Daniele HortonFounder & CEO at Verdani PartnersSpeaker
Profile
Daniele Horton is the Founder and CEO of Verdani Partners, a leading sustainability consulting firm managing ESG programs for real estate portfolios totaling nearly $700 billion in assets under management. With over 28 years of experience spanning architecture, construction management, and corporate sustainability, Daniele is a recognized industry leader in decarbonization, resilience, ESG reporting, and operational excellence. Under her leadership, Verdani has embedded sustainability across global real estate operations—supporting clients who have earned numerous #1 rankings and Global and Regional Sector Leader distinctions on GRESB.
Before founding Verdani, Daniele served as Head of Sustainability at Thomas Properties Group, where she led ESG initiatives that earned a #1 GRESB ranking for three consecutive years. She is also the founder of the Verdani Institute for the Built Environment (VIBE), a nonprofit advancing sustainability education and collaboration, and teaches Sustainable Real Estate at the University of San Diego.
Daniele holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Development from Harvard University and credentials including LEED Fellow, Counselor of Real Estate (CRE), GRESB AP, Certified Energy Manager, and licensed architect. A champion of public–private collaboration, she is currently leading Verdani and VIBE’s development of a Global Decarbonization Guidance Report. Daniele is also spearheading the launch of the Sustainable Buildings Collaborative – Americas, a regional multi-stakeholder group convening cross-sector leaders to align policy, finance, and technical solutions for decarbonizing the built environment across the Americas. As the proud founder of a minority-women-owned firm, she continues to advocate for scalable climate action and inclusive leadership in the real estate industry.