Summit Speakers

Wade Crowfoot

Wade Crowfoot was appointed California Secretary for Natural Resources by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2019. Secretary Crowfoot oversees an agency of 19,000 employees charged with protecting and managing California’s diverse resources. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, he advises the Governor on natural resources and environmental issues. Crowfoot brings over two decades of public policy and environmental leadership to the office, with expertise in water, fisheries, climate and sustainability issues. He most recently served as chief executive officer of the Water Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropy that builds shared water solutions for communities, economy, and the environment across the American West. Prior to joining the foundation, he served in Governor Jerry Brown’s Administration as deputy cabinet secretary and senior advisor to the Governor. In that role he led the administration’s drought response efforts and spearheaded several of the Governor’s priority initiatives to build California’s resilience to climate change. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996 and earned a master’s degree in public policy from the London School of Economics in 2004, where he graduated with honors.

Jenn Eckerle

Jenn Eckerle is the Deputy Secretary for Oceans and Coastal Policy for Natural Resources and Executive Director of the Ocean Protection Council (OPC). Jenn serves as a key advisor to the Governor and the Secretary for Natural Resources and directs policy, scientific research, and critical partnerships to increase protection of California’s coast and ocean. Jenn served as OPC’s Deputy Director from December 2016 to October 2022. Before joining OPC, Jenn spent eight years as an Ocean Policy Analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she conducted technical analysis and developed policy recommendations to advance ocean conservation. Prior to that, she was a Coastal Program Analyst for the California Coastal Commission and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Jenn earned an M.S. in Marine Biology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Vermont.

Megan Hertel

Meghan Hertel joined the California Natural Resources Agency in February 2024 as Deputy Secretary of Biodiversity and Habitat. In this role, Meghan leads the Agency’s efforts to conserve biodiversity and improve habitat across the state through the implementation of California’s 30x30 strategy and associated efforts including the Cutting Green Tape initiative and supporting the implementation of large-scale habitat projects. Before joining the Agency, Meghan served as North American Director for Land Life, a technology-driven, nature restoration company, and spent over a decade with Audubon California holding several positions including Director of Land and Water Conservation, where she led statewide conservation programs focused on inland water and working lands strategies. In her free time, you can find Meghan and her husband enjoying California’s incredible outdoors—backpacking, biking and paddleboarding—or trying to keep up with their foster dogs. Meghan holds an M.A. in Environmental Science and Policy from Clark University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida. 

Dr. Jennifer Norris

Dr. Norris’ career began as a federal scientist delivering innovative conservation projects at scale working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in New Mexico and then as the USFWS Sacramento Field Supervisor. Norris then moved to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) where she served as Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat since 2020. At CNRA, Norris led California’s 30x30 initiative to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 and oversaw the Cutting Green Tape initiative to accelerate the pace and scale of ecological restoration. Today, she is the first female Executive Director in the Wildlife Conservation Board's 76-year history. Norris holds a bachelor’s degree in resources policy and planning from Cornell University, a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of New Mexico. A native of New York State, Norris lives in Sacramento with her husband Scott and occasionally sees their grown children Jessica and Daniel. 

Sara Aminzadeh

Sara Aminzadeh joined the California Natural Resources Agency in March 2023. As the Deputy Secretary of External Affairs, she leads federal relations with California’s Congressional Delegation and federal partners on the Agency’s behalf. She will be working to advance federal policies and investments that combat climate change, expand outdoor access and protect biodiversity. Before joining Governor Newsom’s administration, Aminzadeh spent fifteen years working at the intersection of environmental policy and politics, on behalf of advocacy and philanthropic organizations, and the private sector. She has created and led numerous campaigns and initiatives to defend California’s rivers, bays, coast and ocean, and deliver climate resiliency and water equity for historically marginalized communities and working families. Aminzadeh served as a member of the California Coastal Commission from 2017 to 2023. In 2022, she ran for state Assembly in California’s 12th District in the North Bay Area. Aminzadeh lives in Marin and enjoys soccer, dancing, hiking, running, kayaking and stand-up paddling with her partner and son. She holds a J.D. from the University of California, San Francisco College of the Law and a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Claire Arre

