Date: 2024-08-16 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00009489
Global Footprint Network
Key Staff
Executive Team and Senior Management around 2014
Key Staff
Executive Team and Senior Management around 2014
Original article:
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D. Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D. President
Mathis is co-creator of the Ecological Footprint and President of Global Footprint Network. He completed a Ph.D. in community and regional planning with Professor William Rees at the University of British Columbia, where his doctoral dissertation developed the Ecological Footprint concept. Mathis also earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
Mathis has worked on sustainability with governments, corporations and international NGOs on six continents and has lectured at more than a hundred universities. He previously served as director of the Sustainability Program at Redefining Progress in Oakland, California, and ran the Centro de Estudios para la Sustentabilidad at Anáhuac University in Xalapa, Mexico. Mathis has authored and contributed to more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, numerous articles and reports and various books on sustainability that focus on embracing resource limits and developing metrics for sustainability, including Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth; Sharing Nature’s Interest; Der Ecological Footprint, and WWF International’s Living Planet Report.
Mathis’ awards include being a 2014 ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame Inductee, the 2013 Prix Nature Swisscanto, 2012 Blue Planet Prize, 2012 Binding Prize for Environmental Conservation, 2012 Kenneth E. Boulding Memorial Award of the International Society for Ecological Economics, 2011 Zayed International Prize for the Environment (jointly awarded with UNEP), an honorary doctorate from the University of Berne in 2007, 2007 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, 2006 WWF Award for Conservation Merit and 2005 Herman Daly Award of the U.S. Society for Ecological Economics. Mathis was also honored as number 19 on the en(rich) list of the top 100 inspirational individuals whose contributions enrich paths to sustainable futures (www.enrichlist.org). In 2012 John Elkington identified Mathis on the “Zeronaut 50” Roll of Honor as a leading pioneer in driving the world’s most significant problems to zero. Since 2011, Mathis is also the Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of 1956 Visiting Professor at Cornell University.
Susan Burns Susan Burns Chief Executive Officer
Susan Burns is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Global Footprint Network. Over the last decade she has built Global Footprint Network into one of the leading and most respected scientific organizations in the world addressing global ecological limits. She continues to lead the overall strategic direction of Global Footprint Network and now advises governments and financial institutions on incorporating ecological risk into financial risk analysis and government policy.
Prior to launching Global Footprint Network, Susan founded the pioneering sustainability consulting firm Natural Strategies, advising such companies as Mitsubishi Electric, Genencor, and Lowes. She has over 18 years of experience working with more than 50 corporations and other organizations on a variety of sustainability-related issues from forest policy to business strategy. Susan led the development of the screening methodology for Portfolio 21, the US’s first mutual fund dedicated to environmental sustainability. She has spoken widely on the subject of sustainability, human development, and corporate responsibility, having delivered keynote and other lectures at over 100 national and international events.
In 2007 Susan, along with Mathis Wackernagel, won the Skoll Award on Social Entrepreneurship. She was selected as honorable mention on the en(rich) list identifying the top inspirational individuals whose contributions enrich paths to sustainable futures (www.enrichlist.org). John Elkington identified Susan in 2012 among the “Zeronaut 50” Roll of Honor, i.e., leading pioneers who are driving the world’s most significant problems to zero. Both Susan Burns and Mathis Wackernagel are 2014 ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame Inductees. Susan holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
Drew Lisac Drew Lisac VP, External Affairs
Drew is External Affairs Director at Global Footprint Network. He brings to the organization over 20 years of leadership in academia, start-ups, businesses and social enterprise. As Dean at Stanford University, he helped advance a diverse portfolio of academic institutes, programs and projects through work with entrepreneurs, tech companies, venture capitalists and students. He was awarded the National Council on Education’s Award of Merit for his educational trailblazing.
Drew left Stanford to co-found one of the first consulting firms for internet and new media companies. He advised over 200 start-ups, worked with investors, organized international consortia focused on internet roll outs globally and founded one of the first start-up internet incubators. He served as investor, board member, chief strategist, chief capital officer and interim CEO. Moving into government policy, he helped raise funds for many significant achievements including the first internet advocacy campaign in history (watershed protection), the first urban greenbelt campaign and indigenous peoples’ control of natural resources around the globe. Drew was honored by a wide variety of local, regional, and national governments, as well as non-profits, corporations and foundations.
