GWEN RUTA EXECUTIVE Vice President, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

Gwen Ruta is Executive Vice President of Environmental Defense Fund, a leading nonprofit organization that links science, economics and law to solve our most serious environmental problems.

Gwen draws on three decades of management experience in leading EDF’s program staff in the areas of climate change, fisheries management, habitat conservation and protection of public health.

Previously, Gwen served as Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy, overseeing EDF programs to accelerate renewable energy and utilize markets to catalyze innovation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Earlier, as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Gwen spurred innovation and transformation in market sectors ranging from shipping to retail to fleets. Among her notable initiatives were slashing supply chain greenhouse gas emissions with Walmart, creating a market for hybrid trucks with FedEx, and launching EDF Climate Corps, an innovative business fellowship program to catalyze energy efficiency.

Prior to joining Environmental Defense Fund, Gwen was Vice President at Metcalf & Eddy, an environmental engineering firm. She has also held senior management positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and at the Harvard Kennedy School. She began her career in engineering working at a Texaco refinery.

Gwen is on the Board of Directors of the Environmental League of Massachusetts and the Center for Responsible Shale Development. She holds an M.P.A. from Harvard University and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia.