National Sustainability Conference

Sara Neff is the Head of ESG, Lendlease Americas, where she provides leadership and management oversight in developing, implementing and driving Lendlease's corporate sustainability framework in the Americas region, with the goal of achieving absolute zero carbon across all scopes by 2040. Prior to that role, she served as Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation. Ms. Neff was instrumental in the architecture, initiation and execution of Kilroy’s sustainability program. Under her leadership, Kilroy has been recognized as a leader among publicly traded real estate companies on sustainability in the Americas by GRESB for seven of the last eight years and achieved carbon neutral operations at the end of 2020. She is a LEED Fellow and holds a BS from Stanford and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

With a dual background in architecture and engineering, Sadaf Jafari adds immense value and structure to SGA’s robust sustainable design practice. Eager to further engage clients, colleagues, and industry partners on the importance of sustainability in all aspects of our work, her collaborative approach consistently fosters forward-thinking solutions that help plan, design, and implement high performance, low-energy facilities featuring decarbonization, electrification, and resiliency. Sadaf’s expertise ensures that conversations around sustainability help guide project stakeholders from the very beginning. Responsible for identifying the intersections between sustainability initiatives and programming needs, Sadaf works in harmony with architecture, interior design, engineering, and client teams to improve their holistic understanding of sustainable design before laying out a comprehensive action plan custom-fit to their unique requirements. Throughout her career, Sadaf has stacked up an impressive list of professional accomplishments, including but not limited to: implementing a streamlined process to enable sustainable integration from the start, deploying millions of square feet of Carbon Neutral projects, consulting on the retrofit and connection of a collegiate building to a new geothermal plant, and having managed three major hospital projects with the goal of converting to Carbon Neutrality by 2035. What Sadaf enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to implement advanced sustainability solutions at scale. She believes that a reduction in environmental impact should be an inherent part of every design. She is particularly interested in advocating for the concept of sustainable master planning which has an impact on a grander scale; helping organizations and entire communities take meaningful action on their carbon emissions commitments. Sadaf obtained a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design from The University of Cambridge as well as a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Shahid Beheshti (Melli) University. Passionate about continued education, Sadaf is consistently seeking out opportunities to exchange relevant industry knowledge that helps to ensure a cutting-edge, up-to-date approach to these efforts. Sadaf frequently attends national conferences, local sustainability community gatherings, participates in webinars, and stays up-to- date with innovative sustainable solutions by studying successful projects from across the globe (particularly in Europe). Additionally, Sadaf is an active member of both the U.S. Green Building Council and PHIUS. As a complement to her professional passions, Sadaf is often found exploring nature and believes that traveling refreshes her spirit. She loves to work with her hands, and is constantly designing or making new things. Recently beginning home renovations, Sadaf has found great joy in the process–solving the associated challenges for which she has an unconventional perspective.

Vicki Worden serves as President and CEO of the Green Building Initiative, an international nonprofit dedicated to reducing climate impacts by improving the built environment. She is co-author of Greener Data, a best selling book on Amazon that launched on April 22, 2022. She is the former chair of the National Institute of Building Sciences Consultative Council, which unifies the codes development and building industry and communicates to the U.S. Congress and Administration on commercial building priorities. She also serves as a judge of the U.S. DOE's Solar Decathlon. As a sustainability pro and entrepreneur, Worden has advanced objectives within a range of industries, including solar, wind, parking, furniture, mattress, composites, wood products and rainwater harvesting. During her tenure at GBI, she led this start-up organization into a thriving community that supports integration of sustainability and net zero, health and wellness, and resilience objectives throughout some of the largest real estate portfolios in the world. Through its Green Globes and federal Guiding Principles Compliance programs, GBI will have certified half a billion square feet of commercial and multifamily building space in North America and beyond during 2022. Worden holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and she is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management. She lives in Camden, Maine, where she feeds her soul with an abundance of hiking, skiing, swimming, and outdoor activities along with her husband and dogs. Learn more about the Green Building Initiative at thegbi.org, and connect with Worden on LinkedIn, Twitter, or via email at vworden@thegbi.org.

