- A Framework to Guide Communities Toward a Just and Resilient Recovery
- CEO Jeff Hébert Reflects on Hurricane Katrina’s 20th Anniversary on Ten Across Conversations Podcast
- Jeff Hébert Speaking at the Adaptation Forum for NYC Climate Week
- HR&A CEO Jeff Hébert on Building Resilience for New Orleans in Smart Cities Dive and BisNow
Jeff is a problem solver and internationally recognized civic leader guiding HR&A’s expansion into new markets and practice areas while advancing its mission to build more equitable and resilient communities.
A former senior city official and leader in municipal governance, economic development, and climate policy, Jeff has spent his career developing strategies that help organizations and communities adapt to changing economies and environments. Over the past twenty years, Jeff has led and advised corporations, governments, nonprofits, and philanthropies on public policy, economic development, and climate resilience. His leadership as CEO since 2024 and his former role as President have been critical to HR&A’s growth in both business and impact.
Jeff’s vision is focused on continuing to expand HR&A’s capacity to support communities facing the most complex challenges. Since becoming CEO, he has overseen the launch of the firm’s Atlanta and San Francisco Bay Area offices and the creation of HR&A Labs, the firm’s digital innovation studio. His leadership has supported the expansion of the firm’s largest practices, including Tech & Society, Inclusive Cities, and Housing.
His work on climate resilience and economic development demonstrates how strategic planning and implementation can help cities build competitive advantages while protecting against climate risks and creating inclusive economic opportunity. Through projects spanning New York City, Newark, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Honolulu, Dallas, Tulsa, and Washington, DC, he has developed frameworks that integrate adaptation into economic strategy, showing how investments in resilience can strengthen both financial performance and community well-being.
Jeff’s public sector leadership shaped his understanding of how government can accelerate change during moments of crisis and opportunity.
He played a central role in New Orleans’ recovery following Hurricane Katrina, serving as Director of Community Planning at the Louisiana Recovery Authority under Governor Kathleen Blanco and in senior leadership roles under Mayor Mitch Landrieu, including First Deputy Mayor & Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Resilience Officer, and Executive Director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. In these roles, he helped guide the city from early recovery to long-term transformation, advancing strategies that integrated resilience, equity, and economic revitalization. He has also advised government officials across the globe, including in Queensland, Australia, after the 2010 flood, in Japan following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and in New York City and Houston after Hurricanes Sandy and Harvey.
Jeff serves as Chairman of FUSE Corps, and serves on the Advisory Board of the ULI Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate, and the Boards of the Urban Design Forum, Climate Mayors, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, and as a trustee of Citizens Budget Commission (NYC).
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Master’s Degree in City Planning – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Bachelor’s Degree – New York University
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Achieving Excellence Program – Harvard Kennedy School
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First Deputy Mayor & Chief Administrative Officer – City of New Orleans
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Chief Resilience Officer – City of New Orleans
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Executive Director – New Orleans Redevelopment Authority
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Adjunct Faculty – Tulane University School of Architecture
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President – HR&A Advisors (Management Committee Member since 2019)
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Strategic Advisor – Economic Development & Climate Resilience Projects (NYC, Newark, LA, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Tulsa, Washington, DC)
Projects
HR&A positioned Audible to demonstrate and amplify its economic impact in Newark. Working with the Global Center for Urban Development, we developed evaluation frameworks and conducted economic analysis quantifying Audible's contributions as a major employer in the region's cultural economy while creating strategic tools to guide future community investments.
HR&A supported a large public interest foundation in developing a collaborative philanthropic strategy that enables coordinated investment in economic stability and mobility initiatives across US cities. Our strategic framework and presentation materials positioned the foundation to engage philanthropic partners in concentrated efforts to overcome systemic obstacles facing low-wage workers.
HR&A collaborated with Fairfax County and the Economic Development Authority to develop a comprehensive Economic Recovery Framework that positioned the county for stronger, more inclusive economic growth following the pandemic. Our analysis and community engagement produced strategic recommendations that guided the County's investment in new programs and partnerships designed to strengthen local businesses and create opportunities for all residents.
HR&A supported the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) to develop the AdaptNYC initiative, including a Climate Adaptation Roadmap, a led a multi-disciplinary team to summarize and forecast climate impacts to New Yorkers through 2100, including how particular hazards (extreme heat, extreme storms, chronic flooding) will impact people’s health, homes, mobility, economy, culture, and community. The work addressed systemic and institutional racism disproportionately impacting New Yorkers of color.
HR&A collaborated with 100 Resilient Cities and Houston's Chief Resilience Officer to develop the city's comprehensive Resilience Strategy, addressing critical challenges including stormwater management, urban heat mitigation, and equitable economic development. Working alongside the Water Institute of the Gulf, Asakura Robinson, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and the Rockefeller Foundation, we contributed to a strategy that earned the Gold Planning Achievement Award for Resilience from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association.
HR&A helped New Hope Housing multiply its impact combating homelessness in Houston and Harris County. Our comprehensive strategic plan and implementation support enabled the organization to triple annual project delivery, launch new service lines, and develop GIS-based tools that systematically identify competitive development sites for serving vulnerable populations.
HR&A is helping Dallas ISD direct $40 million toward community facilities in neighborhoods historically impacted by segregation and disinvestment. Our work developing student-family resource centers at two school campuses combines comprehensive community engagement with capital analysis to create hubs delivering services that reflect local priorities.
Shipping containers cross oceans carrying cargo. HR&A asked a different question: what if one could carry climate resilience? The result was the Community Resilience Pod — a converted 40-foot container designed and fabricated for the Atlantic Council's Resilience Center to advance Miami's Resilient 305 Strategy. Built with CambridgeSeven architects and local artists through Miami-Dade County's Department of Cultural Affairs, it is a scalable, deployable platform that travels to the neighborhoods that need it most.
