Mami Hara is the Director of Seattle Public Utilities, appointed by Mayor Murray in 2016.

Hara was the network coordinator of a practitioner network that supports communities seeking to expand green storm water infrastructure programs. While in Philadelphia she helped implement national models that Seattle aspires to today. Green City, Clean Waters is the nation’s most ambitious green infrastructure program and its successes are helping to define national practice. Hara had served for five years as Chief of Staff at Philadelphia Water.

She has led management and policy coordination of a renowned public utility and direction of an international design and planning firm. In her public sector and private practice roles, Mami has guided planning and implementation of award-winning green infrastructure, sustainability, economic development, and waterfront programs across the US. In those efforts she has advanced sustainable land and water management practices through cultivating leaders, partnerships, participation, planning and knowledge sharing. Mami has degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University and is an advisor to several planning and design advocacy organizations. She has taught at PennDesign, Temple School of Architecture and the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT.

Meet Mami Hara, Uwe Brandes, and Thatcher Bailey (Seattle Parks Foundation) as our guest panelists at our next Urban Innovations Speakers Series event, titled “How can Seattle ‘Grow’ More Outdoor Space?” Click here for more information.