Theresa Zawacki is Senior Policy Advisor to Louisville Forward, Louisville Metro Government’s economic and real estate development authority. Ms. Zawacki coordinates Louisville Metro Government’s local food initiatives and manages a range of cross-functional policy efforts, including the newly-formed Office of Redevelopment Strategies focused on targeted neighborhood redevelopment in Louisville’s Russell neighborhood, a suite of community engagement strategies, and Louisville Forward’s project management office.

Ms. Zawacki is the primary author of the Louisville CARES revolving loan program, which provides gap financing for affordable multi-family rental housing development, and has experience in public and private sector finance. Ms. Zawacki spent 9 years practicing law in the private and public sectors, where she specialized in land use, planning and zoning, land conservation and environmental law. She served as an Adjunct Professor of Land Use Law from 2005-2006, and is a frequent national speaker on topics ranging from local food systems to brownfields redevelopment strategies.

Ms. Zawacki received her undergraduate degree from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and her J.D. and Masters of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.