Kathleen O'Brien

Founder, Special Projects Consultant

Certifications

Certified Sustainable Building Advisor
LEED Accredited Professional

Concentrations & Specialties

Visioning, program and policy development, training and education

Speaking Topics

• Leadership For a Sustainable Society
  
• Green Jobs & Education
  
• Sustainability Policies and Strategies
  
• Sustainable Building Industry Retrospective: How Did We Get Here? How do We Go Further?
  
• The Case for Integrative Design

Bio

Kathleen is a nationally recognized leader in the field of sustainability, having been in the field as a writer, educator, strategic planner, and project consultant for nearly 25 years. Kathleen is a LEED Accredited Professional, a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, and earned her Masters at Antioch University in Environment and Community. Her book, The Northwest Green Home Primer (Timberpress) is her first full-length publication aimed at the layperson. Kathleen’s forte is to distill abstract concepts into meaningful ideas you can put into practice.

Awards

• BetterBricks Award, "Advocate" (2011)
  
• Antioch University Distinguished Alumna (2009)
• Cascadia Region Green Building Council "Cascadia Fellow" a lifetime achievement award (2008)
• Kitsap County Earth Day Award for Environmental Leadership (2007)
• Sustainable Seattle’s Outstanding Leadership Award (2006)
• Kitsap County YWCA Woman of Achievement (2001)

Books on my desk

"Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership," by Sipe and Frick

Favorite personal sustainability strategy

Walking to work from my Built Green home on Bainbridge Island to our downtown Seattle office

Best green advice

Less is more, free is better, know what you're getting, and have fun!