Born and raised in the ahupuaʻa of Heʻeia, Oʻahu, Brandon has spent his career connecting projects, people, and places to advance climate mitigation actions and overall island resilience. He has worked at the intersection of conservation and clean energy – bridging nonprofit purpose, private-sector innovation, and government collaboration.
Over the past 15+ years, Brandon has held leadership roles with Blue Forest, Terraformation, and ENGIE North America, helping to develop programs in conservation finance, reforestation, and renewable energy. He has served on a number of boards such as the Public Schools of Hawaiʻi Foundation, Kanu Hawaiʻi, the Rebuild Hawai‘i Consortium, and volunteered with cultural and sports nonprofit organizations. Brandon continues to volunteer with ‘āina-based initiatives.
He lives in the traditional ʻili of Maunalua on O‘ahu with his partner and three sons, whose different educational journeys inspire his commitment to ensuring Hawaiʻi’s keiki thrive in and outside the classroom. The six years that he lived in Japan, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Great Britain continue to inform his outlook on life. He was tertiary educated at the University of London SOAS, Hope College, and Nanzan University, and is also a trained Climate Reality Project leader, Certified Energy Manager, Terra.do fellow, and TEDx speaker.