Sustainable Communities Division Names Fiona Coughlan Massachusetts Climate Champion
The American Planning Association’s Sustainable Communities Division (SCD) launched a Sustainability Champion’s program in September 2014 to accelerate the integration of sustainability in state APA chapter level activities throughout the United States.
Today, this group has been tasked with extending SCD’s outreach and message on climate action by engaging their respective states and fostering regional dialogue and collaboration. The Climate Champions are also tasked with engaging directly with their state chapters to foster increased collaboration between the national APA and the state chapters.
The Climate Champions will be an integral part of a national sustainability network focused on facilitating cross-regional collaboration for climate action and sustainability; building capacity in their respective states and local chapters in association with SCD leadership and other Champions; being a local and regional resource for planners and allied professionals; and focusing on empowering planners to advance climate action to create sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities.
Fiona Coughlan is Massachusetts’ new Climate Champion. In conjunction with APA-MA, the APA-MA Sustainability Committee, and the APA Sustainable Communities Division, the Climate Champion will promote climate action efforts and forward sustainable practices across the Commonwealth and the larger APA region.
Fiona Coughlan, AICP
Fiona Coughlan is a Community Planner for Barrett Planning Group, a woman-owned firm based out of Plymouth, MA. She received her Master’s Degree in City Planning from Boston University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Framingham State University.
She is heavily involved in outreach, event organization, and networking, constantly looking for new opportunities to connect and promote sustainability. She currently serves on the APA Sustainable Communities Division (SCD) Executive Committee, and is involved with the APA-MA Sustainability Subcommittee.
Fiona has always had a passion for sustainability, and becoming a Climate Champion was the best way to do her part, while bridging the efforts of the APA SCD and the APA Massachusetts Chapter. She looks forward to the next two years as a Climate Champion, growing the program’s reach, underscoring the great work the state has done to date, and creating new opportunities for the program and the chapter to promote sustainability and climate action.
“We have reached the turning point and must collectively work together to save our planet for future generations–I hope to do as much as I can as a Climate Champion.”
If you are interested in collaborating with the Climate Champions on events, please feel free to reach out anytime via email with questions, concerns, and ideas at fiona@barrettplanningllc.com. You may also connect with Fiona on LinkedIn.