Heather Henriksen

Heather has served as Harvard University’s chief sustainability officer since 2008, advising the President and senior leadership on strategy and building an organizational change initiative that resulted in the University achieving its initial science-based climate goal of a 30% net reduction in emissions. Heather’s office led the creation of Harvard’s comprehensive Sustainability Plan, and now oversees its implementation as well as the implementation of Harvard’s new Climate Action Plan setting fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026 goals. She and her team have expanded a multi-disciplinary living laboratory research program that partners with faculty and students to use the campus as a test bed for piloting and sharing innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. Heather is leading an effort within Harvard, in partnership with the Healthy Buildings Program at the ChanSPH and researchers from HMS and SEAS, as well externally with business and non-profit leaders, including Google, to address health in the built environment. She also advises courses throughout Harvard College and the professional graduate schools, and speaks nationally and internationally on sustainability.

Heather manages external sustainability partnerships with higher education, businesses and government. She is the Advisory Committee Co-Chair of International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN). Heather also serves on the Board of Directors of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative. Heather holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.