Lisa Mc Neilly
About Lisa Mc Neilly
Lisa Mc Neilly serves as the Sustainability Director for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, where she has worked since 2022. With extensive experience in sustainability roles across various organizations, she focuses on educational programs and initiatives to address extreme heat and promote net zero energy planning.
Work at City of Scottsdale
Lisa Mc Neilly serves as the Sustainability Director at the City of Scottsdale, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she leads various sustainability initiatives, including the net zero energy planning initiative. She crafts educational programs aimed at engaging both staff and residents in sustainability efforts. Additionally, she oversees multi-agency planning focused on extreme heat mitigation, which is critical for the local community.
Previous Experience in Sustainability
Prior to her current role, Lisa Mc Neilly worked at the City of Baltimore as the Director of the Office of Sustainability from 2017 to 2022. She has also held significant positions at UC Berkeley as the Director of Sustainability & Energy from 2008 to 2017, and at The Nature Conservancy as the Northern Arizona Program Director from 2006 to 2008. Her extensive experience in sustainability includes working at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Education and Expertise
Lisa Mc Neilly holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Princeton University, where she studied Public Policy. She also earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mathematics from Davidson College. In addition to her formal education, she has participated in professional development programs that enhance her expertise in sustainability and environmental management.
Initiatives and Policies Developed
In her role at the City of Scottsdale, Lisa Mc Neilly has developed a policy known as 'right shade, right tree, right place,' which addresses extreme heat mitigation. This initiative reflects her commitment to creating sustainable urban environments. Her leadership in the net zero energy planning initiative further demonstrates her focus on advancing sustainability goals within the community.
Career History and Roles
Lisa Mc Neilly's career spans several organizations and roles in sustainability and environmental management. She began her career as a Research Associate at the International Food Policy Research Institute from 1988 to 1992. She later worked at Xanterra Parks & Resorts as the Director of Environment, Health, and Safety from 2001 to 2006, and as an Energy Technology Program Specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy from 1994 to 1998.