Claire Arre grew up in Southern California, where a lifelong passion for the ocean was sparked by childhood tidepooling trips. From walking the beaches to scuba diving, her connection to the California coast continues to inspire both her work and recreation. Arre has contributed to marine conservation through roles with the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe), Laguna Ocean Foundation, and Orange County Coastkeeper. She currently works with Marine Protected Area (MPA) Collaborative Network, where she focuses on research, restoration, and long-term monitoring across California’s coastal and marine environments, including its network of marine protected areas. She is also an American Cetacean Society Whale Watch Naturalist and a Sea Turtle Monitor with the Aquarium of the Pacific. Claire serves on several regional steering committees and working groups dedicated to marine stewardship. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach—where she also participated in the CSU Catalina Semester at the Wrigley Marine Science Center—and an M.S. in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona. Her thesis research in Costa Rica involved documenting tidepool communities at 35 sites across two coasts, but her heart remains with California’s cold waters and kelp forests. Deeply committed to equity and access in marine science, Arre is especially passionate about mentoring students and helping all people see their place along our shared coast. She believes that inclusive stewardship is essential to achieving and sustaining the goals of 30x30. 

Francis Appiah

Francois Appiah is a Senior Environmental Scientist in Caltrans District 7. He began his career at Caltrans District 7 within the Division of Environmental Planning as an Environmental Planner specializing in Natural Sciences. During this time, he focused on permits, wildlife studies and connectivity to support sustainable transportation projects. Several years later, Appiah was promoted to Senior Environmental Scientist and was tasked with establishing the Advanced Mitigation Program for the district. His work has primarily involved managing permit requirements for transportation projects, with a specialization in advanced mitigation strategies and wildlife connectivity. Throughout his career, Appiah has been actively involved in numerous mitigation efforts, including in-lieu fee transfers, the purchase of credits from mitigation banks, and various wildlife-related initiatives. His contributions also include promoting wildlife safety, designing and supporting wildlife crossings, improving habitat connectivity, enhancing corridors, and implementing comprehensive environmental mitigation strategies across the district.

 Dr. Jun Bando

As executive director of the California Native Plant Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving California’s globally important native plant biodiversity, Dr. Bando represents 13,000+ CNPS members and leads a statewide team of staff and volunteers across 35 CNPS chapters. An ecologist by training, she applies multicultural and multinational perspectives drawn from service in public policy, diplomacy, and higher education. She serves on the 30x30 Partnership Coordinating Committee and California Biodiversity Network Steering Committee.

Heather Bernikoff

Heather Bernikoff is the Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat Program Manager/Tribal Liaison for the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts. A passionate land steward, she loves working the ranch on which she lives in the Sierra foothills. There, she expands monarch butterfly habitat and tends the land and waters for Indigenous food, fiber and medicine. Her experiences and encouragement to others to be good stewards of the land are documented in her blog, PolliNative.blog, and an essay on her connection to rangeland was included in the recent Roots and Resilience anthology published by Nevada Press last year. She loves working with Resource Conservation District staff because of their deep connection to the land and is grateful to her ancestors and all her teachers, especially her mother and grandfather, Victoria Ayala Bernikoff and Henry Resendez Ayala, for instilling compassion and love of all of our nature relatives

Mark Berringer

As the Natural Resource Manager, Berninger is a part of a dedicated team of biologists, park rangers, and staff who manage the largest city-owned urban preserve in the lower 48 states, just under 30,000 acres. He manages a diverse preserve system from Escondido, down to the Mexican border that includes 92 species covered by the Multiple Species Conservation Program, and the Vernal Pool Habitat Conservation Plan. The City of San Diego is recognized as a model for urban conservation, and Berninger works tirelessly to protect the amazing biodiversity of the city and beyond.

Maria Brown

Maria Brown has over 30 years of experience in marine conservation and as the former Superintendent of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, she has guided a vision for coastal restoration, climate change adaptation, and collaborations across North-central California's coast and ocean environment. She is dedicated to ensuring marine ecosystem health and engaging with diverse stakeholders to develop innovative strategies for conservation. When she isn’t working to save the ocean, she spends time with family and friends outdoors exploring the trails (her favorite trails involve water), at farmers markets sampling what’s in season, or paddling on fresh or saltwater.

Gary Bucciarelli 

Gary Bucciarelli is Director of Strategic Engagement for the University of California, Davis Natural Reserve System (UCNRS). He holds an Assistant Adjunct Professorship appointment in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at U.C. Davis and is the Director for the UCNRS Lassen Volcanic Field Station. He currently serves as the Chair for the California Sentinel Sites for Nature network. Bucciarelli completed his Ph.D. at U.C.L.A. and worked as a postdoc with the their Institute of the Environment and the National Park Service to develop a conservation genomics management plan for amphibians in the region. He earned his B.A. in Cultural Interdisciplinary Studies from Antioch College. His research is broadly focused on freshwater ecosystems, stream biodiversity, and amphibian ecology, evolution, and conservation.  

Lily Carlson

Lily Carlson is an Environmental Specialist working for LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) in the City of Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA in 2023, she started working for LASAN on the Biodiversity Program. Through her work on projects like the LA Biodiversity Index and departmental coordination within the City, she showcases how dynamic stewardship can be implemented in a highly urban area like Los Angeles. 

Kevin Conway

Kevin Conway oversees the CAL FIRE Demonstration State Forest Program, through which approximately 85,000 acres of forestland are managed for sustainable timber production, research, and recreation.  He is also the co-chair of the Giant Sequioa Lands Coalition, a multi-partner collaborative dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of giant sequoia ecosystems.  Conway's career in CAL FIRE began in 2013 and has included time spent working on fire prevention policies at the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, in the Forest Practice Program, and managing the Tree Mortality Task Force. He has contributed to numerous projects and committees, including development of grant programs, development of programmatic environmental compliance documents, and staffing the Range Management Advisory Committee.  Prior to working at CAL FIRE Conway spent nine years assisting private landowners manage coastal redwood and Sierra mixed conifer forests for numerous objectives.  He is a Registered Professional Forester and a proud graduate of Humboldt State University.  When he’s not working, he enjoys exploring the many forests, rivers and lakes of California with his wife Sam and children Amelia, Andrew, and Nathan. 

Dr. Dan Cooper

Dr. Dan Cooper is a Principal Conservation Biologist at the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, and a Lecturer at UCLA and CSU Long Beach. An expert on the birds and natural history in southern California, he has spent more than 20 years conducting surveys and drafting reports in the region, and co-authored a landmark conservation analysis for the Santa Monica Mountains Coastal Zone in 2014. Dr. Cooper was the Conservation Director for Audubon California in the early 2000s. He has published several dozen peer-reviewed papers and was named a Research Associate in the Department of Ornithology at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum in 2020.

Michael Delbar

Michael Delbar hails from a multi-generational ranching family in Mendocino and Lake Counties where they raise beef cattle, timber, and hay. Delbar took the reins as Chief Executive Officer of the California Rangeland trust in 2020, after having served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer for more than a decade. Prior to joining the Rangeland Trust in 2010, he served three consecutive terms as the First District Supervisor for the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors and was Second Vice President of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC). He also served on state and national agriculture policy advisory boards for CSAC and the National Association of Counties. Additionally, he served for two years as the Lake County Farm Bureau Executive Director. Delbar is a current member of the board of directors for the Potter Valley Rodeo Association, a former director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau, and served as state chair of California Young Farmers and Ranchers. He graduated from California State University, Chico with a degree in agricultural business and is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, Class XXIV.

Mike Esgro

Mike Esgro serves as the Senior Biodiversity Program Manager and Tribal Liason at the Ocean Protection Council (OPC). Growing up tidepooling and surfing in Malibu, Mike initially pursued medicine before shifting to marine science after a transformative ecology course at UCLA. He earned his biology degree and later a master’s in marine ecology from CSU Monterey Bay, where he became a master diver and developed a deep connection to California’s kelp forests. His Sea Grant fellowship at OPC sparked a passion for public service, leading to his role in tackling the state’s kelp crisis and advancing California’s 30x30 conservation goal. Mike is recognized for his leadership in biodiversity policy and his commitment to respectful, collaborative work with California Native American Tribes, helping to integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge into state conservation efforts. He sees stewardship as a lifelong responsibility—and a source of hope. 

