Laura Hamilton-O'Hara

Biography: Marja Williams Oranje LLC Bainbridge Island, WA Throughout her career Marja has been committed to innovation and sustainability, working on projects that range from international conservation finance to local development projects. Marja has led development teams to design and build the Grow Community, a Zero Carbon One Planet development on Bainbridge Island. She also worked to build the Island Gateway, a 30,000 sq ft commercial project including the Bainbridge Art Museum and KidiMu. She is currently managing a multifamily net zero energy project and developing concepts for a variety of wellness communities throughout the United States. With over 15 years experience in development management and finance, urban planning and natural resource management and policy, Marja has worked with a variety of private urban planning firms and public agencies, managing land use and environmental permitting and drafting land use policy on behalf of clients ranging from residential development companies to large public utilities, including the Parliament of the European Union, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Bonneville Power Administration, Clark County, Washington, and the Cities of Kirkland, Kenmore and Bainbridge Island. Marja is a member of the leadership group for the Sustainable Development Council. She contributed to the ULI publication, Ten Principals for Building Healthy Places. Marja completed the first ULI Center for Sustainable Leadership course in Seattle and is currently participating in the Health Leaders Network program at ULI. She holds Executive MBAs from both Cornell University and Queens University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Oregon State University. Updated September 2017