Since 2001, Drew has worked solely in public service as an angel investor, social entrepreneur, and fundraiser. He has served as an advisor on philanthropy and social responsibility for many corporations and major donors, raising millions for public projects. For this leadership, he received commendation at the Bay Area Philanthropy Awards. As an expert on the integration of economic and environmental systems worldwide he helped fund and organize the 2010 Mega Regional Conference on economic growth as well as the 2011 White House Forum on Entrepreneurship.
Sandra Browne Sandra Browne VP, Operations
Sandra leads the Administration, HR, Accounting, IT and program management functions at Global Footprint Network. She has been involved with the organization since 2011 in various capacities and brings a passion for smooth operations that support Global Footprint Network's mission. So far Sandra has created HR processes for recruiting and performance management, aided the creation of a revised strategic plan and implemented systems for tracking operations and finance analytics to enable timely, data-driven decisions.
Sandra brings 20 years of experience as a business operations executive for technical and scientific organizations. She earned her MBA from UC-Berkeley with an emphasis in organizational behavior and strategy. Throughout her career Sandra has focused on creating high-performance cultures that are financially stable and data-driven. She is passionate about delivering outstanding services to clients and partners.
Sandra’s interests include global travel and volleyball. She lives in California with her husband and two children.
Sebastian Winkler Sebastian Winkler VP, Outreach and Programmes
Sebastian Winkler is a Mexican-French-German national who grew up in Francophone Africa. He is currently Vice President of Programmes & Outreach at Global Footprint Network and Senior Advisor of Sustainability & Strategy for one of the largest gold mines in Europe. He also sits on the Board of Internews Europe, European Business and Biodiversity Campaign, Bioregional North America and Global Nature Fund.
In 2010, Sebastian was part of the Spanish European Union Presidency team. From 1997 to early 2010 he worked for IUCN at the international and European level. Prior to IUCN he worked for UNEP's Economics, Environment and Trade Unit. In 1995, he worked for the World Food Program's Office of Evaluation and in 1993 he worked for Mexico's Deputy Minister of Environment.
Sebastian has a multi-disciplinary educational background with a BA from the University of Constance, Germany as well as the University of Guelph, Canada. He holds various MAs from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, the Netherlands, the University of Trier, Germany and the Ecole Polytechnique of Lausanne, Switzerland. He also studied at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques of Grenoble, France and in the USA at Harvard Business School. Sebastian speaks fluent German, English, French and Spanish, and has a good working knowledge of Italian and Portuguese.
Pati Poblete Pati Poblete Director, Asia Region Pati is leading Global Footprint Network’s engagement with Asia. Building on her on-the-ground policy expertise as a journalist, Pati has been engaging with over 6 Asian national governments and various international institutions including ADB and the ASEAN Secretariat. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, Pati was a journalist for 15 years, working as a columnist and editorial writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, deputy editorial page editor for the Honolulu Advertiser and staff editor at numerous Bay Area daily newspapers. Her yearlong editorial series on foster care reform in California for the San Francisco Chronicle helped lead to numerous changes in the state law, and won her numerous national awards, including first place in the National Headliners Award, Scripps Howard National Journalism Award, Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Chi Award and the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. Pati was also the Chronicle’s nominee for Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing in 2006 and 2007. She is the author of “The Oracles: My Filipino Grandparents in America”.
Alessandro Galli, Ph.D. Alessandro Galli, Ph.D. Director, Mediterranean and MENA Regions Alessandro is a Senior Scientist and the Mediterranean-MENA Program Director at Global Footprint Network. As Senior Scientist, he contributes to research on the Ecological Footprint methodology and technical publications. His research analyzes the historical changes in human dependence on natural resources and ecological services through the use of sustainability indicators and environmental accounting methods. Previously, he worked as technical advisor on the Al Basama Al Beeiya (Ecological Footprint) Initiative in the United Arab Emirates with the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS-WWF) and the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD). Alessandro holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences from Siena University. He is the lead author of the Mediterranean Ecological Footprint Trends report and co-author of several publications, including 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals, the article “Global Biodiversity: Indicators of Recent Declines” published in the leading journal Science, and WWF’s 2008 and 2012 Living Planet Reports. Alessandro is also member of the editorial board of the journal Resources: Natural Resources and Management, and was a MARSICO Visiting Scholar at University of Denver, Colorado, USA, in April 2011.
