The Living Building Challenge - Changing Systems thinking

Richard Graves, Executive Director

As the Executive Director of the International Living Future Institute, Richard directs the Institute’s signature programs: the Living Building Challenge, Ecotone Publishing and the Cascadia Green Building Council. The Institute’s work moves across scales, offering global strategies for lasting sustainability, partnering with organizations and local communities to create grounded and relevant solutions, and reaching out to individuals to unleash their imagination and innovation to create a future that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.

Before joining the Institute, he was the Senior Vice President for Community and Education with the U.S. Green Building Council from 2010 to 2012 he directed programs for its national and international members. As a volunteer with the USGBC, he served on the National Board from 2006 to 2010.  Richard is a registered architect previously working on ecologically sustainable building and planning projects around the world. He lives in Minnesota.