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Chris Allen has been a leader in sustainability for more than 30 years, bringing environmental and economic solutions to our clients and the world, building social and ecological value into every project.
He works collaboratively with partners and clients to co-create and align innovative technologies, practices, and business models to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits through high-performance sustainable/regenerative solutions.
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34
years in the sustainability field
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54
countries visited
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3.8 B
years of evolution in his design library
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46
years as a certified SCUBA diver
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75 +
presentations given globally about sustainability topics
An early innovator in biomimicry, Chris worked directly with the non-profit Biomimicry Institute, “promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable design systems,” and from 2010 to 2014, served as CEO of Biomimicry 3.8, a strategic consultancy and Jacobs partner, promoting sustainable engineering solutions.
Chris began his career on a UNESCO project called Man and the Biosphere, which introduced him to land use planning, ecology, resource economics, marine biology, GIS, and other aspects of sustainability. He took these lessons forward, into a career on the forefront of the latest sustainability technologies.
At Jacobs, he serves as the liaison for Jacobs’ partnership with to Biomimicry 3.8, for ecologically aligned regenerative development design and development, catalyzing high-performance solutions in sustainable infrastructure. He has been integral in catalyzing the coastal resilience program at the Tyndall AFB “Installation of the Future,” acting as project lead and author of, “Engineering With Nature® Supporting Mission Resilience and Infrastructure Value at Department of Defense Installations,” a USACE reference for other DoD installations that wish to incorporate natural solutions into their resilience planning.
Chris holds a BBA in International Business from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Certified Biomimicry Professional. He is a member of the International Living Future Institute, the World Ocean Council, the Society for Ecological Restoration, and the Biomimicry Professional Network. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Crain Business Journal, Management Innovation Exchange, and other outlets.
“It is imperative for sustainability and resilience professionals to bring powerful new approaches to help solve the accelerating climate change challenge. Biomimicry, Nature Positive Design, and Engineering with Nature all demonstrate how applied ecological intelligence is essential for creating long lasting, effective solutions. I love this work because it opens innovation pathways based on 3.8 billion years of evolutionary design that works!”
Christopher L. Allen
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PodcastsBiomimicry: Designing Great Solutions, Naturally
For this episode of If/When, we explored the exciting world of biomimicry and why it matters for the Built Environment, with special guests Managing Director, Biomimicry 3.8 Nicole Hagerman Miller; Jacobs Vice President – Global Market Director for the Built Environment Monte Wilson; and Jacobs Senior Consultant – Sustainability & Resiliency Chris Allen.
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NewsJacobs Teams with Biomimicry 3.8 to Deliver Sustainable Designs with Nature in Mind
Jacobs has signed a strategic alliance teaming agreement with Biomimicry 3.8 (B3.8), a global consulting and innovation firm specializing in nature-based solutions and nature-inspired designs. Biomimicry is an innovation methodology informed by 3.8 billion years of natural evolution and provides a unique platform for the development of sustainable and regenerative designs.
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SolutionEnergy & Environment Market
As the world's largest environmental consulting firm – and backed by decades of cross-market delivery in natural sciences and engineering – Jacobs is at the forefront of solving the planet's most critical environmental challenges from impact assessment and natural systems modeling to remediation and compliance.
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NewsInspired by Nature’s Genius
Jacobs has pledged to Get Nature Positive and work towards halting and reversing the decline of nature by 2030, a target considered crucial in achieving the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The campaign, led by the Council for Sustainable Business, sees 95 leading companies unite across different sectors in the U.K. to Get Nature Positive by 2030. Aligned with COP26 ambitions, business leaders will be joining forces to create a global goal for nature.