Pragyan Bharati, Ph.D. Pragyan Bharati, Ph.D. Director, India Pragyan is leading Global Footprint Network’s Sustainable Development Return on Investment (SDRoI) project in India. Supported by the Barr Foundation and the Skoll Foundation, the project is a collaboration between Skoll Foundation awardees Global Footprint Network, Escuela Nueva, Gram Vikas and International Development Enterpise-India (IDE-India), with expert advisement from Camfed. The project aims to measure a community’s progress toward its own lasting development. It also should support donor agencies and social entrepreneurs to generate a high sustainable development return on their investments. With a doctorate in sociology, Pragyan is a social development specialist with expertise in executing socio-economic developmental projects. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network she worked with other international agencies such as ONE DROP and UNICEF on projects relating to social arts and popular education in community mobilization and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene).
Ronna Kelly Ronna Kelly Director, Communications Ronna is leading the international communications efforts at Global Footprint Network. She previously worked at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business as editor-in-chief of BerkeleyHaas Magazine and the school’s online newsroom. Before that she worked as a journalist for more than a decade, covering everything from city government to transportation to business at TheStreet.Com, The Industry Standard and The Oakland Tribune. Ronna has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a BS in business administration from UC Berkeley.
Research
Elias Lazarus Elias Lazarus Lead Researcher, Resource Accounting Eli works in the Research and Standards Department, managing the National Footprint Accounts while also working on its development, the running and development of related applications and the Multi-Region Input Output model, and related research projects. His primary research interest is in the application of Ecological science to Economics and the integration of sustainability into measures of welfare. Eli has contributed to several peer-reviewed papers, various public reports, and several trainings on the Ecological Footprint including in Indonesia and the UAE. He had a broad professional background before joining Global Footprint Network, including as an environmental advocate, small business owner, and in the arts. He holds a Bachelor’s in Economics with an Ecological Economics emphasis from San Francisco State University, where he graduated with the highest honors.
David Lin, Ph.D. David Lin, Ph.D. Lead Scientist, Resource Accounting David is a member of the Research team, and contributes to the production, development and improvement of the National Footprint Accounts. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, David earned his Ph.D. and worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the Systems Ecology Laboratory at the University of Texas at El Paso. His research focused on integrating models of ecosystem function with land cover change analysis in Arctic ecosystems. David is a native of California, and holds a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Michael Borucke Michael Borucke Research Scientist Michael Borucke is a Research Scientist working on the National Footprint Accounts and the Multi-Regional Input-Output Model. Before coming to Global Footprint Network, he worked as an engineer at an environmental firm, and developed environmental models with several other non-profits. He holds a Bachelors and Masters in Environmental Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Golnar Zokai Golnar Zokai Research Scientist Golnar is a Research Scientist working on National Footprint Accounts. She earned a B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Golnar joined Global Footprint Network after completing a certificate in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Environmental Management from the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto. Since then, she has been working on biocapacity calculation and land use analysis.
Michel Gressot Michel Gressot Senior Economist Michel joined Global Footprint Network as a Senior Economist from the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency. At Global Footprint Network Michel is responsible for outreach, public policy advice, and strengthening the economic aspects of the Ecological Footprint by linking it to the macro-economic policy sphere and public and corporate sector expectations. He was trained in econometrics and mathematics in Paris and Geneva and earned an MA and BA. After a period in academic research, he went into management consulting at KPMG and worked at the Entrepreneurship Development Department of the ILO, before joining the Swiss Foreign Service 20 years ago. His international civil service career has focused on international development, including postings in Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Andean countries to steer local programme portfolios. Sustainability linkages across sector policies (trade, responsible investment, finance, agriculture, defense, energy, development, and environment) have always been a strong focus of Michel’s involvement as a public policy analyst, first as deputy head of the Global Issues and Sustainable Development Division of the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency, and then within the Policy Analysis Division in charge of producing the development policy bill. Michel has been a member of the Swiss delegation in a number of international negotiations at the UN, WTO, and OECD looking at synergies with the development cooperation policy.