Lauren Fety

Lauren Fety has been with The Conservation Fund’s North Coast Forest Conservation Initiative since 2015. She manages Improved Forest Management carbon offset projects in California’s redwood region overseeing forest inventory, verification, policy, and offset credit sales. She has previously worked for the American River Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and California. She has a B.A. in Biology from Swarthmore College, and also holds Master of Forestry and Master of Environmental Management degrees from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. She is a California Registered Professional Forester (#3149).  

Janessa Goldbeck

Janessa Goldbeck is the CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, a national nonprofit that mobilizes veterans and military families to shape American democracy and defend democratic values. Before putting on the uniform, Goldbeck was already in the fight working as a human rights advocate to protect civilians in war zones. As a Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer, she led missions overseas and served as a Uniformed Victim Advocate, supporting fellow service members through some of their toughest moments. While on active duty, in addition to her assigned duties, Goldbeck worked to reform the military’s broken sexual assault reporting process and played a role in overturning the discriminatory Combat Exclusion policy, opening the door for all qualified service members to serve in any military role, regardless of gender. She holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Public Leadership from the University of San Francisco. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to VoteVets and on the California Governor’s Veterans Board. 

Dr. Kendall Helm

Kendall Helm, Ph.D. is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, responsible for driving enterprise strategy that integrates sustainability, positioning the organization to reach its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and water resiliency goals, and leveraging contributions from the Environmental Affairs and Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs teams. Dr. Helm has a B.A. in Economics and International Studies from the University of Denver and a Ph.D. in Economics from American University.

Jacob Huls

Jacob Huls is a Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Alex Padilla covering issues related to public lands, agriculture, Indian affairs, and wildlife. A native of Fresno, Huls has proudly served the state of California for over six years in various roles on Capitol Hill. In his current role, he is dedicated to promoting tribal sovereignty, advancing climate-smart agriculture solutions, and expanding access to our nation's public lands. Huls is a member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, and he received a bachelors degree in Urban Studies and Planning from U.C. San Diego.  

Sara Johnson

Sara has served as the Executive Director of the California Ecological Restoration Business Association since 2020. She is an attorney with a background in and passion for solutions to public environmental challenges that blend conservation and economic goals. In her role with CalERBA she advocates for policies that support environmental markets and public-private partnerships that incentivize private investment and private lands for conservation outcomes in California. Johnson previously worked as a law clerk with the Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C. and in the environmental compliance office of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. She regularly speaks at industry conferences and on webinars to advise on the latest legislative and policy developments impacting the ecological restoration industry in California and nationally. Johnson received her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she served as the Articles Development Editor of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal, and her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Richmond. She is licensed to practice law in Virginia and California. She first learned her love of the outdoors in Maryland on the estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay, and now enjoys the diverse coastal landscapes and many outdoor getaways of Southern California with her family.

Dr. Rachel Larson

Rachel Larson, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher in the Conservation Biology department at the San Diego Natural History Museum. As an urban wildlife ecologist, her research tackles understanding where, when, and why animals live amongst people and how people and nature can thrive together in cities. She is also the main coordinator for the San Diego branch of the California Urban Nature Alliance, a consortium of institutions from across California studying urban nature.

Skip Moss

Skip Moss is the Chief Strategic Officer for Natural Resources Group, Inc. He is a professional biologist with over thirteen years of experience in the field of mitigation planning and development, land management and ecological consulting. He has entitled over twenty separate conservation banks and custom mitigation projects, resulting in the permanent protection of over 18,000 acres of endangered species and wetland habitat. Moss has worked extensively with project proponents in the energy and transmission sectors, real estate development sector, transportation sector and military to develop mitigation projects that help clients fulfill permit requirements or build value on existing land holdings. He has broad expertise in both the development of conservation easements between private landowners and non-profit groups and in the calculation of endowments for the perpetual management of habitat preserves.

Lillie Mulligan

Lillie Mulligan is the Senior Ocean Conservation Coordinator for WILDCOAST—an international team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions. Born and raised in San Diego, Mulligan works to support WILDCOAST's in-field conservation efforts including MPA compliance initiatives, MPA Watch, M2 RADAR, wetland restoration, and outreach. 

