First elected at age 27, Heather McTeer Toney knows what it means to be a public servant. She was the first African-American, first female, and the youngest mayor to serve the city of Greenville, Mississippi (2004-2012). In 2014, she was appointed by President Barack Obama as Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast Region. Known for her energetic and genuine commitment to people, Heather’s work has made her a national figure in public service, environmental justice and community engagement. She is the author of, “Before the Streetlights Come On: Black America’s Call to Climate Action,” published by Broadleaf Books April of 2023.

Heather currently serves as the Executive Director of Beyond Petrochemicals, a Bloomberg Philanthropies campaign dedicated to halting the unnecessary expansion of petrochemical and plastic pollution in the U.S. Prior to her role as Executive Director, Heather served as Vice President of Community Engagement for the Environmental Defense Fund and Senior Director to Moms Clean Air Force.