Nahal G. Ipakchi

Nahal Ghoghaie

Position Title
Senior Director, Water and Climate Planning Division

  • Kearns & West
Bio

Nahal G. Ipakchi is a Senior Director in the water and climate planning division at Kearns & West. With over 15 years of experience in community outreach and engagement, stakeholder facilitation, and urban and environmental planning, Nahal is a trusted convener and bridge-builder committed to making environmental justice and racial/ social equity central to climate and environmental planning. Nahal has worked on numerous efforts throughout the US and Canada to ensure perspectives of historically marginalized communities and Tribes are centered in decision-making processes related to water access, supply, and quality, shoreline resilience, habitat restoration, ecosystem protection, air quality, and flood/ wastewater management. 

Prior to her role at Kearns & West, Nahal co-led strategic planning for the IIJA-funded Equitable Infrastructure Initiative at the US Water Alliance. She also served as the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)’s first Environmental Justice Program Manager. In 2016, Nahal founded EcoEquity Consulting, with a mission to support government and academic clients with equitable outreach and engagement strategies for climate and water planning, policy, and funding. Some of her clients included SF Bay Restoration Authority, the State Coastal Conservancy, and Texas A&M.