Gary Lawrence, Principal Global Leader for Sustainable Urban Development, Arup

Gary Lawrence leads the consulting practice in the firms Seattle, USA office. Arup is a firm of 7000 engineers, designers, planners, and scientists helping shape a better built environment throughout the world from 82 offices in 35 countries on 5 continents. He helps public sector, private sector and non-profit organizations achieve success in both their terms and in societys terms through integration of sustainable principals and practices into their plans, strategies, products and services.

Prior to joining Arup he was President of Sustainable Strategies and Solutions, Inc., a firm that assisted international organizations and national government agencies with institutional and political change toward more sustainable public policy. Before creating this firm he directed the Center for Sustainable Communities in the University of Washingtons College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Before joining the University he worked in local government as Planning Director for the City of Seattle, CAO of Redmond, WA and Chief of Staff for the Snohomish County (WA) Executive.

Gary is an invited speaker and lecturer in North America, Europe and Latin America on topics related to sustainable development, the politics of change, corporate social responsibility and urban planning. He was honored to serve as a member of the United States Delegation to Habitat II, as Senior Policy Advisor to the Global Environment Center for US Agency for International Development and as Scientist-in-Residence at the University of Essen, Germany.

He is a member of the National Smart Growth Council, Advisory Committee for the UN Best Practices Centre, Deans Advisory Committee for the College of Agriculture and Landscape at the University of British Columbia, and Advisory Committee for the Center for Small Business and the Environment in addition to other voluntary roles. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Huxley College of Environmental Studies at Western Washington University.