The City of Moab announces that Mila Dunbar-Irwin has been selected as the City’s new sustainability director. April 12 was her first day on the job.
As the sustainability director, Dunbar-Irwin will focus on multiple efforts including water conservation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and helping the City work toward its g
oal of reaching 100 percent net-renewable electricity by 2030. She will also develop sustainability plans and work to implement new, strategic environmental initiatives and policies to create cost savings for the City, as well as developing strategic partnerships, and overseeing sustainability outreach and volunteer activities.
“Mila brings a wealth of ideas and experience to the City,” said Moab City Manager Joel Linares. “We are pleased to be moving forward with developing, assessing, and implementing a variety of goals, programs, and practices to help make our City and our community more sustainable for generations to come.”
Dunbar-Irwin has lived in Moab for almost two years and worked for the Grand County planning department for most of that time. She came to Moab from Jackson, Wyoming, where she was a land-use planner in the private sector. She has also worked in ecological restoration and research and was an environmental educator and naturalist guide for 15 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in ecology from Yale University and a Master of Science in ecology from the University of California-Davis. Since arriving in Moab she has also volunteered with Science Moab as program director.
“I couldn't be more excited to work with the Moab community and the excellent team at the City to pave the way for a sustainable future in Moab,” Dunbar-Irwin said. “Sustainability is such a broad and inspiring area, encompassing everything from water conservation to affordable housing policy and alternative transportation. In my short time here, I've fallen in love with Moab and its wonderful community and am honored to be part of shaping what our future looks like. My background in ecology, environmental education, restoration, and land use planning gives me a broad skill-set to support the City's sustainability goals and work with the community to create our vision for the future.”