Smart City Expo USA, the premier event in the United States for leading cities into a smart and sustainable future, announces its initial speaker lineup. The event will convene 3,000 attendees, 100+ speakers, and 100+ sponsors at the Javits Center in New York City on April 2-3, 2025.

Organized by Smart City Expo World Congress and Fira Barcelona International, Smart City Expo USA connects leaders in government, technology, and business to discuss cutting-edge solutions. The event is distinct from other ‘cities’ events because its primary goal is to create an environment conducive to getting deals done between the public and private sector in the United States.

“With billions of dollars deployed to modernize U.S. infrastructure and millions of fans expected for FIFA World Cup matches, Los Angeles Summer Olympic games, and F1 races, we have a historic opportunity for government officials and the private sector to transform U.S. cities through AI and cutting-edge innovation and ensure cities are modern, safe, sustainable, and future-ready,” stated Aarti Tandon, CEO, Smart City Expo USA.

Notable Speakers and Highlights

Smart City Expo USA 2025 features an exceptional lineup of speakers, including:

• Patrick McCoy, Acting CEO, Gateway Development Commission
• Priya Jain, President, Americas, Mace Consult
• Ben Walsh, Mayor, City of Syracuse
• Matthew Fraser, Chief Technology Officer, City of New York
• Katie Savage, Secretary of Information Technology, State of Maryland
• Lauren LaRusso, Co-Host City Manager and General Counsel, FIFA World Cup 26 NYNJ Host Committee
• Pam Kramer, CEO, KC2026
• Meg Kane, CEO, Philadelphia Soccer 2026
• Monica Paul, President, Dallas / North Texas FWC Organizing Committee
• Chris Canetti, President, Houston 2026 Host Committee
• Santiago Garces, Chief Innovation Officer, City of Boston
• Rohit Aggarwala, Chief Climate Officer, City of New York
• Kimberly LaGrue, Chief Information Officer, City of New Orleans
• Keith Kerman, Chief Fleet Officer, City of New York
• Brian O’Neal, Assistant Chief, Clark County Fire Department, State of Nevada

The impressive lineup of public sector speakers will be complemented by private sector leaders from Accenture (a presenting sponsor), HDR, McKinsey, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Slalom Consulting, WeLink Cities, What Works Cities, Sand Technologies, and more.

Jumbi Edulbehram, Global Business Development, Smart Cities and Spaces at NVIDIA said Smart City Expo USA provides “unrivaled opportunities to connect with leaders shaping the future of cities." 

Kimberly LaGrue, CIO, City of New Orleans and President, Cities Today Institute stated, “With cities like New Orleans preparing to host the Super Bowl and others preparing for FIFA World Cup matches, F1 races, and Summer Olympic games, the Expo is a must-attend for officials seeking to lead their cities into the future.” 

Themed "Future-Ready Cities," the 2025 agenda focuses on AI, infrastructure, sports, security, climate, and finance. The event will cover AI across all sectors, transportation, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, eVTOLs and other forms of mobility, cutting-edge infrastructure, clean energy and decarbonization, data centers, quantum computing, and semiconductors, security and emergency management, connectivity, and government innovation.

Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of What Works Cities, and a key partner of the event, said, “we’re thrilled to partner again and proud to have local leaders join us to showcase how they are balancing AI experimentation with a commitment to inclusion, equity, and transparency as they seek to make government more responsive to all residents.”

“Smart City Expo USA is part of the international network of Smart City Expo World Congress, which has been led by Barcelona since 2011. This global initiative brings together cities, organizations, and experts to share insights and innovations aimed at creating smarter, more sustainable urban environments. This event provides an unparalleled opportunity for stakeholders to truly collaborate, innovate, and engage with industry and city leaders,” stated Ricard Zapatero, CEO, Fira Barcelona International.

Outside of content, all members of the community can expect a vibrant show floor with demos related to F1, FIFA, and relevant topics, a collection of vetted startups, tech talks, and networking and happy hours.