Events

Past Event

Dinner and Discussion: Careers in Sustainability

March 21, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
America/New_York
Columbia Alumni Center, 622 W. 113 St., New York, NY 10025 Schapiro Room, 8th Floor

Join GS alumni working in the field of sustainability as they discuss their career paths, their time at Columbia, and their best advice for those pursuing jobs in sustainability.

Dinner will be provided.

About The Panelists

 

Damienne Harfouche '14GS

Damienne graduated magna cum laude from Columbia’s GS with a BA in Sustainable Development in 2014. She is also the parent of a current GS student who is enrolled in the Dual BA program between Columbia and Sciences Po. As an alumna, Damienne has been active with the General Studies Alumni Association (GSAA) as a board member, co-chair of the Awards Committee and most recently served as co-chair of the GSAA Board. Since graduation from Columbia, Damienne has worked in different capacities within the energy and sustainability industry. Damienne was a Project Manager at a multi-national architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) consulting services firm specializing in high-performance buildings where she advised clients on strategies to achieve their sustainability goals. Most recently she advised a startup on establishing an ESG framework.

 

Ciara Kavanagh '20GS

Ciara Kavanagh is a Sustainable Development Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. An inaugural graduate of the Dual BA program with Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, Ciara majored in Political Science (International Relations) while at Columbia, during which time she had the opportunity to intern with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Irish Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Doctors Without Borders. Ciara’s professional interests lie in the potential of social and geographic data to empower community-led development and climate adaptation solutions.

 

Lyndon Park '08GS

Lyndon Park received his B.A., magna cum laude, in English Literature. Currently, Lyndon is Managing Partner at ICR where he heads the firm’s Global ESG Advisory & Shareholder Activism group. Lyndon and his team advise company boards and management teams on some of the most challenging and complex environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters, as well as contentious “bet the company” event-driven situations such as hostile takeovers and proxy battles for board seats and corporate control.

Previously, Lyndon was one of the leaders at BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship group, and Global Head of Stewardship at Dimensional Fund Advisors; he oversaw and implemented portfolio company engagements, proxy voting and sustainability oversight programs of each firm’s respective stewardship programs. As a recognized thought leader in ESG and shareholder activism, Lyndon frequently participates on panels and his perspectives have been published or quoted in leading media outlets (e.g., The New York Times, WSJ, Financial Times).

 

Contact Information

GS Alumni Relations