Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has appointed Ben Sullivan as the new executive director and chief resilience officer for the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency. Sullivan, who had previously served as the deputy director for the office, replaced Matthew Gonser, who stepped down due to family reasons.
Sullivan brings with him a wealth of experience, having worked as an energy program manager and sustainability coordinator in Kauai. He holds a degree in environmental design from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In his new role, Sullivan expressed his dedication to building resilience to climate impacts and advancing towards a cleaner and more affordable energy future for the residents of Oahu.
Meanwhile, Gonser, the outgoing chief resilience officer, will be transitioning to work with the Los Angeles Chief Sustainability Office, continuing his work in the field of resilience and sustainability. Blangiardi commended Gonser for his dedication and passion in laying a solid foundation for the city to prepare for climate change risks.
Blangiardi praised Sullivan for his leadership, knowledge, and vision, expressing confidence in his ability to continue the work put in motion by Gonser over the past four years. Sullivan stated that he is honored to work for Mayor Blangiardi and looks forward to collaborating with the talented team and community partners to create a more resilient future for Oahu.
Source
Photo credit spectrumlocalnews.com