Joshua Soble is the Director of Business Development for Celsius Energy in the northeast US where he facilitates the deployment of Celsius’ innovative geothermal heating; cooling solution on both existing building retrofit projects and new construction developments to reduce carbon emissions, minimize operational expenses, and optimize property operations. Prior to joining Celsius Energy, Josh spent his career developing a range of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects including solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, cogeneration systems, HVAC overhauls, real time energy management (RTEM) building monitoring and controls solutions, green building certifications (LEED, EGC, Passive House etc.), and more. In his early career, Josh worked at leading renewable energy trade associations in Washington, DC including SEIA (the Solar Energy Industries Association), The Solar Foundation, and the American Biogas Council. Josh has a B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Michigan and lives with his wife in NYC.

I am an investment management executive, with a specialization in private markets and have led transactions in the U.S. Europe and Africa. Over the last 7+ years, I have found ways to use my financial skill set to help others while generating financial returns and have done so in both the private and public sectors. I am currently responsible for leading the Social Impact & Sustainability investment efforts at a ~$20 billion private equity firm, building an investment platform across real estate, private equity and venture capital with the aim of achieving triple bottom line (i.e. ESG) goals. Previously, I built one of the only direct investing platforms within a development finance institution in the country. Utilizing tax incentives, debt, equity, and other innovative financing structures, we showed that government can make socially impactful investments - helping millions of people, while generating attractive returns for the City of New York. We are in an interesting time, where many are thinking about how finance can play a role in addressing global challenges, and I feel privileged to have a voice in that conversation.

David directs acquisitions, entitlements, project financing, and development of Alloy’s projects.

As Northeast Leader of NFP’s Construction & Infrastructure Group – Tom is responsible for assisting in the developing and implementation of the strategy, operations, and the deployment of NFP’s resources for contractors and developers. Prior to joining NFP, Tom established the New York Construction Team for Lockton Companies Northeast Series. Where he oversaw the brokering and account management for his contractor (civil and commercial), subcontractor and developer clients which included renewable and project specific placements. In addition, he coordinated the hiring and management of the account, loss control and claims team members. Tom also spent time leading the Builders Risk team for the Northeast while working for Aon and was a construction placement specialist at Willis of New York. Tom has participated in speaking engagements on topics ranging from emerging trends, risk management and risk transfer within the New York construction and infrastructure sector. Tom maintains his property and casualty licenses across the US and has also received his Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) from the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) As well as the Associate in Risk Management (ARM). Tom holds an BA in Communications from the Quinnipiac University.

Ben Myers is the Senior Vice President, Sustainability, at Boston Properties (BXP), the largest publicly-traded developer, owner and manager of Class A office properties in the United States. He is an engineer and non-routine project manager with a passion for resource efficiency, healthy workspaces and urban ecosystems. His primary responsibilities include ESG strategy and implementation, enterprise energy and water management, green building initiatives, distributed generation and storage, energy conservation measure implementation, resilience planning, education, communication and public reporting. He holds an M.A. in Urban Environmental Leadership from Lesley University and a B.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Under Mr. Myers’ leadership, BXP has been recognized as an industry leader in ESG and sustainability. • In 2019, BXP ranked among the top 4% of all real estate companies in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (“GRESB”) assessment. 2019 was the eighth consecutive year that BXP has ranked in the top quartile of GRESB assessment participants, earning another “Green Star” recognition and the highest GRESB 5-star Rating. • In 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, BXP was selected by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) as a Leader in the Light Award winner. In 2019, BXP earned the “Most Innovative” Leader in the Light Award. This award is given to only one company and is the highest achievement in sustainability innovation for all REITs and real estate companies. • BXP is a corporate member of the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC) and has a long history of owning, developing and operating properties that are certified under USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignTM (LEED®) rating system. The company has LEED certified over 26 million square feet of our portfolio, of which 93% is certified at the highest Gold and Platinum levels. • BXP has been an active participant in the green bond market since 2018, issuing $1.85 billion of green bonds, which provide access to sustainability-focused investors interested in the positive environmental externalities of our business activities. • BXP has been named a Green Lease Leader at the highest Gold level by the Institute for Market Transformation and the U.S. Department of Energy for exhibiting a strong commitment to high performance and sustainability in buildings and best practices in leasing. BXP’s master lease form includes green lease clauses that support a more sustainable tenant-landlord relationship. • Since adopting public goals in 2016, the company has made great strides towards meeting its targets to reduce energy use intensity by 32%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% and reduce water use intensity by 30% by the year 2025. The company achieved its 45% greenhouse gas emissions intensity goal six years early in 2019 and advanced our commitment to responsible climate action measures by pursuing the adoption of a science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. • As a result of BXP’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions, the company was named a 2020 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. • BXP was named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek. The company ranked 122nd on Newsweek’s 2020 list of America’s 300 Most Responsible Companies, the second highest ranking given to a public REIT and the highest ranking of any office company.

