Lolita Jackson MBE FRSA

SDCL is a multibillion pound London-based investor in the energy efficiency and decentralized energy sector with offices in Dublin, Singapore and NYC. I am based in NYC and focused on government relations, deal origination, partnerships, and connections with networks and ESG counterparties such as C40, The Climate Group and Green Building Council. I also run point for international gatherings such as COP, C40 Mayor's Summit and UN Climate Week.

I am teaching Fundamentals of Climate Action Planning for Cities in the Masters of Environmental Science program. My goal is for students to have the ability to put together a climate plan for a small to mid-sized city. I am honored to be selected for this role, and as a black STEM alum I want to be the professor I never had.

I am an advisor and was a visiting fellow 2020-23 in climate finance and climate diplomacy, and l participate through giving lectures, hosting panel discussions, writing, and collaborating with students, faculty and other fellows.

I sing professionally around the world, with the main genres as jazz or jazzfunk. I have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016 and 2017, and in Shanghai, Tokyo, New Orleans, Sydney, Berlin and on stage at Carnegie Hall.

I was responsible for international diplomacy around climate for the NYC Mayor's Office. In that role, I was the primary liaison to the UN and international and domestic governments regarding climate and the main operational link for networks that related to sustainability and resiliency, including 100 Resilient Cities, C40, ICLEI, etc. I was also part of the team that coordinates OneNYC, NYC's quadrennial plan that outlines our four visions for growth, equity, sustainability and resiliency.

Our portfolio included oversight for Hurricane Sandy recovery and rebuilding, resiliency, climate change analysis, sustainability, large interagency infrastructure policy, and OneNYC implementation. The NYC Mayor's Offices of Sustainability, Recovery & Resiliency, and Housing Recovery Operations are the three direct reporting entities to the Senior Advisor.

I brought together city agencies to address quality of life issues for businesses and residents that are adjacent to large infrastructure/construction projects. My main role was project manager for NYC interagency operations to ensure items such as proper waste removal, business continuity, rodent control, streetscape maintenance, and coordination with the construction entity. I was assigned to the Second Avenue Subway construction and Barclays Center projects and oversaw 20+ team members. My work has been written about in several publications.

I was Mayor Bloomberg's chief liaison for Manhattan with community groups and elected officials regarding neighborhood issues. This ranged from emergency response [the 2006 tram incident, plane crashes, etc.] to assisting in long term strategic planning [placing greenmarkets, enforcing vendor regulations].

Finance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager

I loved every second of Penn and was a big football and lacrosse fanatic, as both teams were Ivy champs while I was there. I am also still involved in many Penn affiliated activities, including as President of the Class of '89, reunion chair of each reunion since the 10th, a former member of the Annenberg Center Board of Overseers and current member of the Platt Performing Arts Advisory Board. I am a recipient of the 2007 Alumni Award of Merit, the highest honor an alumnus can receive.