Katie Coyne

AICP, Certified Ecologist - ESA

Katie Coyne is an award-winning queer ecologist, designer, and urban planner. The first woman to serve as Environmental Officer for the City of Austin, she is responsible for guiding all environmental vision and policy for the rapidly growing metropolis. Prior to joining the City, she founded an urban ecological design practice with nationally recognized work. She co-led the City’s first racial equity focused climate plan; facilitated sustainable design-focused discussions for Austin’s first MLS stadium; was the architect of the City Council resolution that initiated the establishment of Austin’s first Resilience Office and Chief Resilience Officer; and, has been recognized as Central Texas Planner of the Year, Austin Under 40 award winner, Austin Business Journal’s Women of Influence finalist, Austin Young Women’s Alliance “Lead” award winner, and one of Austin Woman Magazine’s 2024 Changemakers. Katie is a longtime LGBTQ+ activist, and has been featured by Equality Texas and the Human Rights Campaign for her public testimony at the Texas Legislature fighting against the trans sports ban. She has taught Urban Ecology at the UT School of Architecture and regularly speaks passionately about the role of love in climate and environmental work, and about what queer and non-binary thinking can teach us about magnifying our global impact.