Gautami Palanki is Senior Vice President, ESG Strategy for Howard Hughes, responsible for advancing the organization’s commitment to responsible development and operations and setting the strategy across the company’s national portfolio of large-scale master planned communities (MPCs) and mixed-use properties. Gautami joined Howard Hughes in 2021, bringing over fifteen years of global experience at the intersection of real estate, sustainability, and technology, in both private and non-profit organizations. Gautami has keynoted talks and led workshops to audiences in more than 20 countries and volunteers as a subject matter expert with industry think tanks. A Licensed Architect and LEED Fellow, Gautami holds a B. Arch from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India and M.S. in Sustainable Design from Carnegie Mellon University.

Morris F. DeFeo, Jr. is a partner and chair of Herrick’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on domestic and international capital markets, corporate finance and M&A transactions, and corporate governance and compliance counseling for boards, committees and directors of public and private companies and not-for-profit entities. Morris advises public and private corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), private equity firms and funds, venture and hedge funds, private investment funds and other clients in U.S. and cross-border joint ventures and strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, consolidations, asset and stock acquisitions and dispositions, all aspects of private equity and venture capital fund transactions and public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, including initial public offerings and shelf-registered offerings, Rule 144A high-yield debt offerings and exchange listings. Morris provides counsel to fund sponsors and investors on a range of investment activities including fund formation, structuring arrangements, senior and mezzanine debt, distressed investments, syndications, leveraged buyouts, majority and minority stake investments, sales and divestitures as well as exit strategies. He also advises clients on compliance with the registration, proxy solicitation and periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. securities laws, and the complex requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, such as those related to section 404 internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and governance. Morris has advised clients, including start-ups and emerging growth companies in the U.S., the Middle East/North Africa, Europe, India and the Far East, which have operated in a range of sectors, including defense, automotive, energy, information technology, manufacturing and telecommunications. Earlier in his career, Morris served as executive vice president of corporate and international transactions for CAIS Internet, a Nasdaq-listed Internet access solutions company. In that capacity, he helped build out CAIS's deployment in Asia, Australia and Europe through merger and acquisition transactions, joint ventures and strategic relationships with foreign telecom, infrastructure, equipment and hospitality companies in 16 countries. From 1990 to 1991, Morris worked as a foreign visiting attorney in the law firm of Yuasa and Hara in Tokyo, Japan.

A sustainable design expert with research focused on modeling and analyzing building energy use patterns at an urban scale, Carlos has served as KPF’s Environmental Design Director since 2018. Carlos leads the Environmental Performance team (KPFep), closely collaborating with teams across the firm’s global network to establish sustainability benchmarks and workflows that ensure the firm’s projects support KPF’s environmental mission. As Head of Sustainability, Carlos manages firm-wide initiatives aimed to minimize the environmental impact of KPF projects and operations through an “evidence-based” design approach. KPFep develops computational tools to incorporate carbon, energy, thermal, and daylight modeling in the development of every design. At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s new campus in Guangzhou, Carlos led the development of the sustainability vision for the project, collaborating with the design and technical teams to inform the planning of a climate-ready, live-work campus. HKUST(GZ) is designed to be net-zero carbon by 2050 and promotes resiliency through flood prevention and wetland protection. Before joining KPF, Carlos worked as an Instructor and Research Scientist with the Sustainable Design Lab at MIT, focusing on the application of energy simulation and uncertainty analysis at an urban scale in collaboration with municipalities such as Boston, Chicago, Lisbon, and Kuwait City. In Carlos’s published scientific research, Boston served as the test case for the development of one of the first citywide Urban Building Energy Models (UBEM), which allowed to estimate the energy use of over 80,000 buildings to help inform local energy policy. As an instructor associated with the Center for Real Estate (CRE) at MIT, Carlos teaches environmental design to architecture, planning, and real estate students. His research work has been published in multiple scientific journals such as Energy and Buildings and Building and Environment.

