Board of Directors
Peter Boyd
Peter joined the Board in 2023. He first became a member and Chair of the Advisory Team in 2014 and helped the Town create and adopt its Net Zero by 2050 goal at the same time as leading the B Team’s Net Zero initiative focused on creating global business support for the Paris Agreement. Peter is Founder and CEO of Time4Good, providing coaching and tools for leaders and their teams, helping create and clarify their path to maximum positive impact. At Yale University he is Lecturer at the School of the Environment and at the School of Management’s EMBA program. He is also Resident Fellow at Yale’s Center for Business and the Environment and Venture Advisor at the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking; helping to accelerate social and environmental entrepreneurship across campus. Peter is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland and studied at the University of Oxford. He lives in Westport with his young family attending Kings Highway Elementary School, and is co-warden at Christ & Holy Trinity.
Alex Cohen
Alex has been involved in Sustainable Westport since 2023, initially through his work with the Westport Rotary Club. Alex has been an active member in the community with the Westport Rotary Club since 2012 and has been Chair of the famous Westport Rotary Club’s LobsterFest for three years. A portion of the funds raised through their event has supported Sustainable Westport. On a professional level, Alex created his Advisory firm BoWi Advisors (named after his kids, Bodhi and Winter) in 2023, where he consults with a variety of clients in the Direct-to-Consumer space, assists brands in building out their Corporate Gifting and Wholesale strategy, in addition to working with ClearSky Limited where he helps clients reach their sustainability and climate neutral goals through a variety of offerings. Alex grew up in Westport, so it was a perfect home for him to raise his family with his wife, Ling Chow. Alex graduated from the University of Vermont School of Business with a B.S.B.A. and received his M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.
Dawn Henry
Dawn has been involved in Sustainable Westport since 2018, first as a member of the Advisory Team, eventually serving as Vice Chair, and then becoming a Board member in 2023. Her concerns about the Climate Crisis led her to cut back on her work as a Marketing Strategist and begin volunteering with several local environmental organizations. Her passion areas currently include educating and engaging the public on climate change issues and solutions, and she focuses on Transportation and Strategy for Sustainable Westport. She is an avid electric vehicle enthusiast and is on the leadership team of the EV Club of Connecticut. Dawn is also a Board Member of Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound and presenter for The Climate Reality Project.
Johanna Martell
Johanna joined Sustainable Westport as Co-Director in September of 2021. She has over fifteen years of experience as a legal and business advisor, both in-house and at leading global law firms, focusing on commercial real estate, corporate, tax, and estate planning. She has advised c-suite and senior leadership on deal structuring, strategy, legal and financial risks, and forged collaborative relationships across a wide range of stakeholders to achieve business and legal objectives.
She hopes to leverage this experience to increase awareness and community support for Sustainable Westport’s initiatives to enable Westport to become a Net Zero community by 2050. Johanna holds an undergraduate degree in political economy from Princeton University and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. Johanna has been a Westport resident since 2013 and lives in the Greens Farms neighborhood with her husband and three sons. She serves as the Governance Chair for the Board of Directors of Wholesome Wave.
Gately Ross
Gately joined Sustainable Westport as Co-Director in September of 2021. She has dedicated her career to the health and conservation of wild and domestic animals and the environment. She combines a deep understanding of ecology and human impact on populations and ecosystems with clinical practice, team leadership, and training experience in veterinary emergency / critical care medicine. She hopes to use this experience to build partnerships and projects and support motivated individuals that contribute to Sustainable Westport’s goal of becoming a Net Zero community by 2050. Gately holds an undergraduate degree in biology from the College of Charleston, Masters of Science from San Francisco State University, and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University. Gately has been a Westport resident since 2007 and lives in the Greens Farms neighborhood with her husband, three boys, and rescue dog.
Advisory Group
We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Sustainable Westport Advisory Group, a dynamic and forward-thinking team dedicated to driving positive change in our community. Comprised of passionate experts and community leaders, the Advisory Board will serve as a guiding force, offering invaluable insights, strategic guidance, and innovative ideas to propel Sustainable Westport’s mission forward. With their collective expertise spanning various fields, our advisory group members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
Bruce Becker
Architect/Developer, Becker + Becker Associates
“As a community with greater than average resources and expertise, we have a moral obligation to accelerate our decarbonization investments and can benefit the most from these efforts, both economically and environmentally.”
David Brant
Executive Director, Aspetuck Land Trust
“Sustainability is not a buzzword. Sustainability is not partisan, republican or democrat. Sustainability is about balance, taking no more and no less from the earth than what we need so we can continue to thrive and enjoy our natural world.”
Lori Cochran-Dougall
Director, Westport Farmers Market
“Navigating the ever-changing world of sustainability takes time, commitment, and research. To me, Sustainable Westport is providing our community with the most relevant and effective solutions, and I want to support the efforts to impact positive change.”
Cathy Gilbertie-Knipper
Communications Coordinator, Gilbertie’s Organics
“Nurturing and preserving our environment and natural resources is the foundational basis of gardening and Gilbertie’s mission in the community. The efforts and goals of Sustainable Westport are a natural partnership for us as we work together toward providing a healthy community for future generations.”
Jen Gorin
Founder, Impact Growth Partners
“Sustainable Westport has had a tremendous and important impact on our town, and I am honored to be part of its future growth. Providing education to Westport residents on how to live more sustainably in their daily lives is a critical step in individual impact and, ultimately, will help drive systemic change.”
Bill Harmer
Executive Director, Westport Library
“I joined the Sustainable Westport Advisory Group as the Library Director because sustainability is not only important but also deeply relevant to our role as a public library. It aligns with our responsibility to minimize our environmental impact and promote responsible resource management.”
Barry Kresch
President, EV Club of CT
“Transportation is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions in CT than any other sector, not to mention noxious pollutants. Electrification of transportation is essential to any climate and clean-air strategy.”
Tony McDowell
Executive Director, Earthplace
“Once you connect deeply with nature, sustainability becomes second nature.”