfolio in Chicago, advancing major projects that center on innovation, equity, and economic impact.

She has held transformative leadership roles across the public and private sectors, including Chief Operating Officer at the Illinois Department of Transportation, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Chief Operating Officer of 1871, Chicago’s nonprofit tech accelerator. Most recently, she served as Director of Convention Center Operations for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Raised in Chicago, Lisa brings both local insight and a global perspective to infrastructure leadership. With a civil engineering degree and an MBA from Kellogg, she is known for pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and designing systems that drive long-term impact for cities and communities. A passionate advocate for giving back, Lisa is especially committed to opening doors for young people of color pursuing careers in STEM, ensuring the next generation of innovators sees themselves reflected in the industry.