Foresight Immersion Faculty

Peter Nicholson

Program Director

Identifying the need for a flexible, multifaceted, and highly adept entity to drive sustainable transformation across sectors, Peter Nicholson established the Foresight Design Initiative in 2002. The innovative organization has grown to encompass three divisions: consulting, education and sustainable business alliance. Widely acknowledged as one the most broadly knowledgeable sustainability professionals in the area, an insightful advisor, and an exceptional educator and moderator, Peter consults on and undertakes forward-focused sustainability-related projects for a diversity of clients, including government agencies, foundations and non-profits, and diverse businesses. Through his varied professional activities, he is in regular contact with leading policymakers, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners throughout the region and world. He has developed and taught sustainable business seminars on more than 10 different topics and was acknowledged with a Natural Leaders Award for his teaching by the USGBC-IL Chapter in 2006. Prior to establishing Foresight, Peter held a variety of positions in the private and non-profit sectors. In each, he has consistently pursued growth and innovation.

 

Uzma Noormohamed

Associate Director

As an Associate at the Foresight Design Initiative, Uzma develops and helps lead the organization's sustainability-related educational programs. In addition to this position, she is completing a master degree in Urban Policy at Northwestern University. Her research involves the use of market instruments and mandates to promote climate protection, with the belief that sustainable development is crucial to the long-term economic, security, and diplomacy interests of the United States. As an undergraduate studying Philosophy at DePaul University, Uzma received a generous Boren Scholarship to study development issues and Arabic in Cairo, Egypt. Prior to her current position, she spent several years in the private sector, working with a micro-banking institution that serves unbanked and underbanked individuals. A graduate of Foresight's intensive Immersion summer program, she is excited by the role of urban areas as laboratories for sustainable development in general, and the opportunities and resources in Chicago in particular.