By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU) – Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday announced the appointment of Ben Sullivan as executive director and Chief Resilience Officer for the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency (CCSR).
Sullivan steps into the role on Sept. 3, 2024 and fills the vacancy left by Matthew Gonser, the former CCSR Executive Director, who is leaving the City and County of Honolulu for family reasons.
“Ben Sullivan has proven to be a strong leader with remarkable knowledge, ability, and vision,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “I look forward to all the ways he will continue to collaborate with our team and with our many community partners to advance the great work that Matthew Gonser and the office have put into motion over the last 4 years.”
Sullivan most recently served as the office’s deputy director, a position he has held since June 2023, and previously worked as an energy program manager within CCSR. Prior to joining the City and County of Honolulu, Sullivan served as an energy and sustainability coordinator in the Kaua‘i County Office of Economic Development. He studied environmental design at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
“There are many challenges ahead for O‘ahu as we build our resilience to climate impacts and realize a cleaner and more affordable energy future for our residents,” said Ben Sullivan. “I am honored to work for Mayor Blangiardi in this new capacity and with the talented team he has assembled. Even more so, I am humbled to work with the dedicated staff across the City and County, and the people of O‘ahu as we all create a more resilient future together.”
“It has been an immense honor and privilege to be part of the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency from the early days and for the past seven years, and I thank Mayor Blangiardi for the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director and Chief Resilience Officer since 2021,” said Matthew Gonser. “From being an external City partner while previously at the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program to more directly advancing community climate resilience work with the City after we the voters created the Resilience Office in 2016, public service has been a gift of a lifetime. More than two years ago my wife received a tremendous career prospect in Los Angeles that led to her relocation from Honolulu. While we have been dedicated to our respective work and supportive of each other, I am joining her so that our family can be together in one place. I am continuing public service with the County of Los Angeles Chief Sustainability Office and depart with gratitude for the collaborations with so many dedicated individuals.”
Gonser, the outgoing Chief Resilience Officer, intends to continue working in the climate and resilience field after relocating to California later this month.
“With his passion and dedication to the work, Matt helped the City lay a solid foundation to prepare for the increasing climate change risks that we face today and into the future,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi.