Dan Barasch

Dan Barasch is an experienced leader, strategist, speaker, and writer, devoted to inspiring better cities and a better world through technology, design, and innovation. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Lowline since 2011, he created and led a high profile non-profit social enterprise to build the world’s first underground park, using emerging solar technology and equitable public design. Along the way, he helped uncover global enthusiasm for the power of technology to improve our cities, and the vast potential of forgotten urban spaces.

Barasch is the author of a book on abandoned and reclaimed architecture projects around the world, Ruin and Redemption in Architecture. He is currently CEO at Stae, a technology platform to allow cities to optimize overwhelming new sources of data.

He has held leadership roles across the non-profit, corporate, and public sectors, with strategic or consulting positions at PopTech, Google, New York City's workforce development agency, UNICEF, and the 9/11 Survivors’ Fund. A lifelong politics and media junkie, he began his career producing international affairs programming at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco, where he co-produced the weekly National Public Radio show “It’s Your World.”

Under his leadership, the Lowline was named one of TIME Magazine's Top Inventions, added to New York Magazine's “Reasons to Love New York,” included in Cool Hunting’s list of most innovative projects, and has received numerous architectural, engineering, and design awards around the world. Barasch is a former GLG Social Impact Fellow, and was included in the OUT 100.

Barasch is a frequent and global speaker on social innovation, emerging technology, urban development, STEAM education, crowdfunding, cause marketing, non-profit leadership, and public design. He serves as a strategic consultant to individuals, companies, non-profits, and socially-oriented organizations looking to achieve meaningful social impact.