Julia Parzen has led JP Consulting for three decades, building networks, creating new programs and businesses and completing research that has helped to lead the way on urban sustainability. Parzen was co-founder of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN). She co-created Partners for Places, a multi-million grant program that brings together local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations to advance sustainability. Early in her career, she co-founded one of the first social investment mutual funds, Working Assets Money Fund. She is co-author of "The Guide to Greening Cities" (Island Press, 2013) and three other books.