Speakers

Eva Koester, PE, ENV SP, LFA, LEED AP BD+C, is a sustainability specialist and licensed civil engineer at SmithGroup, where she co-leads the firm’s Embodied Carbon Task Force. She has consulted on millions of square feet of building and site projects, advancing LEED, SITES, and LBC certifications, and delivering decarbonization strategies that have avoided over 5 million kg of CO₂e so far. Eva pioneered SmithGroup’s first whole building and site Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), developed low-carbon specifications, and contributed to award-winning sustainability and resilience planning. Her work includes net-zero roadmaps and flood resilience strategies recognized by the APA Sustainable Communities Division. She also serves on the Illinois Green Alliance Auxiliary Board and the Carbon Leadership Forum Chicago Hub.