NJDEP's Acting Commissioner, Shawn M. LaTourette to Speak at the Conference on Tuesday

We are pleased to announce that Acting Commissioner of the NJDEP, Shawn LaTourette will be the Keynote Speaker on Tuesday of the Conference during lunch. He will be giving news on a number of NJDEP’s initiatives and hot topics, including environmental justice, and protecting against climate threats

Acting Commissioner LaTourette first joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as the chief legal and regulatory policy adviser to then-Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe in 2018. He was elevated to DEP Chief of Staff in 2019 and to Deputy Commissioner in 2020. Since 2019, he has been responsible for running DEP’s operations while formulating the reforms necessary to advance Governor Phil Murphy’s environmental, climate change and clean energy priorities. Acting Commissioner LaTourette has developed and led initiatives that prioritize environmental justice, while facilitating greenhouse gas emissions reductions, climate change resilience and adaptation, renewable energy deployment, water infrastructure enhancement, brownfields redevelopment, community renewal, and natural resource conservation and restoration

As DEP’s principal liaison to the Office of the Governor and chief policy advisor to the Commissioner, Shawn crafts policy and oversees several of DEP’s key initiatives. As the leader of DEP’s Senior Staff, Shawn also provides policy advice and direction to each of DEP’s Assistant Commissioners who lead programs responsible for protecting New Jersey’s air, land, water, and natural and historic resources.

Throughout a career shaping law and policy, Shawn has served in executive roles and as a trusted advisor of c-suite leaders—advising governments, Fortune 500 corporations and significant investors, as well as community and non-profit organizations, across a variety of projects and policy issues, in addition to litigating high-stakes lawsuits in the environmental, energy and infrastructure space.

Regarded as a consensus builder adept at achieving balance among competing priorities, Shawn’s diverse background—in protecting vulnerable communities, facilitating the development of infrastructure and public works, managing business risk, promoting conservationist policies, and advocating for equity—has made him a leading force in policy, program and project development, especially those at the complex juncture of economic development, energy, and environmental protection.

A leader in his community and advocate for equality, Shawn was elected to serve as Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association's LGBTQ Rights Section, completing his term in 2020, and remaining a member of its Executive Board while also supporting other LGBTQ+ organizations and causes. Shawn became an attorney after a decade in management, paralegal, and community organizing roles often involving environmental issues, starting his career in environmental protection by helping victims of toxic exposure and communities impacted by contaminated drinking water to organize and protect their rights to a clean environment. An avid hiker, doting dad to twin girls, and devoted mentor, Shawn is a life-long New Jerseyan and dual graduate of Rutgers University and Law School, where he graduated summa cum laude and earned commendations for his scholarly writings on environmental climate, and energy issues.

Wednesday - Keynote Panel Presentation

The keynote will include a panel discussion with Nick DeRose, Ken Goldstein, Steve Posten, and Duff Collins. More information coming soon.