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July 23, 2020

Introducing Anthony Hickling

Managing Director, Carbon Leadership Forum, University of Washington

Anthony Hickling has experience in environmental and social sustainability as well as nonprofit management and fundraising. His foundations in sustainable building are informed by experience at Presidio Graduate School where he received an MBA in Sustainable Solutions, as well as his work on the sustainability team at Webcor Builders in San Francisco. Through academic and professional experience he has learned to navigate the priorities of traditional business stakeholders while incorporating social and environmental externalities. From executing successful marketing plans to determining research priorities, Anthony believes that wide impact considerations and diversity of thought should be embedded into all decision-making.

by Anthony Hickling

As a child I wanted to be an architect. I drew floor plans, toured open houses (still do), and loved getting lost in the details of a space. As I grew and learned what a significant impact buildings have on exacerbating climate change, I decided that making the building sector more sustainable would be my top priority. It fuels my passion for working in and around the built environment while also supporting a crucial movement towards sustainability.

In 2018 my commitment to sustainability led me to Presidio Graduate School (PGS) where I cultivated best practices for operating businesses that support people, profit, and the planet. From finance and operations to marketing and fundraising, I learned to navigate the priorities of traditional business stakeholders while bringing a systems perspective that incorporates social and environmental externalities. I utilized these lessons while working as an MBA consultant to support projects to establish sustainability tracking systems, improve operational efficiency, and build evidence-based marketing plans.

“I ardently believe in building meaningful relationships in order to achieve success as changemakers. I also believe that diversity of thought and experience is crucial to successful change-making.”

Throughout my time at PGS I focused on the built environment. Eventually, I began an internship on the sustainability team at Webcor, a general contractor and Carbon Leadership Forum partner in San Francisco. There, I supported the sustainability team to improve greenhouse gas tracking systems, pilot the EC3 tool (Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator), support LEED documentation, and implement internal sustainability practices.

Outside of the sustainable building space, most of my professional background is in nonprofit development and community engagement. From this experience, I ardently believe in building meaningful relationships in order to achieve success as changemakers. I also believe that diversity of thought and experience is crucial to successful change-making. As the next Managing Director of the Carbon Leadership Forum, I look forward to collaborating with our deep and specialized member network  – as well as building new alliances – so that we may continue to unite our resources and drive equitable change to achieve our mission.

More about my personal background: I grew up in the Bay Area and have spent most of my adult life living in Santa Barbara, California. As I settle into life in the Pacific Northwest, I’m looking forward to trading tacos and palm trees for plentiful coffee and greener outdoor spaces. In my free time, I like to cycle, hike, rock climb, and surf (which will likely now be replaced by snowboarding — sorry skiers!). If we haven’t already met, please feel encouraged to reach out. And for Seattleites, once it’s safer to meet in person I’d love to chat embodied carbon over a beverage, or maybe while spending some time outside. I look forward to joining the community and hope to connect soon!

Email Anthony: [email protected]
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Anthony Hickling

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