EPIC is pleased to announce that Mary Tran has joined the EPIC Air Quality Fund as its first Monitoring & Evaluation Senior Specialist. Tran will lead monitoring and evaluation of the Fund, ensuring the program progresses in its mission of supporting local actors in producing open air quality data to spur national-level actions in countries where they are needed most.
Tran comes to EPIC from the U.S. Department of State, where she managed the Department’s air quality program—DOSAir—that provided reference grade air quality monitoring to embassies and consulates around the world.
“Bringing Mary onto our team is a giant win for us,” said Christa Hasenkopf, director of EPIC’s Clean Air Program. “Her experience leading the State Department’s global air quality efforts is unmatched—and exactly what we need as we scale the EPIC Air Quality Fund and measure its reach and impact.”
Tran’s career has focused on advancing climate resilience by leveraging technology, data driven solutions, organizational growth, and, most importantly, community. In her new role, Tran will measure the progress of the fund against essential milestones for success. These goals include accessibility and usage of data, public awareness and policy action.
“Reliable, accessible data and thoughtful evaluation are essential to driving effective clean air policies and programs,” Tran said. “The EPIC Air Quality Fund is uniquely positioned to strengthen global air quality efforts and advance the way we measure and communicate the true cost of air pollution on communities around the world. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support this work by leveraging data to drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Thirty-one EPIC Air Quality Fund awardees in government, academia, and civil society are installing more than 700 monitors across 19 countries where citizens are losing a combined 2 billion life years due to particulate pollution. Projects will receive support over 18 months to enhance local air quality monitoring infrastructure, with the goal of generating awareness and driving national policy. Each successful project aids the Fund’s goal of expanding access to air quality data to 1 billion people by 2030.