Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) ‎chief sustainability and economic development officer Nancy Sutley has been awarded a Sustainability Leadership Award by Green Building & Design (GBD). The awards celebrate women’s achievement and leadership.

Sutley was appointed chief sustainability and economic development officer of the nation’s largest municipal utility in 2014. She is past chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, a position in which she served from 2009 to 2014. Sutley also previously served as Los Angeles deputy mayor for energy and environment, energy advisor to Gov. Gray Davis and deputy secretary for policy and intergovernmental relations for the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Under Sutley’s leadership, LADWP has obtained LEED Certification for its downtown headquarters building, improved water conservation levels by removing 14.7 million square feet of turf in 2014-2015, and achieved energy efficiency savings through the LED lightbulb giveaway and Air Conditioner Optimization Program.

“I am honored to represent women in sustainability by accepting this award,” Sutley said. “Throughout my career, I have worked to improve the world for others. Now I am truly humbled to accept the praise of my colleagues for doing what I love and further spread the message of the importance of sustainability.”

The winners were honored at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo on Oct. 4 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.