In collaboration with AIA Los Angeles Women in Architecture and AIA Los Angeles COTE, The William J. Worthen Foundation is hosting a Women of Carbon documentary screening followed by a panel discussion-spotlighting the women redefining materials, methods, and leadership for a decarbonized built environment. In case you are in Los Angeles or Southern California, you are invited to join this in-person event.
Click here to register: https://www.aialosangeles.org/event/women-of-carbon-documentary-screening/
Join us for a documentary screening and conversation highlighting women transforming the construction industry while accelerating climate solutions. Directed by Basia Myszynski and Leonard Myszynski, Women of Carbon follows leaders advancing decarbonization, human health, and economic opportunity through innovative approaches to materials and construction-ranging from algae-based alternative cement and electrified manufacturing to mass timber and greener steel.
The film includes an inside look at the Portland International Airport Main Terminal expansion (including narration by Rena Simon of ZGF Architects), alongside perspectives from industry voices such as Leah Ellis, Susan Jones, Erica Spiritos, Kate Simonen, Mija Hubler, and Cristy Fiander. A panel discussion will follow the screening.
Funds raised will support the Foundation's effort to translate our Building Decarbonization Practice Guides from English to Spanish for audiences across Latin America-work that goes beyond direct translation to thoughtfully unpack complex technical terms and make the guidance clear, engaging, and easy to apply. This helps hundreds more AEC professionals access practical, actionable solutions and bring them to real projects faster. Come for the film and conversation, and leave knowing your ticket helped remove a barrier to climate action and put high-impact knowledge into more hands.
SPEAKERS
Sophie Pennetier
Founder, Adjunct Faculty with SCI-Arc
Sophie Pennetier is a structural engineer with expertise in façades and sustainability. Her 18 years of experience span from consulting (with RFR, GNA, SHoP Construction, Arup) to being the Founder of Digne, Dignified Constructions Solutions, and Adjunct Faculty with SCI-Arc since '21. Sophie Pennetier teaches Structures and Embodied Carbon classes. Those two topics, alongside façades, are the core of her contributions to SCI-Arc Design Development projects.
Sophie's elective class on embodied carbon responds to her students' request to accelerate their knowledge in reducing upfront carbon. It supports their research projects on circular architecture and brings in internationally recognized industry trailblazers involved in policy, sustainability consulting, manufacturing, contracting, and circular economy. Her students' work on embodied carbon has been applauded and sought after by major architecture and consulting firms and industry associations such as the Carbon Leadership Forum. Through such efforts, each year, upward of a hundred SCI-Arc students learn to grow the innovative and creative thinking the industry needs to address the built environment, leading to a significant contribution to climate change.
Sophie has published and presented her research internationally in scientific conferences, trade associations and journals, codes committees, and lectured at universities in Europe and the US. Serving on the Board of Directors of the Façade Tectonics Institute, she has developed the FTI Carbon group research and grown its educational content. In 202,3 she was awarded, in the individual category, the US Glass Sustainability Award for her contributions to industry research and education.
Rena Simon, AIA, LEED AP
Principal, ZGF
Rena Simon is a designer of many facets: part storyteller, part artist, and part innovator. She intentionally delves into the heart of clients' missions and cultures to find the right solution.
Her deep appreciation of the natural world serves as her inspiration in connecting conceptual architectural ideas to the greater aspirations of her clients. Her calm and intentional leadership is demonstrated in her resolute commitment to tackling any design problem and knack for motivating and mentoring younger designers.
Heidi Creighton, FAIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador
Senior Design Manager
City of Santa Monica
As a Senior Design Manager at the City of Santa Monica, Heidi is responsible for the planning, design, construction, and management of capital improvements for architectural and park projects for city-owned/ leased facilities to meet the needs of the community and city staff. The City's goals to achieve water self-sufficiency, zero waste, and carbon neutrality require that Sustainability be at the forefront of project management and serves as a catalyst for public sector leadership in building practices.
Heidi is FAIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, and creator of the Collective Impact speaker series. Previously, Heidi was VP of Sustainability at Skanska and Principal at Buro Happold. Heidi served on the USGBC California Board of Directors from 2013 to 2019. She also served on the AIA California's Committee on the Environment (COTE) steering committee from 2020 to 2022, which was charged with elevating AIA California's position as a global leader addressing the challenges of climate change and natural resource depletion.
Heidi's most recent accolades include recognition by Globe Street for the Women of Influence Award in 2023, the World Architecture News (WAN) for the Female Frontiers Award for Social Change in 2022, USGBC-LA's 2021 Heart of the Chapter Award, as well as elevation to AIA's College of Fellows in 2021.
Tara Barauskas
Executive Director
Community Corporation of Santa Monica
Community Corporation of Santa Monica is a nonprofit affordable housing organization based in Santa Monica, California. Joining in 2016, she oversees the functional areas of the organization, including management of over 2,000 units of affordable housing, housing development, resident services, maintenance, and administration of 100 staff. Ms. Barauskas has over 25 years of experience in affordable housing development, having worked at both for-profit and non-profit affordable housing development organizations prior to joining Community Corporation.
Her past experience includes overseeing and managing the development process of numerous projects throughout California. Ms. Barauskas holds a Bachelors' Degree in English from California State University, Long Beach, and a LEED AP Accreditation from the US Green Building Council.
Tara currently serves on several Boards – the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, Housing California, the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, and the Westside Urban Forum. In addition, she is a member of the advisory council of the UCLA Ziman Affordable Housing Council. She previously served on the Board of Directors (including one year as Chair) for the Southern California Association of Non-profit Housing (SCANPH), a nonprofit membership organization that advocates for effective affordable housing policy throughout Southern California.
Tara also leads the housing committee of the Committee for Racial Justice. She is passionate about her Lithuanian heritage, the environment, and affordable housing. Tara is an active Lithuanian community member, teaching at the local Saturday language school and serving on the Board of the National Lithuanian Scouts Association. She lives in Playa del Rey with her two sons.
Esmeralda Ward, AIA, LEED AP
Associate Principal, NAC Architecture
Moderator
Esmeralda Ward is an Associate Principal at NAC Architecture with over 20 years of experience in designing sustainable, resilient environments that support learning, wellness, and community enrichment. A recognized leader in LEED, CHPS, and zero net energy strategies, she also spearheads NAC's firm-wide sustainability initiatives, integrating environmental goals with business operations.
Esmeralda's approach challenges conventional norms, advocating for deep sustainability aligned with client values and long-term impact. Her leadership brings clarity and optimism to the climate conversation, emphasizing design as a tool for stewardship and change. She holds degrees from the University of Virginia and the Southern California Institute of Architecture and is transitioning into the role of NAC's inaugural Director of Sustainability to further advance the intersection of design, sustainability, and hope.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES – (AIA CES Submitted for Approval)
- Through watching the film and attending the panel discussion, participants will be able to:
- Describe the range of contributions women are making across construction, design, manufacturing, and research to reduce embodied and operational carbon in the built environment.
- Identify and compare strategies in low-carbon materials and technologies (e.g., alternative cements, electrified processes, mass timber, lower-carbon steel) and their implications for project delivery.
- Explain how cross-disciplinary innovation (material research, data science, and practice-based implementation) influences climate, health, and economic outcomes in buildings.
- Summarize how these approaches may shape near-term decision-making for architects and project teams seeking lower-carbon outcomes.
PARKING DETAILS
Street parking is available. Please be mindful of the signage, and please do not park in the lots of local businesses.
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Ismar Enriquez AIA
Practice
Pasadena CA
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