KATHLEEN MCGINTY
LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT IN SUSTAINABILITY
Kathleen“ Katie” McGinty’ s impressive career spans both the public and private sectors, driven by a true passion for sustainability.
“ Growing up as the ninth of ten kids in a big, second-generation Irish-American family, I learned early on the importance of solving problems and making positive changes,” Katie explains.
“ My dad was a Philadelphia police officer and my mom managed our bustling household with humour and resilience. These experiences taught me that teamwork and collaboration are key to overcoming challenges.”
Katie was the first in her family to attend university, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from St. Joseph’ s University. She went on to earn a law degree from Colombia University in New York.
“ I remember my mom always saying,‘ You lean in to solve a problem; you don’ t create one’,” Katie says.
“ Sustainability lets us tackle some of the toughest issues we face today, like climate change and energy security, and turn them into opportunities for a better future.”
She clerked for a federal judge in Washington after her graduation before becoming a legislative assistant to Al Gore when he was a Tennessee Senator. Katie then became a deputy assistant to President Bill Clinton.
From 1995 to 1998, Katie chaired the White House Council on Environmental Quality, responsible for balancing environmental, economic and social
KATHLEEN MCGINTY
TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER
COMPANY: JOHNSON CONTROLS
INDUSTRY: ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND BUILDINGS TECHNOLOGY
Katie leads sustainability strateg and shapes smart building policies with more than 25 years of experience across the public and private sector.
“The challenges we face are big, but with collaboration, innovation and a positive attitude, we can make a real difference”
138 April 2025