Women of Carbon Film Screening

Basia Myszynski – Director / Writer / Co-Editor

Basia holds a BA in Drama from the University of California, Irvine, where she honed her passion for theatre and the arts. She furthered her craft with an MFA in Film Directing from the esteemed Polish National Film Academy, where she met her creative partner and future husband, Leonard. Basia excels as a writer, investigative researcher, and communicator, skillfully weaving expert interviews and compelling human stories into her films. Her work is renowned for its exploration of intergenerational themes and critical social issues. “Documentaries have given us enormous opportunities to explore the unexplored, discovering new voices and communities beyond our own, while uncovering deeper truths about ourselves,” she reflects.

Leonard Myszynski – Director / Cinematographer / Co-Editor

A native of Poland, Director of Photography Leonard is a visual artist and innovative storyteller known for his distinctive design sensibility and symbolic imagery. His European influences and imaginative approach drive his photography and advertising work, pushing boundaries in visual storytelling. Leonard's striking and thought-provoking photography has been featured in galleries, public spaces at airports, and APA exhibitions across the U.S. His fine art series centered on a Jewish cemetery is part of The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life in Berkeley, CA. Inspired by one of his bridge movies and the challenges of engineering and design over the forces of Mother Nature, “Urban Man” was an exploration of urban symbols, environments, and structures. The result was an integration of Man, Form and Fantasy. “Second impressions provoke me. I am interested in what lies beneath the surface, and then I begin searching for the ideal form,” he explains.

Together, Basia and Leonard Myszynski form a powerhouse filmmaking team, blending their unique skills to create films that are both visually stunning and profoundly impactful.

Their production company, sOlar eye, has a diverse portfolio spanning entertainment, corporate, and healthcare sectors. Highlights include John Farrar's "Making Music" and Olivia Newton-John's benefit concert, Grammy-nominated DVD content for Walt Disney Records, and various projects for Fox Searchlight Pictures. Their nationally broadcast 2PBS documentaries focus on American icons, such as “Modjeska-Woman Triumphant” about a bi-national star, “Bridging Urban America” about master bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski and 20th century American bridges, and their acclaimed “Leaning Out” about the lead structural engineer of the World Trade Center Les Robertson. Their films have screened globally, reaching audiences from Australia to Asia, Europe, New Zealand, and Canada.

Basia and Leonard reside in Southern California.

Karim Iliya – Second Unit Camera / Drone Operator – Nature & Underwater Sequences

Karim Iliya is a photographer, filmmaker, and whale swimming guide based in Iceland and Hawaii. He co-founded Kogia, a non-profit offering free nature photos and videos for conservation. Selected for the cancelled dearMoon mission with SpaceX, Karim has explored diverse environments from volcanoes to Arctic ice and documents these in his work to protect ecosystems. With experience in over 50 countries, his work has been featured in National Geographic and BBC Earth.

Director Basia’s Statement

I’ve always believed that gender equity and climate justice are deeply interconnected. In our new film, "Women of Carbon," my partner and I explore environmental solutions from the building industry's perspective. Through my research, I was inspired by the women leading the charge in climate action, especially given my own experiences in a male-dominated field. 

These pioneering women are transforming how we approach carbon reduction with innovative materials and technologies. Their stories are about overcoming challenges, balancing careers and motherhood, and making significant strides for both environmental and gender justice.

"Women of Carbon" highlights their impactful journeys and aims to shed light on the urgent need for both gender equality and sustainable solutions. Our goal is to inspire compassion, reveal viable paths forward, and ultimately change how we think about our planet and our place within it.

Panel:

Rena Simon, AIA LEED AP
Principal, ZGF

Rena Simon is a designer of many facets: part storyteller, part artist, and part innovator, she intentionally delves into the heart of client’s missions and cultures to find the right solution. Her deep appreciation of the natural world serves as her inspiration in connecting conceptual architectural ideas to the greater aspirations of her clients. Her calm and intentional leadership is demonstrated in her resolute commitment to tackling any design problem and knack for motivating and mentoring younger designers. 

