Public service stalwart, environmental trailblazer Ed Burke to be honored at SIEDC Forum for a Sustainable Future

With a career of 38+ years in public service and environmental advocacy, Ed Burke will receive the Felix Gilroy Green Genesis Award at SIEDC’s Forum for a Sustainable Future on February 9.

With a career of 38+ years in public service and environmental advocacy, Ed Burke will receive the Felix Gilroy Green Genesis Award at SIEDC’s Forum for a Sustainable Future on February 9.

Staten Island, New York – January 12, 2024 - The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) this week announced that Edward “Ed” Burke will receive the Felix Gilroy Green Genesis Award at the organization's Forum for a Sustainable Future presented by National Grid and Pratt Industries on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 10:15 a.m., and hosted in partnership with Wagner College. The award, named after the late Staten Island prominent attorney, sustainability advocate, and friend of the SIEDC Felix Gilroy, is given to an individual or organization recognized for their dedicated efforts to make the borough a greener, more eco-friendly place.

“With nearly 40 years serving the community in public offices, Ed Burke has truly brought the motto, ‘The Borough of Parks,’ to life through his stalwart efforts surrounding environmental initiatives,” said SIEDC President & CEO Mike Cusick. “SIEDC is proud to partner with Wagner College to honor Ed at our Forum, which continues to serve as the borough’s leading platform bringing together key stakeholders addressing our region’s greatest environmental challenges.” 

“Our institution and borough are better places thanks to the inimitable leadership of our champion and friend, Ed Burke,” remarks Wagner College President, Angelo Araimo. In a playful nod to Ed's love for puns, he adds, "Whether proudly sporting Wagner's colors as an alum or ardently championing environmental legislation and educational opportunities for future generations, Ed has consistently embraced the 'green' spirit with unwavering passion and purpose. It is a fitting and modest token of our profound appreciation that we collaborate with the SIEDC to honor Ed's invaluable impact with the Felix Gilroy Green Genesis Award."

About Ed Burke:

Edward Burke recently completed a 38-year career in government on Staten Island. For 34 of those years, Burke served in high-ranking positions for four consecutive Borough Presidents and held the post of Deputy Borough President from 2006 to 2021. In late November, the distinguished public servant retired from Borough Hall in his last influential role as senior advisor to current Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. With a life-long passion for nature and the outdoors, Ed brought a special focus to enhancing Staten Island’s parks and the environment, coining the borough’s motto as “The Borough of Parks” and establishing the phrase “Jobs Coast” for Staten Island’s west shore to emphasize that economic development and environmental protection go hand-in-hand.

He worked closely with the borough’s elected officials on several landmark environmental initiatives, including the transformation of Freshkills Park from what was once the world’s largest landfill, to a developing public park on track to become the largest park built in New York City in more than a century. He also enhanced our Greenbelt and Bluebelt systems while acquiring park properties at Pouch Camp and Goodhue Park. 

Before serving as a senior advisor, Burke was Deputy Borough President under James S. Oddo from 2014-2021. He also held the role of Deputy Borough President for James P. Molinaro from 2006 to 2013, and executive assistant under Molinaro from 2002 to 2006. He served as communications director under then-Borough President Guy Molinari from 1990 to 2001, and as press secretary for then-Congressman Molinari from 1985-1989.

 Burke earned his undergraduate degree in English from Wagner College in 1980 and his master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College in 1997.

Known as “The Greenest Borough” of New York City for its 170+ vast parks and expansive square miles of waterfront, Staten Island is poised to undergo transformative projects in the sustainability realm to enhance the quality of life and promote economic growth for our community and its nearly 10,000 businesses. In light of this promising future and building on the success of last year’s Forum, SIEDC is holding the second annual Forum for a Sustainable Future on the vibrant campus of Wagner College from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In addition to the 10:15 a.m. ceremony honoring Burke, SIEDC’s Forum for a Sustainable Future will commence with a Keynote Breakfast followed by discussions, presentations, and a vendor exhibition featuring top city agencies, developers, and industry leaders. There will also be a student component to the Forum to educate future generations on this growing sector with large workforce potential.  

The Keynote Breakfast is the only ticketed portion of the Forum for non-members of the SIEDC and will feature executives and leaders at the forefront of sustainable industries taking the island by storm, including:

  • Justin Driscoll, president & CEO, New York Power Authority

  • Anthony Fiore, chief program officer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

  • Bryan Grimaldi, vice president of corporate affairs, National Grid

  • Jen Hensley, senior vice president of corporate affairs, Con Edison

  • Andrew Kimball, president & CEO, New York City Economic Development Corporation

Tickets for non-members of the SIEDC are $50 and can be purchased here. The rest of the Forum, including the Felix Gilroy Green Genesis Award ceremony and two sessions, are free and open to the public.

The Forum’s following two sessions will dive into subjects related to clean air solutions and battery safety and awareness, respectively titled Charting a Course for Clean Air and Supercharging Staten Island: Building Battery Awareness. View the Forum’s full agenda here.   

Carol Decina, corporate affairs manager at National Grid, and Michael Altobelli, vice president at Pratt Industries, will serve as event chairs. Adam Zellner, president of Greener by Design, is the Forum’s event ambassador. Corporate sponsors of the event include New York City Council Member David Carr, Con Edison, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kozy Shack, Northfield Bank, and NYC Department of Youth & Community Development.