Sonia Succar Ferré, LEED AP, is founder and President of Futura, a climate resilience consulting firm. She works closely with clients to create practical strategies that enhance communities and markets – on mitigation and adaptation measures. Sonia is an environmental pioneer and has worked with the leading organizations to create and implement climate-focused strategies. She builds partnerships and collaborative projects that advance urban resilience in a place-based approach – integrating communities, data and risk. Sonia serves on national nonprofit boards, where she supports projects with lasting civic, social and environmental impact. 

Sonia has 15 years of experience in all major sectors, including leadership roles in city government, and the private, nonprofit, philanthropic sectors. Her career began as a senior field engineer with Turner Construction, the country’s largest commercial contractor, building the Southeast region’s largest multi-modal project. The $2 billion dollar Miami Intermodal Center is a transportation hub that connects Miami’s International Airport to multiple transit systems. She was awarded the company’s Green Award for her work implementing a recycling and LEED AP training program.

Sonia then worked for the City of Miami, leading interdepartmental coordination and implementing climate performance measurements for the City’s first Climate Action Plan. She helped secure $4.7 million in federal funding and managed the design of their first LEED Silver Certified Green Lab Resource Center. She went on to lead the City of Coral Gables sustainability program as their first Environmental Manager, leading their Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and Tree Canopy Plan. 

Following her time in city government, Sonia went on to launch the Everglades Foundation’s first ever $10 million dollar global prize. The multi-year science competition attracted 140 teams from 11 countries, and fostered the development of disruptive technology in phosphorus pollution. She most recently led the Cities Program for Florida with The Nature Conservancy. She worked alongside a network of 26 cities across the globe helping to redefine conservation for all, while prioritizing the needs of communities experiencing rapid urbanization and the public and social health effects of climate change. 

Sonia continues to advocate for nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change impacts through the restoration of coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, wetlands and trees. She has been recognized by the City of Miami Mayor and Commission as a “Woman Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination” and currently serves as the Chair of the $400 million Miami Forever Citizens Bond Committee. 

Sonia is an advisor to the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership at Florida International University, where she supports efforts that honor her grandfather’s legacy, while preparing FIU students and the members of the public who will effect positive social change in local and global communities. 

Sonia is a strategic advisor to The Atlantic Council Adrienne Arsht Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, where she launched their first Community Resilience Pod in Miami-Dade, to support food scarcity and environmental challenges during a public health crisis. She is now working with the Center to plan and activate Resilience Hubs that will enable residents to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural, physical, social and economic shocks and stressors.

Sonia serves on the boards of Far Away Projects, an organization that supports social impact projects around the world, and Island Corps, a volunteer corps comprised of educators focused on creating a more sustainable Puerto Rico.

In 2010, she was one of 50 Americans selected as part of the U.S. State Department’s Young Leaders Conference in Prague and participated in an exchange on environmental and energy issues with European States. 

Sonia received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Growth Management from Rollins College, and a Masters in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development from Harvard University. Her thesis topic focused on sustainable transit solutions for the 21st century, addressing climate change, fuel costs and congestion with wireless electric vehicle technology. Sonia is married to José Javier and together they have two sons.