Erica Spiritos,
Executive Director, Washington Mass Timber Accelerator

Erica has long been interested in the design of urban environments in ways that honor the natural resources on which our lives depend. For nearly a decade, Erica has dedicated her professional energy to advancing the use of mass timber. She began her journey as a sales representative for Structurlam, and went on to establish Swinerton’s mass timber division, which became Timberlab – a leading provider of holistic mass timber systems with a reputation for collaboration and innovation. As VP and Director of Preconstruction, Erica brought mass timber dreams to life, helping to deliver precedent-setting projects including Seattle’s Heartwood – a workforce housing project the first Type IV-C building permitted and constructed in the United States. Erica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. She was named a DJC Oregon Women of Vision, and one of ThinkWood’s Leading Women Innovating in AEC and Beyond.  She resides in Portland, Oregon with her amazing partner and sons.

Frances Yang
Associate Principal, Arup

As leader of the sustainable materials practice in the Americas region of Arup, Frances has extensive experience in leading projects towards lower carbon, more sustainable, and healthier outcomes.

Combining her expertise in structural engineering, construction materials and advanced used of life-cycle assessment (LCA) tools, she has helped numerous projects aggressively drive down embodied carbon within our built environment.

Frances is a constant mobilizer and collaborator, having served on the Carbon Leadership Forum Board, vice-chaired the USGBC Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group and the Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment, and co-founding the All for Reuse initiative. She also co-authored “Prescription for Healthier Building Materials: a Design and Implementation Protocol” for the AIA, the “Wood Like Never Before” chapter within the New Carbon Architecture book, and the ASCE technical guidance document “Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment: Reference Building Structure and Strategies,” which is referenced by LEEDv4, ILFI’s Zero Carbon Certification, and other respected standards.

Katie Ackerly, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC
Principal / Sustainable Design Director, David Baker Architects

Katie Ackerly, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC A national leader, Katie Ackerly drives change by elevating the human experience in design for housing and communities. She leverages cross-disciplinary collaboration, research, and practice to advance sustainable multifamily design, resilience, and connection to place.

Katie is aligning climate action and housing development by breaking down barriers between design practice and policy implementation. She has helped define David Baker Architects -- a nationally known, locally focused housing and urban design firm with offices in California and Alabama -- as committed to advancing human-centered sustainable design as part of its commitment to good design, livable density, and homes for all.

Moderator:

Pauline Souza, FAIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, LFA
Partner, WRNS

As WRNS Studio’s Director of Sustainability and co-Lead of the K-12 and Civic Studio, Pauline has led numerous projects with a passion for health, inclusivity and beauty. With four decades of experience, she has dedicated her career to the building and advocacy of sustainable environments that serve our communities. The driving force behind her work is a passion for advancing the role of design as a medium for building a more sustainable, resilient, equitable future in which the next generation can flourish. Such projects include the Sonoma Academy Guild and Commons, a LEED Platinum, LBC Petal and Net Zero Carbon and AIA COTE winner, and the Atherton Library and Civic Center, a LEED Gold, PEC All-Electric Award winner and AIA/ALA 2023 Library award.

Pauline brings a tenacious leadership approach rooted in the idea that good design and sustainable design are synonymous and can be achieved at any scale and any budget. She is responsible for implementing sustainable design principles into all of the studio’s projects and business operations. A recognized leader within the green building movement, she participates in the current conversations and collaborations with other changer makers in driving collective good. She currently serves in an advisory role for the International Well Building Institute, is a co-chair at the AIA California Climate Action Communications Committee, and has served in various organizations including as a USGBC Green Schools National Chair. She speaks regularly at conferences and contributes often to publications focused on sustainability.

Pauline received the USGBC Green Business Leader Award, LBC Hero, and USGBC Greenest Apple Award. She is an FAIA, WELL AP and LEED Fellow.