Olivia Percy

Olivia joined the Office for Sustainability in 2011 with the directive to develop comprehensive sustainability frameworks and community engagement programs for Harvard’s 6.5 million sq ft of commercial and residential real estate space.  In her five years in that role, Olivia created and established Harvard University Housing’s Sustainable Community Program, the Sustainable Community Leadership Program, and Harvard Real Estate’s Sustainable Workplace Initiative, along with over a hundred successful engagement campaigns, efficiency projects, stakeholder partnerships, and living lab pilots that have been replicated throughout the University and beyond the campus.  

In her current role as Senior Sustainability Manager for Harvard University Housing, she is leading the residential real estate team in its effort to develop toward a more sustainable future, manage their portfolio utilizing the most effective and innovative approach to sustainable operations and management, and oversee performance tracking and impact assessment for continual improvement. Olivia has been an essential member of working groups and steering committees at Harvard, with our local utility providers, and the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. She is a principal policy writer for university-wide standards and Harvard’s Sustainability Plan and leads studies in net zero retrofits, regenerative design, water conservation, and occupant behavior change.

Prior to joining the OFS team, Olivia held a senior consulting position in New York City where she oversaw an extensive portfolio of commercial real estate including television networks, city agencies, financial organizations, and educational institutions. Her expertise lies in the integration of sustainability throughout business processes and improved environmental and social impact performance across portfolios. Olivia holds a Master of Public Policy in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University with a focus on sustainable development and environmental justice, a dual degree in Political Science and Communication from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and post-graduate certificates from NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate in Construction Project Management and Suffolk University in Sustainable Real Estate. Olivia is a LEED Accredited Professional in Neighborhood Development and holds the ILFI Living Future Accreditation.