William A. (Bill) Wallace is a recognized leader in the field of sustainability, serving on several national and international professional society committees and operating a successful consulting practice. His first book, Becoming Part of the Solution: The Engineer’s Guide to Sustainable Development, has been a “best seller” for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). His latest book, The Great Civil Engineering Overhaul, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2024, details the effects of climate change on civil infrastructure and what alterations are required to enable civil engineers to work under changing climate conditions. Currently, he is a member and elected fellow of ASCE.
Bill was the inventor and lead designer of the Envision sustainable infrastructure rating system. This system helps project owners and engineers determine how much their infrastructure projects contribute to sustainability. Envision is managed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) in Washington, DC. ISI was founded by ASCE, ACEC, and the American Public Works Association. ISI is also partnered with the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. There are over 6500 ENV SPs (Envision Sustainability Professionals) in the U.S., Canada, and 19 other countries. Over 290 projects (constructed value of $170 billion) have received Envision awards or are in the awards pipeline. Bill received Engineering News-Record’s 2013 Award of Excellence for this work and the ASCE President’s Medal in 2014.
Bill has over 40 years of professional experience, including 30 years in environmental engineering and management. He spent 21 years at CH2M (now part of the Jacobs Engineering Group), holding various senior management positions, including a three-year term on their board of directors. Bill led the firm’s hazardous waste management group and helped it transform the company into a national leader in hazardous waste site remediation. On multiple occasions, he was invited to testify to U.S. Congressional Committees on using innovative technologies in hazardous waste site cleanup. At CH2M, Bill started the firm’s sustainable engineering practice and led its foray into the Olympic Games. CH2M provided environmental and engineering support services to the Olympic cities of Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Beijing, and London.
Bill teaches a distance learning course at the University of Florida, “Principles of Sustainable Engineering Design.” He also developed and chaired ASCE’s first International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), which was held in Long Beach, California, from November 6 to 8, 2014.
In the past, Bill served as a Liaison Delegate to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, an international organization of over 200 multi-national companies with a shared commitment to sustainability. He also served as the President and member of the Governing Board of Engineers Without Borders-USA and as a member of the Board of GeoEngineers, Inc.