Katsunori Iha Katsunori Iha Research Economist Katsunori is a Research Economist, responsible for tracking Ecological Footprints in global supply chains through the use of the Multi-Regional Input-Output model, which also applies to sub-national and personal calculator projects. Currently, he is working on developing the Computable General Equilibrium for Ecological Footprint (CGE-EF) model to assess the impact of different policies on nature. His next project will be building a platform to connect interdisciplinary scholars and leaders in Asian regions that are facing sustainability challenges. He holds an M.S. in Economics, specializing in Environmental Economics, from Okinawa International University, Japan.
Nicole Grunewald, Ph.D. Nicole Grunewald, Ph.D. Research Economist Nicole analyzes the effects of economic policies on the Ecological Footprint, specifically for the Mediterranean-MENA program. She focuses on methodological improvements to the Ecological Footprint through Multi-Regional Input-Output modelling. Currently she is working on a Computable General Equilibrium model to assess the impact of economic policies on a country’s Footprint. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, Nicole worked for the IPCC as a chapter scientist for the Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change. She also assessed climate change mitigation projects for the World Bank with an emphasis on Latin America and Asia. Nicole holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Göttingen. She published several articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Ecological Economics. Her major research interests are environmental policy analysis and sustainable development. She was a visiting scholar at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Martin Halle Martin Halle Policy Analyst Martin is Global Footprint Network’s policy analyst. He leads much of the research around the applications of Ecological Footprint accounting in the economic and financial spheres. He is also the coordinator for the organization’s outreach and project development for the Africa region. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, Martin worked for several years in international organizations on issues relating to economic and social development policies, political economy, and international trade with an emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. He has also worked in the private banking sector. Martin holds an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Chris Nelder Chris Nelder Policy Officer As Policy Officer at Global Footprint Network, Chris leads the scenario modeling and capital project decision tool framework known as NPV+. He brings a decade of experience as an energy analyst, journalist and futurist covering the global energy landscape, from fossil fuels to renewables. Chris has authored two books and hundreds of articles about all aspects of energy, and is a seasoned public speaker and media guest. Previously he designed and sold solar PV systems in California after spending 17 years in the software industry, working at dot-coms and powerhouses like Microsoft as a director of product development, engineer and technical writer. Chris is a serial entrepreneur, and started one of the world’s first web sites about environmental and social responsibility (Better World) in 1994. His intellectual adventures in the fields of energy, finance, sustainability, business and technology have given Chris a wide-ranging perspective and professional network that enable him to model the future of humanity in an empirical way and translate the results into an accessible story for policymakers to use to achieve their sustainability goals.
Outreach
Kyle Lemle Kyle Lemle Programs and Impact Manager As Manager of Programs and Impact, Kyle oversees monitoring and evaluation across the organization, in addition to working on partnerships, strategic planning and global outreach. Over the past five years, Kyle has specialized in participatory natural resource governance and the empowerment of local knowledge in international environmental policy processes. Kyle conducted fieldwork in the Kingdom of Bhutan for his senior honors thesis for Brown University on the translation of local, spiritual and scientific systems of knowledge in Bhutan’s community forestry program. He was invited to present his research to various government officials and academic institutions across Bhutan, Thailand and the USA. Kyle continued his work on community forestry in a research position at RECOFTC - The Center for People and Forests in Bangkok, Thailand, where he wrote and produced various publications, including a five-country study on “Community Forestry and Climate Change Adaptation in Asia Roadmaps to 2020” and “Local Knowledge and REDD+ in the Asia Pacific.”
