City of Boston Planning Department Update from Kairos Shen, Chief of Planning and Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer

Description

Join the Massachusetts Building Congress for an update from Kairos Shen, the City of Boston’s new Chief of Planning as well as Brian Swett, the City’s first Chief Climate Officer. Chief Shen will give an overview of the City’s planning priorities and initiatives while Chief Swett will discuss the Net Zero Carbon Zoning Initiative and the City’s goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050.

Presenters:

Kairos Shen
Chief of Planning
City of Boston

Kairos Shen served as the Director of Planning at the Boston Redevelopment Authority for thirteen years, working as Boston’s Chief City Planner. In this role, he collaborated closely with the Mayor to shape the city’s planning and economic development policies.

Kairos played a key role in major initiatives, including the Rose Kennedy Greenway development guidelines, the South Boston Waterfront Innovation District, the refurbishment of Fenway Park, and the revitalization of Dudley Square.

Brian Swett
Chief Climate Officer
City of Boston

Brian Swett is Boston’s first Chief Climate Officer, leading the Environment, Energy, and Open Space Cabinet (EEOS) and driving the city’s climate action, sustainability, and resilience agenda. A nationally recognized leader with over 20 years of experience, Brian has worked in municipal government, private real estate development, federal government, and non-profit sectors.

Before this role, Brian was a Principal at Arup, serving as Americas East Leader and a member of the Americas Region Board. Previously, he served as Boston’s Chief of EEOS (2012–2015), where he led initiatives like Climate Ready Boston, the 2015 Climate Action Plan update, and policies like the rental inspection ordinance and BERDO. Under his leadership, Boston was ranked #1 in energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in 2013 and 2015.

Oliver Sellers-Garcia
Boston Green New Deal Director and Commissioner of the Environment Department
City of Boston

Oliver Sellers-Garcia is Boston's first Green New Deal Director and a Senior Advisor to Mayor Michelle Wu, working to advance climate action and address social, racial, and economic inequality. Previously, he served as Director of Resiliency and Equity at the MBTA and Director of Sustainability and Environment in Somerville, focusing on climate change resilience, environmental protection, and people-centered urban planning.

Before his public sector roles, Oliver worked as a consultant, helping cities worldwide integrate sustainability into planning. A native of Boston with Guatemalan and American heritage, he is a bilingual Spanish speaker and currently lives in Roxbury. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Columbia University and a Master’s in City Planning from MIT.

Travis Anderson
Senior Infrastructure and Energy Planner
City of Boston

Travis Anderson is the Senior Infrastructure and Energy Planner at the City of Boston Planning Department, leading the Smart Utilities Program and Policy to develop resilient and innovative infrastructure. His work focuses on geothermal districts, electric vehicle adoption, distributed energy resources, and electrification strategies. Travis also supports the city's decarbonization efforts, including the Net Zero Carbon Zoning and Zero Emission Building Guidelines.

With a background in the trades and experience building one of Massachusetts' first passive houses, Travis is also a trained architect and Certified Passive House Consultant, bringing a sustainable approach to Boston’s energy planning.

Secure your spot now and we look forward to meeting you at the event.