Juan Rosas

Juan Rosas, Network Manager at the Hispanic Access Foundation, is an international speaker and nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience. He has led and directed multiple organizations in Southern California, championing housing, healthcare, faith education, and conservation. He serves on the California Natural Resources Agency’s Partnership Coordinating Committee. Through Por la Creacion, Juan organizes excursions connecting diverse communities to America’s public lands and parks

Karin Roux

Karin Roux is a grant manager and team lead with the California Department of Conservation; Land Conservation Programs in the Division of Land Resource Protection. Prior to her current position, she spent two years working with a Resource Conservation District in their Development and Agricultural Programs and 14 years in New York State, working with land trusts protecting farms, forests, water resources, and open spaces with public access.  

Dan Silver

Dan Silver is a retired physician who has directed the Endangered Habitats League (EHL) since 1991. Before that, Dan led an effort to preserve the Santa Rosa Plateau near Temecula. EHL is a Southern California organization dedicated to ecosystem protection, sustainable land use, and collaborative conflict resolution. Formed to obtain endangered species protection for the California gnatcatcher, EHL became a leading participant in California Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP), an effort to reconcile habitat and development through preserve systems and streamlined permitting. EHL has been a stakeholder for habitat plans in Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. It is also a longstanding advocate for “smart growth,” engaging in general plan updates, climate action plans, and transportation plans. EHL’s sister land trust, Endangered Habitats Conservancy, owns and manages land. In 2004, the American Planning Association California Chapter honored Silver with its Outstanding Distinguished Leadership: Layperson Award.

Evyan Sloane

Evyan Borgnis Sloane is the Deputy Executive Officer at the California State Coastal Conservancy. She has been working at the Conservancy for 11 years focused on multi-benefit wetland restoration and living shoreline projects. At the Conservancy, she has managed coastal restoration and sea level rise adaptation projects across Southern California and San Francisco Bay. She is known for her love of sediment for wetland restoration and shoreline resilience. Prior to coming to the Conservancy, she participated in research studies focused on sediment accretion, carbon sequestration, and the impacts of sea level rise on tidal wetland habitats. 

David Smith-Ferri

A long time ago, David Smith-Ferri grew up outside New York City. At that time, he always assumed he’d spend his life in and around large urban areas, but falling in love with his wife led to falling in love with rural California and the state’s rich cultural and natural history. Today he is the Manager for the Petaluma River Mitigation Bank, a project of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. Smith-Ferri has worked for the Tribe for 16 years, and is married to the Tribal Cultural Historian and Historic Preservation Officer. Working for the Tribe has changed his life. He believes that Indigenous people in California have a tremendous amount to contribute to preservation and restoration efforts throughout the state. He loves being involved in the design/development of the Petaluma River Mitigation Bank Project for many reasons, including that he gets to work with a great team from Environment Science Associates.

Jaytuk Steinruck

Tribal Council Treasurer Jaytuk Steinruck is the son of Sheryl and Don Steinruck. Prior to being elected to the Tribal Council, he worked in the field of residential and commercial construction for fifteen years and worked in the Nation’s Natural Resources Marine Program for seven years. His work combines Tolowa traditional knowledge and modern science surrounding Tolowa resources. Steinruck serves on the Nation’s Culture Committee, Natural Resources and Harvesting Committee, Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery Board of Directors, the Tribal Marine Stewards Network, and the Del Norte County Fish and Game Advisory Commission. He also serves in a variety of roles in local youth organizations and sports. Steinruck brings the following approaches to his role as one of the Nation’s leaders: approachability, active listening, the ability to work efficiently with others, and advocacy for the maintenance and protection of tribal natural and cultural resources. 

Dena Spatz

Dena Spatz is the Senior Wildlife Biologist for California State Parks’ Natural Resources Division where she works on state-wide wildlife conservation across the Parks system. She also serves as on the California Biodiversity Network’s Steering Committee, which supports the California 30x30’s biodiversity goals, and as co-chair on the Sentinel Site Network Roundtable. She holds a Ph.D. in biodiversity conservation from the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at U.C. Santa Cruz and spent 10 years working for NGOs on island ecosystem restoration. Prior to joining State Parks, she was the Biodiversity Coordinator at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) where she served as a liaison to the California Natural Resources Agency's 30x30 team and helped CDFW staff to develop and implement their sentinel site monitoring stations. 