Adam Shelly is Project Development Director with Ecosystem, based in New York City. He works at the intersection of sustainability and technical innovation, bringing together energy expertise and knowledge of the NYC energy landscape to identify potential infrastructure modernization that addresses both asset renewal priorities and carbon reduction mandates. He also serves as a key member of NYSERDA's Technical Advisory team for the Empire Building Challenge, which provides $50 million to a group of leading building owners to test innovative new green retrofit solutions. Adam is a P.E. in several states, a C.E.M. and a licensed electrical contractor. He has an MS in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

Douglas Hayden boasts an impressive track record spanning over 20 years in both the Commercial and Residential real estate sectors. Alongside his team, Doug has successfully executed more than 1,600 transactions, building a reputation for diligence, innovation, and client satisfaction. Before delving into real estate, Doug sharpened his skills in the realm of business development. He held prominent roles at multiple tech startups, all of which were later acquired by industry giants such as Apple, IBM, and British Telecom. Doug's knack for identifying potential and strategically positioning businesses for success was further cemented during his tenure at SMED, an office solutions provider. Here, Doug steered the company towards integration with tech platforms like Cisco Systems, focusing on enhancing office environments with technology-infused solutions for raised flooring, walls, and ceiling systems. SMED was acquired by Hawworth in 2000. In addition to his industry accomplishments, Doug is a distinguished realtor and has been recognized with numerous community support awards throughout his career. Notably, he was part of the pioneering team that established EXP Realty in Canada, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to innovation in the real estate industry. In honor of his service and impact on communities, he is the recipient of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. With his forward-thinking vision and relentless drive, Doug Hayden continues to reshape the landscape of the real estate industry in North America and beyond.

Lionel Foster is an investor at Camber Creek. In his career before Camber Creek, he was a senior communications manager for the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Before joining Urban, Foster was special assistant to the director of the Baltimore City Department of Planning and an opinion columnist with Baltimore City Paper and the Baltimore Sun. An alumnus of Johns Hopkins University’s Writing Seminars program (BA), Foster earned master’s degrees in social policy and planning and regional and urban planning studies at the London School of Economics, as well as a master’s degree in creative and life writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London, during his tenure as a British Marshall Scholar. He is currently completing a JD at Georgetown Law.

Craig is the Co-Founder and CEO of Empowered Buildings, a technology company specializing in building automation systems, energy management, and smart building solutions. Craig has over 20 years of experience in energy, software, and data analytics. He is considered a leading expert in the field of building automation and energy efficiency. Craig founded Empowered Buildings in 2020 with the goal of leveraging data and technology to help owners and operators optimize their building’s performance and reduce energy consumption. Under his leadership, the company has grown rapidly and has worked with a wide range of clients across the real estate market, including affordable and multi-family housing, commercial, industrial, hospitality, healthcare, and educational. Craig holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and currently resides in New York City with his wife and two children.

