About
Tom Hopcroft
Tom Hopcroft is the founder and CEO of the Net Zero Institute, where he accelerates the corporate transition to a carbon-neutral world through strategic collaboration and ecosystem-building, working with business leaders, sustainability teams, and policymakers toward shared net zero goals. He brings close to three decades of experience convening business, government, nonprofits, and academia to solve complex problems.
Prior to founding the Net Zero Institute, Tom led the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council as President and CEO for nearly two decades, developing hundreds of programs, policies, and partnerships that helped Massachusetts' innovation economy add tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic value during his tenure. Under his leadership, the Council's revenue increased 169% and the team grew 200%. He achieved gender parity and 25% BIPOC representation on the organization's Board, pioneered greater boardroom diversity in the sector, and helped create the first robotics ecosystem in the region, which later spun out to become MassRobotics in 2015.
Tom has a strong reputation for igniting innovation and driving economic growth. He and his team have received multiple awards, including two Anthem Awards (Webby Awards), a Hermes Creative Award, a Vega Award, and two Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) Innovation Awards. He was also named twice to Improper Bostonian's "Internet Top 40" and to Boston Business Journal's "40 Under 40" lists.
He has been twice elected to his town's School Committee, where he's served as Chair, legislative liaison, and liaison to the climate action advisory committee. While Chair, he was a leading voice championing the town's first all-electric, net-zero building project and advocating for direct ownership of solar. He also serves on his town's Energy Management Committee and on the board of MassRobotics. He previously served on the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education under Governors Deval Patrick and Charlie Baker, where he worked to expand college access and affordability.
In 2026, he ran for Massachusetts State Senate in the Second Middlesex District before returning full time to this work. A Massachusetts lawyer, Tom lives in Winchester with his wife, two children, and two dogs.
PERSONAL & TEAM HONORS
TWO Webby Awards (Anthem Awards)
Hermes Creative Award
Vega Award
TWO TECNA Innovation Awards
IMPROPER BOSTONIAN INTERNET TOP 40
BBJ 40 UNDER 40
Civic Leadership - PAST & PRESENT
Winchester School Committee
MassRobotics Board
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
TECH COUNCILS OF NORTH AMERICA BOARD