Julia Thayne
Julia builds climate solutions for cities and people.
From major infrastructure investments in cleaner trucks and ports to policies for open streets and sidewalk dining, Julia has spent 15 years working across sectors to build first-of-a-kind projects that show why – and how – to take equitable climate action.
Julia previously served as Executive Officer to the Mayor of Los Angeles, where she established one of the first public-private partnerships for sustainable transportation technology in the U.S. and raised $300 million for clean trucks at the country’s busiest port. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her programs provided 200,000 meals weekly to 20,000 seniors – employing local restaurants and taxi drivers, donated 1million N-95 masks to 400 non-profits, and opened streets and sidewalks to outdoor dining and safe cycling.
Before that, Julia was a product manager at infrastructure tech company Siemens. She advised 35 cities – from Minneapolis to Mexico City – to set and achieve ambitious climate targets. At global non-profit Rocky Mountain Institute, Julia led research on climate-aligned urbanism and clean industrial hubs, and managed teams to realize investments in dozens of clean energy, industry, and transportation projects across the U.S. She is also a non-profit founder, university educator, and podcast host on the future of mobility. Most recently, she co-founded the advisory firm Two* & Rising to continue advancing climate innovation with start-ups, companies, and governments.
Trained as an economist and urban designer, Julia holds degrees from Emory University and the London School of Economics & Political Science. She is proudly from Atlanta, and also calls Los Angeles home.