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Meet Tawny Chritton Keene

Tennessee, U.S.

Tawny Keene

Tawny Chritton Keene is a purpose-driven sustainability executive with 16 years’ experience leading international business, government and civil society initiatives. 

As Global Head of Corporate Sustainability at Jacobs, she leads a dynamic team stewarding sustainability, resilience, climate action, social impact, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting for the business. Guided by our PlanBeyond 2.0 approach, she focuses on strategies to create long-term value and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Jacobs’ operations and projects in 40+ countries.

Prior to this role, Tawny served as Director of Corporate Sustainability, with previous experience in international government relations, corporate affairs, human rights, and environmental sales and strategy – leading initiatives for global policy development, technology design, and thought leadership across the U.S., Europe, Middle East and South Asia.

Before joining Jacobs (formerly CH2M) in 2011, Tawny worked in a range of non-profit and government roles focused on education, youth mental health, arts and culture, and even grassroots organizing for a presidential campaign, working to engage people in the voting process.

“I began my career in the non-profit space and quickly came to realize that business must be part of the equation to solve our world’s toughest challenges. I feel a profound sense of duty as a human and as a mom – with the added privilege to work in this field – to make sure we’re doing everything we can to shape a future in which we can all thrive.”

Tawny Keene

Tawny Chritton Keene

Jacobs Vice President, Global Head of Corporate Sustainability

Tawny grew up in small town South Carolina, U.S., originally on a strawberry farm. From a young age, she has been motivated by a desire to create positive impact and has lived in over a dozen cities in the U.S. and abroad. 

She holds a degree in english and theatre from Princeton University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. 

Tawny serves on the Board of Directors of the Edwards Mother Earth Foundation, and was the founding Chair of Building Responsibly, a group of leading engineering and construction companies working to promote worker welfare across the industry. She also pioneered the creation of a mobile app that has enhanced the health, safety and wellbeing of thousands of foreign migrant workers.

When she’s not working, you’ll find Tawny spending time in nature, doing art projects with her daughter, tending to her houseplants or hosting games nights for friends. 

Get to know Tawny

  • 7

    different roles she's held at Jacobs

  • 10

    U.S. states she's lived in

  • 17

    houseplants (and counting!) that she currently owns