ESG​/​Sustainability Strategy, Planning and Implementation

Experience

Trey McDonald has worked in several capacities within sustainability for over 20 years, spending time as a whale biologist, environmental scientist, and sustainability officer. Observing the pace and scale of development during his time as an environmental scientist in Florida, he recognized the need to rethink our relationship with the Earth. He shifted his career focus to sustainability strategy, earning his LEED Accreditation, his M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida and an Energy Management Certificate from NC State University. His Master’s thesis focused on sustainability at university campuses, and examined USF as a case study. Earlier he earned his B.S. in Marine Biology from Auburn University, and also studied at the University of British Columbia, the University of Oregon, and Florida Institute of Technology. He currently works as the Renewable Energy Wildlife Research Fund Director at the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI). The Fund is an industry-led initiative that develops research priorities and provides resources to support research projects on interactions between wildlife and utility-scale renewable energy installations. The primary goal of this research is to create solutions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the environmental impacts of land-based wind energy in North America. Prior to joining REWI, Trey served as a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Vizient, Inc., developing their sustainability consulting services framework for healthcare providers. He also served as the first ESG​/​Sustainability Manager at Conrex, a property management company based in Charleston, SC. Here he created internal governance for ESG issues and developed a sustainability strategic plan for the company to achieve carbon neutrality and improve the experiences of residents. However, most of his career in sustainability has been in higher education, where he led programs for three different schools including the University of San Diego, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of Richmond. He served as the first sustainability officer for both UNCG and UR, and led the development of comprehensive sustainability programs and strategic Climate Action and Sustainability Plans at each institution.