Jeremy Walker

Jeremy Walker is a first-generation cattle rancher from San Diego County.  For the past four years he has been the ranch manager of Rancho Corta Madera Inc., a cow/calf operation located in the mountains of eastern San Diego County. Like many other similar operations, Corta Madera is a family run business with a mix of private land holdings and public land leases. It would not be possible to complete all of the work on the ranch without the help of his wife Suzanne, their two children, and a few close friends. Walker has helped maintain the privacy and productivity of the ranch while at the same time fostering partnerships that benefit a wide array of ecological and economic interests. Since 2014, Corta Madera has partnered with the U.S Department of Agriculture, New Mexico State University, & Texas A&M University in the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project. The main goal of this project has been to develop a model for producing a sustainable beef product in the arid Southwestern U.S. Through this project, Walker has also worked with various government and industry partners to test and implement Internet of Things ranching practices, such as virtual fencing. Most recently Corta Madera has entered a partnership with the Audubon Society and has become the first certified Audubon Conservation Ranch in the region. Through this partnership, Walker and his family will work to ensure that Corta Madera remains a bird-friendly working ranch for many years to come.  

Dr. Laura Ward

Dr. Laura Ward is a cross-disciplinary researcher and facilitator with expertise in ecological conservation and social science. As the Conservation Science Director at Pepperwood, she leads science initiatives and organization-wide fundraising efforts. Dr. Ward excels at bridging science and non-science teams, guiding collaboration from project design through publication. Prior to Pepperwood, she held leadership roles in climate and AgTech startups, advancing grant fundraising strategies and sustainable pollination systems. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from U.C. Berkeley and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Saint Mary’s College. Dr. Ward spends her downtime reading novels, doing puzzles, bothering native bees, and trying to prevent her kiddo, dog, and two cats from chasing the chickens around her yard in Sonoma County. 

Megan Adcock 

Megan Adcock is the Senior Director of Learning & Engagement at the San Diego Natural History Museum, where she leads the development and implementation of education, volunteer, and community science programs that connect San Diegans to local nature. A seasoned education leader, Adcock has spent more than 20 years designing interactive educational experiences and developing inclusive community engagement initiatives that inspire people to take action for conservation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on multicultural and multilingual learning. She has worked with learners of all ages in formal and informal settings including public and private international schools, as well as zoos and museums. Adcock is driven by a passion to make science accessible and relevant for everyone. She believes in the power of educational programming to promote positive conservation behavior and change our world for the better.  

Carl Botteger

Carl Boetteger is a co-founder and faculty adviser to the Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment at U.C. Berkeley (DSE), an advisory board member for the National Science Foundation's Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab at Colorado, Boulder, and a co-founder of the open source community projects rOpenSci and Rocker.

Cassie Buhler

Cassie Buhler is a postdoctoral fellow at the Environmental Data Science Innovation & Impact Lab, an NSF data synthesis center at Colorado University, Boulder, and the Boettiger Lab at U.C. Berkeley. Her research is at the intersection of AI and biodiversity conservation, where she builds open science tools to support decision-making in conservation and natural resource management. Buhler has developed large language model (LLM)-based applications for the California Biodiversity Network, the Trust for Public Land, and NASA.

Jay Chamberlin

Jay Chamberlin is the Chief of California State Parks’ Natural Resources Division, where he leads a team of professional scientists and land managers responsible for the natural resource protection and stewardship programs, policies, and budgets for the State Park System. He has been in this role since 2010. Prior to his work with State Parks, Chamberlin led an ecosystem restoration program for the California Department of Water Resources and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the California Natural Resources Agency in addition to serving in a variety of roles in conservation non-profit organizations. He holds a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and an M.S. from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. 

Moises Cisneros

A team-building professional with decades of experience in environmental initiatives and sustainable economic development in Southern California.  Moises Cisneros is the Senior Campaign Organizer for the Sierra Club, where he was integral in designing and conducting community and business outreach for the Chuckwalla National Monument campaign. Cisneros is passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders and has done so through his former role as adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University and continues to guide youth along with his wife, Nancy, as mentors in the Inland Empire Big Brothers Big Sisters program. 

