Iyad Kheirbek is the Senior Director for Mitigation and Air Quality at C40 Cities, where he oversees global technical and policy teams working to accelerate climate action across Air Quality, Transport, Energy & Buildings, and Ports & Shipping. He brings more than two decades of experience in environmental policy, public health, and urban sustainability, with a focus on connecting urban climate action to improved public health outcomes for city residents.
Previously serving as C40’s Director of Air Quality, Iyad led the establishment and growth of the organisation’s clean air, and ports and shipping portfolios. This includes the C40 Air Quality Network, the Breathe Cities partnership, and C40’s efforts to advance green shipping corridors.
Before joining C40, Iyad served as Executive Director of Air Quality at the New York City Department of Health, where he led the United States’ largest ongoing urban air monitoring network and helped shape policies that significantly improved citywide air quality. His work contributed to regulations on heating oil emissions and commercial cooking operations, the development of sectoral climate action plans, updates to the citywide air pollution control code, and supported the city’s sustainable transportation agendas. He received the agency’s Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to environmental health.
Iyad holds a BA from Tufts University in Chemistry and Environmental Science and an MS in Environmental Health from the University of Washington.