Accomplished technology strategist and I.T. system’s engineer and sustainability consultant with over 12 years’ experience. I am a Msc. in Sustainability Management graduate (2016) from Columbia University, and have a degree in Computer Science from Kentucky State University (1999). I am continuously learning and developing my brand as a thought leader. Currently working on a couple of industry certifications (CEM, BEMP, EBCP). Volunteer my time on the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson's (HoH) Energy Working Group (EWG) collaborating on the next revision of the HoH Green Building Code, and integrating the 2020 NYStretch Energy Code officially adopted by the Village. NYSERDA has been instrumental in their support to our EWG and the Village Board of Trustees in adopting and overlaying the 2020 NYSTRETCH into our HGBC Develop energy models for new and existing commercial and residential buildings per LEED requirements and energy code compliance. Provide strategic technical advice to owners and landlord focused on deeper energy data analysis, assessment of existing conditions, developing financial due diligence and cost savings based on recommended efficiency upgrades and operational performance enhancements in facilities. I am the Founder and Principal at USL Technology Inc.in 2011 based in NYC. USL is 100% woman-owned and operated, and is New York City and New York State MWBE certified. We are an owner’s representative for commercial, industrial and Government buildings, specializing in sustainable design strategies, energy and water auditing/efficiency, measurement & verification, energy modeling, demand response, NY City local law 84, 85, 87, 88, 95, and 97 compliance and LEED (new and existing building consulting throughout the lifespan of the project. My education and experience have prepared me to manage large projects and teams. Very excited about internet of things/connected systems in the built environment such as BAS, BMS and EMS systems. Applying strategic skills implementing controls, sensors, energy management systems and enabling internet of things in the built environment across departments and disciplines contributing to innovative efficiency and indoor air quality improvement and carbon emission reduction projects. My areas of focus include overall engineering due diligence, technical leadership, vendor relationship management and collaborating with Architects, Lighting MEP engineers. I am very passionate about my work and an absolute team player that is data driven, analytical and a highly efficient problem solver.

Chuck Hurchalla is the president of Evolution Sustainability Group. He has over 30 years of experience in the deregulated energy markets, including natural gas, electricity and petroleum products. He is considered a subject matter expert on hedging strategies and the fundamental and technical drivers of movements in the energy markets, including renewable products. In addition, he has been instrumental in helping clients develop comprehensive energy management solutions that meet or exceed energy efficiency and sustainability goals.

Prior to joining Brightcore Energy as President, Mike enjoyed a successful 15-year professional athletic career for the New York Rangers where he was a three-time NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup Champion. In addition to his success in the NHL, Mike represented the United States on numerous international competitions including three Olympic teams, earning a Silver Medal in 2002 and World Cup Gold in 1996. In 2008, Mike was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame. After retiring from the NHL, Mike enrolled in Yale University and received his degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in Environmental Policy. In 2007, he launched his career in sustainability as a founding partner at Environmental Capital Partners, a $100M Private Equity Fund focused on financing resource efficient companies in the middle market. Four years later, Mike shifted his focus to the project finance space when he created Healthy Planet Partners, LLC., fund that deployed renewable energy technologies in the C&I space in order to reduce both their operating costs and ecological footprint. Over this period, Mike devoted much of his time to a variety of not for profit boards in the sustainable space, collaborated with a number of efforts in the sport and environment space, and earned an Aspen Institute Environmental Fellowship in 2012. In 2016, Mike joined Brightcore Energy as President to help the company in its mission to become a leader in the design, financing, implementation and maintenance of energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy technologies for commercial, industrial and municipal buildings.

Sam Mason has 17 years of experience in sustainable building design, focusing on pragmatic low energy solutions for existing and new construction projects as a design engineer and energy analysis expert. Sam is the Director of Decarbonization and oversees CodeGreen’s Engineering and Commissioning Practices, working with clients to create and implement comprehensive decarbonization solutions. With extensive experience in construction, design engineering, and energy analysis on a wide range of commercial, residential, and industrial projects, his focus is on integrated design and cost-effective solutions to achieving energy efficiency. Sam assists clients through the design process utilizing energy analysis to incorporate energy efficiency into projects. As an expert in energy modeling and energy code compliance, Sam guides project teams through the retrofit and incentive process to provide design assistance and energy analysis for Local Law 87/Law Local 97 compliance, LEED, WELL, and other building certifications. He is also an expert in energy codes and energy code compliance and serves as a member on the ASHRAE 90.1 lighting and power subcommittee. Prior to Code Green, Sam was the Principal and founder of Encompass Energy LLC for six years, working with architects, developers, and owners to utilize energy analysis as a design tool to improve existing building energy performance. Before founding Encompass, Sam worked for Atelier Ten in New York, London, and Doha in the environmental design, engineering, and construction teams, and for Smith and Andersen Footprint in Toronto, in their sustainable buildings practice.