Robin Owens
As a lifelong resident of Chicago – a city known for renown architecture and revolutionary governance – Robin Owens has a fervent drive for conversional best practices throughout the AEC industry. Ms. Owens’ exceptional multi-disciplinary skills are exuded through her leadership traversing design, construction, and program management for public and private entities. With two decades of experience, Ms. Owens is a respected high-ranking leader, recognized for her commitment to providing strategic executional direction, process methodology, creating collaborative environments and lasting partnerships.
As Former City of Chicago Deputy Commissioner, for one of the most complex cities in the nation, Ms. Owens led the Bureau of AEC through the pandemic, an extensive capital program, and numerous city urgencies – ultimately driving programmed facility improvements of $1.4B. Her passion for metrics-based and evaluation-driven operations contributed to the City’s global renovation objectives and aided her dedication to this headship to carry out the City’s mission.
Currently she functions as Chief Strategy Advisor for the Local Govt. Vertical Market at McKinstry – a leading agency for integrated building services and deep market expertise for improved building efficiencies. Here she will champion the company’s global vision by facilitating nationwide team collaboration to ensure best practice standardization, and goal alignment while driving zero-carbon initiatives and partnerships forward.
With a foundation entrenched in architecture, engineering, construction, and leadership – her contribution to the industry is purposeful and incessant. Beyond her current role, Ms. Owens has served on vital industry executive boards, such as the Chicago Women in Architecture, Construction Management Association of America, and has been a careerlong member of the American Institute of Architects. She also volunteers for educational programs centered around Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM), supporting the urban youth as a Workshop Leader with Expanding Your Horizons. As an extension of her unique experience, Ms. Owens has been a featured speaker for various industry summits such as the National School Boards Association, Women In the Built Worlds, and Chicago Build. As a full circle moment, she accepted the honor to be the 2023 UIUC Architecture Commencement speaker.
Ms. Owens holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a graduate of the American Institute of Architects Transform Program for Leadership & Business in the AEC Community, is a UIUC Architecture Alumni Board Member, and a Fellow of the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy.
After nearly 25 years of post-graduate experience in the AEC industry, Robin Owens continues to use her foundational knowledge to create and bolster initiatives for the built environment.