Ingrid Heinrich Ingrid Heinrich Euro-Mediterranean Program Associate Ms. Heinrich supports the Director of Mediterranean Programme in the implementation of the defined work plan. She holds an MA in International Relations from the Trento Graduate School of International Studies in Italy and a BA in Intercultural European and American Studies from the Martin Luther University Halle/Wittenberg in Germany. She worked as Resident Coordinator and Student Advisor for Kent State University in Geneva and as Human Resource, Marketing Support Officer for a Tourist Resort in Venice, Italy. Previously, she interned for the Inter-Agency Affairs Division at the UN World Food Programme in Geneva, for the Permanent Representation of Germany to FAO and other International Organizations in Rome, for the Permanent Representation of Saxony Anhalt and Valencia to the EU in Brussels. Finally, she worked supporting a Member of the Green Party in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Phillip Fullon Phillip Fullon Asia Region Coordinator Phillip supports Global Footprint Network’s engagements in Asia, and helps establish new partnerships in the Region. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, Phillip was Chief of Staff to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection (OPAEP) in the Philippines, where he focused on the government’s mining reform policy. He was also Head of Secretariat of the Technical Working Group for Environmental Protection and Legislation of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), in which he worked with the team which consolidated the maps of areas closed and open to mining applications in the Philippines. In addition, he liaised with Congress on mining related legislation to be looked into by the Executive Branch. In 2013, he worked with OPAEP and its partner organizations in providing transitional housing for typhoon Haiyan refugees in the province of Northern Leyte. Phillip’s other projects include working on Environmental Accounting and Valuation initiatives of the government, such as the Philippine Ecological Footprint Report with Global Footprint Network and the World Bank’s Wealth Accounting and Valuation for Ecosystem Services (WAVES) study in the Laguna Lake Basin.
External Affairs
Diane Stark Diane Stark Fundraising Manager Diane brings more than 20 years of experience in fundraising, government funding, granting, and environmental and infrastructure policy to her position as Global Footprint Network’s fundraising manager. She has raised several million dollars in funds to preserve a public trail in Connecticut; protect land and endangered species throughout the US for National Audubon Society; restore creeks in California; and create alternative and affordable transportation options in Alameda County, Calif. As an urban and transportation planner for Alameda County, Diane managed more than $25 million in sustainable and affordable transportation projects and programs. At San Francisco Foundation, she wrote $6 million in grant proposals for sustainable housing and community building in San Francisco’s most impoverished neighborhoods. Diane earned her graduate degree in environmental studies and urban planning at Yale.
Leticia Figueroa Leticia Figueroa External Affairs Associate Leticia supports Global Footprint Network’s fundraising and outreach activities. She holds a master’s degree in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Basel, Switzerland, with minors in Spanish Linguistics and International Law. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, Leticia worked within the programs team at IDEX, a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, alongside urban and rural community members to encourage the sustainable use of resources, women’s skill-building and social economies. While in graduate school, Leticia enjoyed her research assistant role at the Museum of Cultures in the Sociocultural Anthropology Institute in Basel, Switzerland. Also during that time, she worked at Nouvelle Planète, a Swiss NGO, where she participated in establishing a vocational school in Madagascar. A native of Argentina, Leticia is fluent in Spanish, German, English, French, Italian and Swiss German.
Operations
Kamila Kennedy Kamila Kennedy Office Manager, Oakland Kamila processes accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll as well as providing general office management and organizational skills. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, she was Office Manager and Sales Manager for Wood Heat Stoves & Solar consulting on the purchase and installation of alternative energy products through their local office and website. Her sales, bookkeeping and creative skills were also utilized at LasersandLights.com where she consulted on commercial, residential and event effect lighting purchase and installations.
Jason Ortego Jason Ortego Program Manager Jason oversees project development and manages projects across all offices at Global Footprint Network. His background is in natural resource management and environmental policy. Prior to joining Global Footprint Network, he was research associate and project manager for the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources at the National Academy of Sciences. He also managed research grants at the University of California Office of the President. He holds an M.A. in international affairs from the George Washington University and a B.A. in English from Louisiana State University.
Helena Brykarz Helena Brykarz Human Resources Manager Helena has several years of experience successfully recruiting senior management staff for NGOs around the world. She has also consulted for foundations focusing on the environment and social entrepreneurship. Previously, Helena was the Programs Manager for UNEP’s World Environment Day in San Francisco. As Program Executive for the Goldman Environmental Foundation, Helena helped develop the world’s largest international prize for grassroots environmentalists. She researched and promoted hundreds of environmental leaders around the world. She also awarded grants through the Goldman Fund, including a human rights and environment initiative she created. Helena is a co-founder of Rainforest Alliance as well. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo and later worked on Peace Corps staff as a recruiter and administrator. Helena earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Russian Studies from the University of Rochester. She is certified as a Global Professional in Human Resources.
