Paula Kirk is Arup’s Global Climate and Sustainability Leader. With over 25 years’ experience, Paula specialises in providing sustainable, resilient and low carbon solutions for cities, governments and built environment clients. Ranging from policy development to practical regenerative design solutions, Paula works with clients to create a climate resilient world.

Passionate about promoting a holistic, sustainable design approach, Paula develops comprehensive and evidence-based strategies to reduce emissions and increase the built environment’s resilience to the effects of climate change. She embeds future climate scenarios and modelling, nature-based solutions and circular principles into projects. In recognition of her work with clients on their transition to net zero, Paula was awarded NetZero Champion at the Towards NetZero Ireland Awards in 2023.

Before joining Arup, Paula led the Mayor’s London Energy Partnership, taking a methodical, solution-oriented approach to corporate issues in the sustainable energy sector.