Jeb Brugmann

Background

About Jeb Brugmann

Across a 40 year career as a social entrepreneur, regional and consumer economist, and non-profit executive, Jeb has worked with cities, non-profit organizations and community based organizations, global companies and property developers to establish and scale new social development, sustainability and business practices. He is internationally recognized for his lead contributions to the establishment of urban sustainability planning and local climate action planning practices (1990-), and ‘base of the pyramid’ (BoP) business & product development, focusing on poverty reduction and health solutions (2004-2010).Early in his career Jeb played a founding role nationally in the establishment of the U.S. Sanctuary Cities movement and similar 'municipal foreign policy' initiatives of the 1980s. This led him to found ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability in 1989-90, during which period he raised the initial funds, secured critical partnerships from the UN Environment Programme and local government associations worldwide, and organized and directed the establishing ICLEI World Congress at the UN. He then served as ICLEI’s Secretary General from building its global programs and operations, including the first international program on urban greenhouse gas management and the worldwide Cities for Climate Protection campaign Jeb also conceived and established the worldwide Local Agenda 21 sustainability planning initiative, securing its endorsement by 172 national governments at the 1992 UN 'Earth Summit'. In 2004, together with leading business strategist C.K. Prahalad, Jeb co-founded The Next Practice, focusing on business solutions to address the poverty challenges of the world's lowest income households, in particular on the livelihoods of women and smallholder farmers. As Partner, Jeb led development of TNP’s methods for consumer insight, market analytics, channel development, and NGO/CBO partnerships. Key projects included the design and establishment support for the Barclays Social Impact Fund, bp First Energy (smokeless biomass stoves), and Reuters Market Light (small farmer direct market access and mobile extension service).Jeb's international programs and publications have been funded by national governments, the World Bank, the United Nations & numerous charitable foundations. He has been a Senior Associate of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and authored Welcome to the Urban Revolution: How Cities Are Changing the World (2009-2010), and has lectured in many countries and universities.