Frank Thompson Frank Thompson Accounting Manager Frank Thompson has extensive experience working with nonprofits. Most recently he worked at Building Futures with Women and Children as director of finance and administration. He previously served as the controller for the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. Frank has a B.S. in finance from San Francisco State University and a certificate in baking and pastry from the California Culinary Academy.
Information Technology
Robert Williams Robert Williams IT Manager Robert Williams manages the Global Footprint Network computer network and IT department and is responsible for the computer programming that is required to calculate the National Footprint Accounts. He is also responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of the database systems, which hold the National Footprint Accounts data. Robert has a broad background in programming, database management and systems administration. He is also the owner of Cosmetto, an information technology (IT) consulting company, that provides custom IT services to small businesses in the Bay Area. Robert has certificates in Java and C++ programming from the University of California Santa Cruz and a B.S. in Computer Information Systems (summa cum laude) from Excelsior College.
Research Affiliates
Muhamed Catic Muhamed Catic Strategic Advisor Muhamed is a strategic advisor, with a strong interest in sustainability and long-standing business experience in the Mediterranean Region, Asia and Africa. He is currently the Group Director of IFFCO, a business based in Dubai that manufactures and markets consumer products. Muhamed also serves as a strategic advisor to Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute in San Francisco. He is a former member of the Advisory Council of Sheikh Mohammed Technology Park in Dubai, a former member of the Advisory Council of the UCLA Institute for Strategic Studies’ Center for Middle East Development and a former member of the Executive Committee of EAN-international (Int’l Article Numbering Association). His expertise lies in international business development, innovation and technology management, and international public relations. Muhamed received his BS from University of Sarajevo in theoretical mathematics and his MS from the University of Zagreb in information technology. He is also an alumnus of the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Martin Kärcher Martin Kärcher Advisor, Global Footprint Network Martin is a seasoned architect and international development specialist. He has a degree in architecture and a post-graduate degree in international development cooperation, both from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. After 10 years of architecture practice as a partner in “Architekturgenossenschaft Bauplan” in Zürich, Martin led for two years the Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln Technology Transfer Programme in Kathmandu, Nepal, a programme to promote energy and environmental efficient brick production. His professional focus now is sustainable urbanism. He works for a leading urban engineering company in Switzerland.
Steven Goldfinger, Ph.D. Steven Goldfinger, Ph.D. Steve helps build coalitions to develop new applications of the Ecological Footprint, provide strategic direction for Global Footprint Network and offer quality assurance for projects. Steve was formerly a Global Footprint Network Senior Scientist. Before joining Global Footprint Network, he helped establish The Natural Step US, an NGO focused on socio-ecological sustainability, and served as its Director of Education. He has also worked with Second Nature, an NGO promoting environmental literacy and the greening of operations in higher education. Steve’s doctorate in psychology at Cornell University emphasized an ecological approach to perception and cognition.
Juan Carlos Morales, Ph.D. Juan Carlos Morales, Ph.D. Juan Carlos Morales formerly led Global Footprint Network’s Research & Standards department and engagements with Latin America. Prior to his work with Global Footprint Network, he spent three years in the California State University system as a senior research administrator. He was program director at the United States National Science Foundation, overseeing the Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories program for the Division of Environmental Biology, as well as an Associate Research Scientist and Adjunct Faculty at Columbia University’s Center for Environmental Research and Conservation in New York City. His educational achievements include a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Biology from Angelo State University, and a B.S. in Biology from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. He has published more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals, served as a mentor for several undergraduate and graduate students, and lectured at the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University.
Joy Larson Joy Larson Scientific Advisor Joy Larson is pursuing her graduate studies at Columbia University in NY. Prior she served Global Footprint Network on staff as a Senior Project Manager in the Applications department. Before coming to Global Footprint Network, she served as an auditor of environmental attributes of manufactured commodities. She has also served as a consultant to Superfund Site liability analysis and conducted water quality research in relation to steelhead habitat restoration and agricultural run-off for various agencies of the state of California. She holds a BS in Earth System Science and Policy from CSU Monterey Bay with an emphasis in Watershed Systems.
