Arup Welcomes Katherine Aguilar Perez-Estolano as Cities Leader for Southern California

"Katherine will spearhead Arup's work in LA to integrate its advisory services in strategy and economics, planning, and finance, delivered in the city context," noted Jon Phillips, Principal and Los Angeles Group Leader at Arup. "She brings an eclectic and powerful combination of experience to her role. We are excited to have her on board."

Katherine's work will build on Arup's existing broad range of skills including planning, sustainability, transportation consulting, energy master planning, and infrastructure advisory services to bring strategic support to cities and private clients. She will be leading Arup's efforts in the Los Angeles market to deepen its engagements with mayors, city governments, developers, infrastructure owners and investors, and other key urban stakeholders in support of fostering sustainable, thriving, and climate change resilient cities. She brings extensive relationships in public, private, and non-profit sectors as well as with executive administrators and elected officials throughout the country.

"At Arup, I have found a firm that has the breadth of experience and technical skill to make a real difference in our cities and in the lives of the people who live there," said Katherine on joining the firm. "Not only is Arup a great match for my diverse professional experience, it is committed to making a positive impact and shares the values and principles that I hold dear."

Most recently, Katherine was a 2016 candidate for the California State Senate District 25, where she received over 31,000 votes, nearly 15% of the overall vote in a crowded field of six candidates. In 2011, she co-founded Estolano LeSar Perez (ELP) Advisors, a DBE/WBE minority woman owned company that provides integrated solutions to public agencies, foundations, business associations, and other stakeholders seeking to grow thriving, healthy, and vibrant communities. In this role, Katherine managed numerous transportation planning, development, and community engagement projects. Katherine has also served as the Executive Director of the Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles District Council (ULI LA) (2008-2011); Vice President at Forest City Development; Executive Director at Transportation & Land Use Collaborative (2000-2005); Deputy Mayor for the City of Pasadena (1998-2000); and Transportation Manager for the City of South Pasadena (1996-98). 

Katherine has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout her career. She has been invited to serve on the National Board of Directors for EcoDistricts beginning in 2017. In 2013, Katherine was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Board of Directors of the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) where she chaired the Land Use and Transit Subcommittee of the Board. She was a board member for New Economics for Women, a member of the California Public Infrastructure Advisory Commission, chaired the City of Pasadena Transportation Commission, was a Pasadena Heritage board member, and has been involved with several local and national industry and leadership organizations. Katherine is an adjunct professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at University of Southern California.

"Katherine has shown drive and commitment in diverse leadership roles – be it candidate, consultant, developer, or public servant. We are thrilled that she has joined Arup and is now looking forward to help our clients here thrive in a changing environment," said Ignacio Barandiaran, Principal and leader of Arup's infrastructure transaction advice team.

With the new cities strategy based around eight core themes – city resilience, climate-ready cities, city life, city growth, city regeneration, host cities, city operations, and digital cities – Arup will continue to be an impactful firm in Los Angeles, where they have had an office for 30 years. Cities work has included collaboration with C40 Cities in developing "Climate Action in Megacities 2.0", development of the "City Resilience Framework" supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, and development of climate adaptation and mitigation plans, like the Washington DC Sustainability Plan. Current and recent projects in Los Angeles include a collaboration with USGBC-LA to author the "Building Resilience-LA: A Primer for Facilities" guidebook, The Broad Museum, LAX Central Utility Plant, California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, The Village at USC, Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor, Long Beach Civic Center, and the Los Angeles Convention Center.

About Arup
The preeminent provider of engineering, consulting, planning, design, and technical specialist services in the built environment, Arup aims to do the best quality work across diverse specialties to deliver value to its clients and achieve a positive impact on our world. The firm opened its first US office over 30 years ago and now employs 1,400 people in the Americas. Since its founding in 1946, members of Arup have developed transformative ways of working with its clients. The firm's unique version of employee-ownership promotes long-term thinking and significant investment in research and innovation for the benefit of its clients. For additional information, visit Arup's website at www.arup.com and the online magazine of Arup in the Americas at doggerel.arup.com.

Contact: Tami Hausman
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