National policy leader with 25 years experience shaping cities and towns, and the lives of people in those places, for the better.

Lynn is the former President and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). Her groundbreaking initiatives at CNU include: launching the Project for Code Reform (PCR) which meets local governments where they are and has led to code changes in Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin; starting CNU Legacy Projects, which provide pro bono technical assistance in under-served communities from leading urban design firms and has a 95% implementation rate; and advancing highway removal and transformation and working with Congressional leaders on legislation that includes a $10 billion Highways to Boulevards effort. Prior to CNU, Richards had a distinguished career at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), holding multiple leadership roles over 13 years including Acting Director and Policy Director in the Office of Sustainable Communities. She worked with dozens of state and local governments to implement placemaking approaches by developing policies, urban design strategies, and environmental solutions for vibrant, prosperous neighborhoods. Learn more about Lynn here and see her in action at AARP, CityWorks Xpo, and Planetizen.