Teddy Cruz

Teddy Cruz (MDes GSD Harvard University) is a Professor of Public Culture and Spatial Practice in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of California, San Diego, where he directs cross-border, social-spatial and ecological research in the Center on Global Justice. He is known internationally for forwarding border neighborhoods as critical sites from which to rethink urban policy, affordable housing, public space and civic infrastructure. Recipient of the Rome Prize in Architecture, his honors also include the Ford Foundation Visionaries Award, the Architecture Award from the U.S. Academy of Arts and Letters, the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, by the French National Museum of Architecture, and most recently, the Vilcek Prize in Architecture. 

Laurie Egan-Hedley 

Laurie Egan-Hedley is the Director/Curator of Barona Cultural Center & Museum on the Barona Band of Mission Indians’ reservation in East County, San Diego.  She has worked in the museum field for 30 years, the last 17 at Barona Museum.  She serves on several committees of the American Association for State and Local History, on the Board of San Diego Art Matters, on the Board of Western Museums Association, and as Chairwoman of the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce.  She holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology and Museum Studies. 

Vicki Estrada

Vicki Estrada is a registered California Landscape Architect and the founder of Estrada Land Planning, a firm she established in 1985. A graduate of the 1975 Landscape Architecture program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she brings over five decades of private practice experience to her work. Her visionary portfolio includes some of San Diego's most significant public spaces, such as the Balboa Park Master Plan, the Park Boulevard Promenade, the restored garden in the Balboa Park Botanical Building, and the Robb Field Skatepark. She has also led large-scale community planning efforts, including the Otay Ranch New Town Plan and the Chollas Creek Enhancement Program. Beyond her firm, Estrada is deeply involved in community and civic leadership. She currently serves as President of Groundwork San Diego, is a member of the California Arts Council, and is a co-founder of the San Diego Green Infrastructure Consortium.  

Alex Feltes

Alex Feltes is the Digital Communications Specialist at Birch Aquarium, where she brings the ocean’s wonders to life through compelling storytelling and engaging digital content. She manages the aquarium’s social media and leads content creation, while also supporting broader marketing and communication efforts. Her storytelling highlights the aquarium’s animals, exhibits and conservation efforts, aiming to spark curiosity and deepen connections with the ocean. Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time outdoors — whether hiking, snorkeling, or simply soaking in the sunset. 

Fonna Forman

Fonna Forman (PhD University of Chicago) is a Professor of Political Theory at the University of California, San Diego and Founding Director of the U.C.S.D. Center on Global Justice. Trained as an intellectual historian, her work engages the intersection of ethics, public culture and urbanization, with a focus on climate policy, climate-induced migration and climate education. She currently serves as co-chair of the U.C. President’s Global Climate Leadership Council, advising the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) on climate and sustainability policy, research and education. Forman is a co-chair of CRC2 (Climate Resilience California and Californians), a partnership between the California Governor’s Office, The Vatican’s Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, and the UCOP. 

Katie Hawkins

Katie Hawkins currently spearheads the advocacy efforts for Outdoor Alliance in California. Through this work, she leads the organization's efforts in securing robust conservation goals, organizing major advocacy events in California and Washington D.C., advancing nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis, and ensuring that America’s public lands and waters are safe, welcoming, and equitable for all to enjoy. Hawkins was reappointed by Governor Newsom to  his outdoor recreation commission for boating and waterways, serves on the state's leadership committee to advance the global initiative 30x30, and is an alumni of the 2024 – 2025 Obama Foundation USA Leaders program. She is an avid backcountry skier, trail runner, and mountain biker. If she isn’t on the trail, she is most likely chasing her two active boys in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Pamela Heatherington

Pamela Heatherington is a longtime environmental advocate with over 30 years of experience connecting human health and environmental protection. She serves on the Sierra Club California Executive Committee and the San Diego Chapter Executive Committee, and co-leads the San Diego 30x30 Regional Group on behalf of the Environmental Center of San Diego. She brings a broad background that spans medical administration, environmental policy, and grassroots organizing. She was a founding leader of the Environmental Center of San Diego and formerly served as Executive Director of the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo. Her public service includes more than a decade on the San Luis Obispo County Health Commission. Heatherington's work has been recognized with the Rhodes Award from the League of Women Voters, the Bill Denneen Environmental Award, and the Joanne H. Pearson Memorial Award in Environmental Public Advocacy. 

