Angela Burnett Penn, Climate Change Officer
Angela Burnett Penn is an Environmental Management, Climate Change and Urban Planning professional. Her primary goal is to promote progressive, climate-resilient communities that balance environmental, social, and economic goals. Angela holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development from Brandies University as well as a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Angela has served as The Virgin Islands’ Climate Change Officer since 2008. Among other things, she has delivered major public education campaigns, authored the Territory’s Climate Change Policy, conducted a Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment of the tourism sector to climate change, managed local adaptation projects and codeveloped The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund. Outside of The Virgin Islands, Angela has served as the Climate Change Coordinator of the Saint Lucia Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project where she helped to manage a diverse portfolio of over 125 climate change adaptation projects worth USD $74 million and provided technical support to the innovative Climate Adaptation Financing Facility. In her personal life, Angela serves as a regional climate change advocate. In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Angela published “The Irma Diaries: Compelling Survivor Stories from The Virgin Islands” as a platform for voices from the frontlines to be heard around the world to help people connect more personally to climate change and resolve to act.