Lisa Shanahan

Lisa’s work reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable community development, which is highlighted by her longstanding service on the Norwalk Land Trust since 2012, her appointment to Norwalk Conservation Commission in 2019, and her election to the Norwalk Common Council in November 2019.

Lisa served three terms on the Norwalk Common Council. As Ordinance Committee Chair on Council for the length of her term, Lisa worked closely with Mayor Harry Rilling, and his staff, to bring forward many green initiatives, including new ordinances regarding trees, pesticides, Complete Streets and leaf blowers, as well as undertaking work to research and advocate for a Stormwater Authority for Norwalk. In addition, Lisa sat as chair of the first Sustainability Committee on the Council where her committee held stakeholder and public workshops and worked closely with staff and consultants to write the first conservation plan for Norwalk.

Lisa joined the Norwalk Land Trust (NLT) as a board member around 2012, serving as vice president from 2016-2021, and president from 2021 until this fall when the Norwalk Land Trust merged with the Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT), upon whose board she now sits.  Lisa undertook several interesting initiatives as a member of NLT’s board, including a first of its kind urban conservation mapping project in partnership with the Hudson to the Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership (H2H).

Lisa grew up in Norwalk and Darien. After graduating from Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Lisa joined the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago and subsequently moved to The Northern Trust Company. After returning to Connecticut in 2006, Lisa served on and held officer or leadership positions on several boards, including the Museum of Darien, the Darien Arts Center, Shakespeare on the Sound, the Rowayton Library, and the Norwalk Land Trust.