Justin Kitzes, Ph.D. Justin Kitzes, Ph.D. Adjunct Senior Scientist Justin is a post-doc at the University of California, Berkeley, and the former Manager of the Research and Standards Department. He continues to contribute to methodological research in Ecological Footprint accounting, including the development of the National Footprint Accounts and the Footprint Standards. Justin holds an M.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University.
Willy De Backer Willy De Backer Willy is an independent journalist/consultant who specializes in global energy, environment and sustainability policies. Willy was Chief Editor and Co-founder of the EU online policy portal EurActiv.com from 1999 until end of May 2007. Willy is a frequent speaker and moderator for conferences on EU policies (especially energy, environment, climate change, sustainable development and CSR) and on Internet media and citizens’ journalism. Before getting into online journalism and becoming an Internet entrepreneur, Willy worked for nearly 10 years in the European Parliament as an MEP assistant and staff member for IT. From 1984 until 1989, he was one of the Secretaries-General of the Federation of European Green Parties. As of January 2008, Willy has served as the part-time director of the European office of Global Footprint Network. In his spare time, he runs a widely read Internet blog called 3EIntelligence, where he comments and reports on the latest developments in the areas of energy, the environment and the economy.
Bonnie McBain (née Lauck), Ph.D. Bonnie McBain (née Lauck), Ph.D. Bonnie is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where she is developing an Ecological Footprint methodology with which to compare alternative future Footprint scenarios using the temporal evaluation of multi-regional input-output data. The outcome of the research, which is carried out in partnership with Global Footprint Network, the University of Sydney, the University of Newcastle and a number of Australian state government partners, will inform policy makers as to the most effective approach to reducing Ecological Footprints. She also worked with EPA Victoria, Global Footprint Network and the University of Sydney to calculate the Footprint for the state of Victoria. Bonnie holds a Ph.D. in environmental science from the University of Tasmania.
Dan Moran, Ph.D. Dan Moran, Ph.D. Dan Moran is the former Director of the National Accounts Program at Global Footprint Network. He is currently at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) with a research interest in the economic analysis of ecological constraints. Previously Dan was a Senior Analyst (Capital Goods sector) with MSCI in New York. Dan holds a BA in Philosophy, an M.Sc. in environmental economics from Lund University in Sweden and a PhD from the School of Physics at The University of Sydney.
Alfonso Peña Alfonso Peña Juan Alfonso, Senior Associate, Latin American Initiatives, leads Global Footprint Network’s Latin American Footprint applications. He is an accomplished architect and has also worked in the areas of sustainable development, appropriate technologies and community participation projects. He has collaborated with Ecuador’s national housing agency, the United Nations Center for the Human Settlements (UNCHS), and has held a private practice. He is also a founding member of two non-profit organizations: Fundación Terra which is advancing sustainable development of communities bordering the ecological reserve 'Cayambe-Coca', and Fundación Acuerdo Ecuador which is developing democratic citizen participation to inform governments from the ground up.
Yoshihiko Wada, Ph.D. Yoshihiko Wada, Ph.D. Yoshihiko Wada is Associate Professor of Ecological Economics at Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. He is also Executive Director of Ecological Footprint Japan. Yoshihiko completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, under the supervision of Professor William Rees.
Paul Wermer, Ph.D. Paul Wermer, Ph.D. Paul started working with Global Footprint Network after 15 years at Intel, where he managed materials development programs and technical supply chains, and was co-inventor on six patents. Paul’s environmental projects at Intel included identifying replacement materials for ozone depleting substances, reducing global warming gas emissions and developing chip packages compliant with lead-free and halogen-free requirements. He is a member of the AIChE Sustainable Engineering Forum. Paul holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati.
Gemma Cranston, Ph.D. Gemma Cranston, Ph.D. Scientific Advisor Gemma now works for Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Previously, she led projects for Global Footprint Network out of the Geneva office and supported the organization’s Research and Standards Department by contributing to research on the Ecological Footprint methodology, projects and applications. Gemma completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath, UK. She completed her Masters of Aerospace Engineering in 2006 from the same institution. Her research areas include ecological and carbon footprints, assessing the determinants behind the footprint and studying the differences between high-income and low income countries.
David Zimmerman David Zimmerman Research Analyst Prior to Global Footprint Network, David worked as a software consultant, managing custom development and integration for a multi-asset accounting platform. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Earth Systems from Stanford University.