ABOUT INSTITUTE BOARD & PRINCIPALS

Hillary Senior Fellow:

Matt Petersen

CEO and President of Global Green (USA) Petersen has been honoured with a two year appointment to work with the Institute internationally as an ambassador for the Institute’s search for exceptional leadership, targeting effective entrepre-neurial climate leaders at the midpoint of.their careers who have and are making a profound difference.

Petersen has designed and led Global Green USA, the only national environmental organization headquartered in greater Los Angeles, with a social entrepreneurial approach since 1994. He has helped develop and guide its growing programs of eliminating weapons of mass destruction; fighting climate change; promoting green building and renewable energy; and ensuring access to clean water for all of humanity.

Petersen is a representative to the Council of GCI, and Chairs the GCI Energy and Resource Efficiency Program. In the aftermath of the Gulf Coast hurricanes, he put forth a vision and mobilized resources to create the Global Green "Healthy Homes and Smart Neighborhoods" initiative which includes: the New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition with Jury Chair Brad Pitt resulting in the construction of the Holy Cross Project; the NOLA Green Schools Initiative funded by the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund; and work with Habitat for Humanity throughout the Gulf Coast to create more energy efficient housing.

Petersen has created two annual environmental awards programs - often presented with Mikhail Gorbachev - entitled the Millennium Awards, held in Los Angeles, and the Designing A Sustainable World Awards, held in New York City. He is an advisor to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and a Member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. He serves on the City of Santa Monica Environmental Task Force, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) advisory board and the Automotive X Prize Advisory Board.