(WK) Greenbuild Wednesday Opening Keynote: Kal Penn

Kal Penn, Actor, Writer, Producer & Former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, is slated to take the Greenbuild stage on Wednesday, September 27th at 9 AM ET.

Penn brings a unique perspective to Greenbuild, having worked both in the federal government, in the Obama White House, as well as Hollywood. His most recent work on the Bloomberg Green climate change docuseries, Getting Warmer, shines a necessary light on this enduring issue that the Greenbuild audience works every day to combat.

Penn is known for his starring roles in Designated Survivor, House, Mira Nair’s The Namesake, the Harold & Kumar franchise, and the Christmas comedy The Santa Clauses for Disney+. Earlier this year, he wrapped production on the Viacom/Paramount + comedy Surina & Mel and the Bloomberg Green climate change docuseries, Getting Warmer. This 12-episode docuseries, hosted by Penn, explores solutions to the climate crisis with a dose of humor and optimism. Penn also served as a guest host for The Daily Show following the departure of Trevor Noah earlier this year.

From 2009 to 2011, Penn took a sabbatical from acting to serve in the Obama/Biden administration, serving as the President's Liaison to Young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the Arts community. In these roles, he worked on various issues, including the Affordable Care Act, Pell Grants, arts and culture programs, the DREAM Act, rapid response to the BP Oil Spill, the earthquake in Haiti, and repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.