Our People
Meet Christopher Allen
San Francisco, California, U.S.
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Chris Allen has been a leader in sustainability for more than 30 years, bringing environmental and economic solutions to our clients and the world, building social and ecological value into every project.
He works collaboratively with partners and clients to co-create and align innovative technologies, practices, and business models to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits through high-performance sustainable/regenerative solutions.
An early innovator in biomimicry, Chris worked directly with the non-profit Biomimicry Institute, “promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable design systems,” and from 2010 to 2014, served as CEO of Biomimicry 3.8, a strategic consultancy and Jacobs partner, promoting sustainable engineering solutions.
Chris began his career on a UNESCO project called Man and the Biosphere, which introduced him to land use planning, ecology, resource economics, marine biology, GIS, and other aspects of sustainability. He took these lessons forward, into a career on the forefront of the latest sustainability technologies.
At Jacobs, he serves as the liaison for Jacobs’ partnership with to Biomimicry 3.8, for ecologically aligned regenerative development design and development, catalyzing high-performance solutions in sustainable infrastructure. He has been integral in catalyzing the coastal resilience program at the Tyndall AFB “Installation of the Future,” acting as project lead and author of, “Engineering With Nature® Supporting Mission Resilience and Infrastructure Value at Department of Defense Installations,” a USACE reference for other DoD installations that wish to incorporate natural solutions into their resilience planning.
“It is imperative for sustainability and resilience professionals to bring powerful new approaches to help solve the accelerating climate change challenge. Biomimicry, Nature Positive Design, and Engineering with Nature all demonstrate how applied ecological intelligence is essential for creating long lasting, effective solutions. I love this work because it opens innovation pathways based on 3.8 billion years of evolutionary design that works!”
Chris Allen
Chris holds a BBA in international business from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Certified Biomimicry Professional. He is a member of the International Living Future Institute, the World Ocean Council, the Society for Ecological Restoration, and the Biomimicry Professional Network. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Crain Business Journal, Management Innovation Exchange and other outlets.
Get to know Chris
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34
years in the sustainability field
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54
countries visited
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3.8 B
years of evolution in his design library
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46
years as a certified SCUBA diver
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75 +
presentations given globally about sustainability topics
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ReportBiomimicry from Sustainability to Regeneration
After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature already has solutions to our most pressing challenges. Discover how biomimicry — the innovation and design practice that learns from nature — can transform the built environment into a showcase for a regenerative world.
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PodcastsBiomimicry: Designing Great Solutions, Naturally
For this episode of If/When, we explored the exciting world of biomimicry and why it matters for the Built Environment, with special guests Managing Director, Biomimicry 3.8 Nicole Hagerman Miller; Jacobs Vice President – Global Market Director for the Built Environment Monte Wilson; and Jacobs Senior Consultant – Sustainability & Resiliency Chris Allen.
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NewsJacobs Teams with Biomimicry 3.8 to Deliver Sustainable Designs with Nature in Mind
Jacobs has signed a strategic alliance teaming agreement with Biomimicry 3.8 (B3.8), a global consulting and innovation firm specializing in nature-based solutions and nature-inspired designs. Biomimicry is an innovation methodology informed by 3.8 billion years of natural evolution and provides a unique platform for the development of sustainable and regenerative designs.
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SolutionCities & Places Market
We integrate data, technology, mobility and connectivity to improve economic and social equity and the resiliency of cities and communities. From sustainable infrastructure and inclusive placemaking solutions, to reimagined health systems transforming future models of care, we help governments, cities, communities and private-sector clients rethink how they deliver a better life for future generations.