Ms. Taiwo is a highly regarded leader in the real property development industry with broad experience in public service and private legal practice. She joins the Authority as Chief Development Officer after years of private practice at a premier law firm in New Jersey where she counseled corporate real estate developers and public agencies at the state, county and local level on complex commercial redevelopment, land use and regulatory matters. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Staff and Assistant Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development in the City of Newark. In this role, she guided the municipality through the proper administration of land use and development entitlement procedures, initiated and managed the financing and development of affordable and market-rate housing, supervised commercial and capital improvement projects in the City of Newark valued in excess of $2 billion, while developing myriad strategies to advance Mayor Ras Baraka’s equitable growth initiatives. In addition to her real estate and economic development expertise, Ms. Taiwo brings a wealth of knowledge in public financing, public private partnerships, and grassroots-led community growth initiatives. In recognition of her professional accomplishments, Ms. Taiwo was designated “One to Watch” by CIANJ in 2023, was featured on the ROI-NJ “Influencers” list in 2022, and was named New Jersey Law Journal “New Leader of the Bar” in 2019. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Invest Newark, a non-profit organization that charged with the local business growth, affordable housing and community development in the City of Newark. Ms. Taiwo is a proud graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Colgate University and a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling with family and friends.