Mayor Adams & Trust for Governors Island Appoint Two New Board Members
May 25, 2023 2:17 pm

L to R: Dr. Christian V. Braneon and Tim Cawley
Mayor Eric Adams and The Trust for Governors Island announced today the appointments of Dr. Christian V. Braneon and Tim Cawley to their Board of Directors. With leadership in climate change research and the energy sector Dr. Braneon and Mr. Cawley each bring decades of experience and expertise to the Board of Directors and will help oversee the Trust’s activities in the planning, operations and development of Governors Island’s forthcoming Center for Climate Solutions.
The Trust for Governors Island is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of New York City, with representatives nominated by the Mayor, the Governor of New York, state and city elected officials, and Manhattan Community Board 1. The primary responsibility of the Trust’s board is strategic oversight, reviewing and approving its operating and capital budgets, and authorizing significant contracts.
“Governors Island is set to play a massive role in our city’s planning for a future in the face of climate change, and the success of that mission requires strong leadership,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Christian Braneon and Tim Cawley bring unique experience and perspectives to the board of the Trust for Governors Island. I am excited to work with them and the entire board to strengthen the Trust as both a welcoming destination for visitors and the première climate change research center the world has to offer.”
“We are pleased to welcome Christian Braneon and Tim Cawley to our esteemed Board of Directors,” said Clare Newman, CEO and President of the Trust for Governors Island. “I have the utmost confidence that they will provide valuable insight and offer a breadth of knowledge to help further guide and inform the Trust’s civic and environmental stewardship of the Island. We look forward to working with Mayor Adams and our two newest board members to continue to offer New Yorkers a place of solitude and respite that is Governors Island.”
About Today’s Appointments:
Christian V. Braneon, PhD
Dr. Christian V. Braneon is Head of Climate Justice at Carbon Direct. He leads the integration of environmental and climate justice into Carbon Direct’s culture, operations, and services across the carbon management industry. With Carbon Direct, clients can set and equitably deliver on their climate commitments, streamline compliance, and manage risk through transparency and scientific credibility.
Dr. Braneon also co-leads the Environmental Justice and Climate Just Cities Network at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and serves as Co-Chair of the New York City Panel on Climate Change. He received an AXA Award for Climate Science in 2021 for his contributions to the understanding of climate change and related adaptation strategies.
Dr. Braneon previously served as Co-Director of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s inaugural Environmental Justice Academy for community leaders. With NASA, as part of its partnership with Microsoft, he developed novel applications of satellite data that aim to enhance resilience to urban heat stress. Dr. Braneon earned a B.S. in applied physics from Morehouse College as well as B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees in civil engineering from Georgia Tech.
Tim Cawley
Tim Cawley oversees the activities of Con Edison, Inc, one of the largest U.S. energy companies, supplying energy to 10 million people in the New York City region and serving as an anchor for the local economy. Con Edison’s resilient and flexible grid allows the company to deliver world-class reliability. The company is making historic investments in clean energy technologies that will help New York meet our climate goals and deliver 100 percent clean energy by 2040.
Mr. Cawley serves as a director of the Edison Electric Institute and the American Gas Association boards. He is a member of the executive committee for the Partnership for New York City.
Before becoming president of Con Edison, Mr. Cawley served as president and CEO of O&R. Earlier, he held a series of increasingly important senior roles. He originally joined Con Edison in 1987. Mr. Cawley earned an M.B.A. from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Union College.