Shengyin Xu is the Global Sustainability Initiative Lead for the World Resources Institute. She works to ensure that the WRI is on track to “walk the talk” on organizational sustainability. Working with staff from across the institution, she helps to measure, reduce, and communicate the environmental impact of the organization. This includes calculating sustainability metrics like greenhouse gas emissions, strategizing and implementing impact reduction techniques, and engaging internal and external stakeholders in sustainability at the WRI.

Previously, Shengyin worked in architecture, capital project management, and sustainability management. In her last position, she integrated the use of greenhouse gas emissions in facility maintenance and new construction projects for a network of museums and historic sites. Through facility improvements and communication campaigns, she helped the organization achieve over 20% reductions in absolute greenhouse gas emissions over a period of five years. Her work centers on the use of data and data visualization to help tell the story of sustainability to various audiences. Shengyin continues to co-chairs the museum sustainability committee within the American Alliance of Museums and serves as a member of the International Council of Monuments and Sites Scientific Committee on Energy and Sustainability.

Shengyin holds a Master’s of Architecture from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN and a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. She is an Associate AIA member and a LEED Accredited Professional.

In her free time, Shengyin enjoys exploring used book stores and reading the books she finds in different coffee shops. She also enjoys food adventures – both cooking and tasting – with her husband, Joe.