Sustainability Success Stories: Women at the Forefront Alumni Panel

This panel will feature accomplished women alumni who have blazed trails in the sustainability arena. Their experience, expertise, and success stories will inspire and empower fellow alumnae, current students, and aspiring professionals.

What to Expect:

-Panelists will discuss their sustainability journey, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the path to success.
-They will share insights and strategies for lasting impact in sustainability and related fields.
-Networking opportunities with fellow panelists and attendees.

REGISTER HERE

Meet the moderator and panelists:

Moderator: Nurit Katz, MPP and MBA ’08

UCLA’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Nurit Katz, is working to foster partnerships among academic, research, and operational departments to facilitate the creation of a world-class living laboratory for sustainability at UCLA. Nurit also served as Executive Officer for UCLA Facilities Management for six years and is an Instructor for UCLA Extension’s Sustainability Certificate Program. She also serves as Commissioner on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board. Nurit holds an MBA and a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and a BA in Environmental Education from Humboldt State University and is pursuing a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Panelists:

Daniela Simunovic, MURP ’13

Daniela Simunovic is a recognized leader with 20 years of experience developing programs and policies to advance social, economic and environmental equity. Daniela currently serves as the Senior Director of Climate and Sustainability in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, where she supports the implementation of the Mayor’s climate and sustainability goals. Simunovic previously served as a Senior Advisor on Environmental Equity to the California Air Resources Board Chair. Prior to that, Daniela was a Senior Policy Director at Better World Group. At the California Strategic Growth Council, Daniela led the development and implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program, a place-based initiative focused on investing in the State’s most vulnerable communities. As Deputy Director of Environmental Health and Justice at the Liberty Hill Foundation, she supported adopting and implementing the “Clean Up Green Up” ordinance. Daniela received her Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Holli Fajack, MURP ’14

Holli Fajack has a diverse background with experience in environmental education, policy analysis, sustainability consulting, communications and media, and fine art. As the Sustainability Manager at CSU Long Beach, Holli is responsible for implementing, developing, and coordinating campus sustainability practices and programs and engaging students, faculty and staff in those efforts. Holli’s previous positions include Policy Analyst for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Budget and Innovation, Student Program Director at the environmental education non-profit Sustainable Works, and Project Assistant at the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Holli has a Master’s degree in urban and regional planning from UCLA and a BFA in photography from The College of Santa Fe. Holli is motivated by her desire to develop smart environmental policies and programs that can make communities healthier and more resilient and empower people to become agents for positive change.

Kristen Torres Pawling, MURP ’12 : Bio Coming Soon