Introduction to sustainability governance
June 12, 2025
Introduction to sustainability governance
1–2:30 pm ET (10–11:30 am PT)
Establishing good governance is critical for advancing sustainability. Good governance promotes clarity, accountability, and transparency, and allows human, natural, economic, and financial resources to be managed efficiently. While governance does not guarantee a strong foundation, its absence severely limits a sustainability program’s success and can, at worst, impede it.
Join this 90 minute session to learn the basics of sustainability governance including core documents, structures, staffing, stakeholders, and resourcing. Facilitators will also guide participants through discussions focused on key processes, such as using stakeholder mapping to inform sustainability program structures and strategies to build trust with stakeholders from a system-level perspective. Time will be provided for attendees to share their experiences developing the elements of effective sustainability governance.
Key takeaways:
- Learn how to develop or refine the best sustainability structure for your organization.
- Chart a path to gather buy-in for and perform a stakeholder assessment.
- Evaluate which sustainability governance documents are most critical for your organization to prioritize in the near and short term.
- Prepare new ideas or examples of sustainability resourcing and staffing for your decision-makers.
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This event is part of the Accelerating Health Care Sustainability series. Participation in this session qualifies as one of four required sessions to receive the Sustainability Program Fundamentals Certificate of Completion.
Matthew Pietro
Job Title
Sustainability Strategy Manager
Organization
Practice Greenhealth
Matthew supports the growth and advancement of environmental sustainability initiatives across the health care sector. Drawing on several years in dedicated sustainability roles within Northeast Ohio health systems, Matthew shares on-the-ground experience with hospital partners as they navigate their own paths forward. He has supported or developed health system programs focused on communication and employee engagement, green building, energy management, waste reduction, food sourcing, and other efforts centered on improving efficiencies and supporting health. Inspired by how the environments we create can support wellness, he continues his education as a LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, and TRUE Advisor.
Kristen Kaufman
Job Title
Sustainability Strategy Manager
Organization
Practice Greenhealth
Kristen is a Sustainability Strategy Manager at Practice Greenhealth, where she advises hospitals and health care systems on their sustainability programs and supports place-based initiatives. Prior to Practice Greenhealth, Kristen worked in urban and institutional sustainability, most recently at Tufts University's Office of Sustainability managing zero-waste, community engagement, and environmental justice efforts. She holds a Masters of Science in environmental governance from the University of Oxford and a BA in anthropology and sustainability from Emory University.
Join Practice Greenhealth
Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals.
Who We Are
Practice Greenhealth is the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. Partnership opportunities include hospitals, health systems, community health organizations, NGOs, nonprofits, government, academic institutions, and the health care value chain.