Lila Higgins

Lila Higgins is a museum educator and researcher with over 20 years of experience in the field. They are passionate about connecting people to nature and supporting local conservation efforts through community science. They were the lead educator on the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 's Nature Lab and Nature Garden exhibits, author of the field guide Wild LA, and founder of the museum's Community Science program. They are also the co-founder of the City Nature Challenge, a global bioblitz event that engages people in 600+ of cities around the world. 

Jeanette Howard

Jeanette Howard leads The Nature Conservancy’s land science team in their California Chapter. The team focuses on developing and fostering a science enterprise to operate a climate-resilient, system of protected areas that maximizes retention of biodiversity and ecosystem services, produces replicable models of best practice in stewardship, fosters strategic relationships, engages the next generation of conservation stewards, and drives innovation at the forefront of conservation, restoration, and science.

Amy Hutzel

Amy Hutzel is Executive Officer at the State Coastal Conservancy, which works to protect and restore habitats, increase public access and recreation, and plan and implement nature-based climate change adaptation along the California Coast, in coastal watersheds, and in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Conservancy’s approximately 80 staff develop and manage state grant programs and have undertaken thousands of projects with state funding. Prior to being appointed EO in 2021, she served as the Conservancy’s Deputy Executive Officer and as the San Francisco Bay Area Program Manager. She has served on multiple boards, including the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, Resilient by Design, Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority, and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. She has a bachelor’s degree in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia. She worked as an educator at the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and at Save The Bay prior to joining the Conservancy.

Kyrstian Lahage

Krystian Lahage is the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Public Policy Officer, responsible for managing the organization’s engagement with elected officials and development of policy strategies. Lahage comes from the public sector where he most recently served as the Legislative Affairs Manager for the County of Orange, responsible for policy concerning public lands, water, and infrastructure. In that role, he helped lead development of the county’s first climate action plan. He has also served as U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Senior Field Representative for Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties and co-led her California wildfire taskforce. He is an avid desert lover and can be found camping with his dog Jezebel when he is not catching up on the latest current events.

Daniel Martin

Daniel Martin leads a team of consultants and project managers and the environmental management practice at Esri. He leverages his background in ecology, landscape architecture, real estate, and storytelling to help people utilize technology and design to build resilience and achieve balance between the natural and built environments.  

Liv O'Keeffe

Liv O’Keeffe is the senior director of public affairs for the California Native Plant Society. As part of her role, she is a strategic communications leader for the 30x30 Power in Nature coalition and California’s public lands defense campaign. She is inspired every day to work alongside California’s conservation, grassroots, and tribal leaders to protect the natural world and our connections to it. 

Chairman Kevin Osuna

Chairman Kevin Osuna has proudly served as Chairman since January 2023, following four years of dedicated service on the tribal council. Before his time in tribal leadership, he worked for five years as a Native America Monitor, where he advocated for the protection of sacred lands and cultural resources. With a strong background in construction, Chairman Osuna brings a hands-on, solutions-focused approach to leadership. He is deeply passionate about his tribe, culture, and ancestral lands, and remains committed to preserving and strengthening them for future generations.   

Beth Pratt

A lifelong advocate for wildlife, Beth Pratt has worked in environmental leadership roles for over thirty years, and in two of the country’s largest national parks: Yosemite  and Yellowstone. As the California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife  Federation, Pratt leads the #SaveLACougars campaign to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which broke ground on Earth Day in 2022.  The largest wildlife crossing of its kind in the world, it will help save a population of mountain lions from extinction. Her innovative conservation work has been featured by The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC World  Service, CNN,  CBS This Morning, the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Journal, The  Guardian, NPR, AP News, and more. Her books include When Mountain Lions are Neighbors, I Heart Wildlife: A Guided Activity Journal for Connecting With the Wild World,  and Yosemite Wildlife: The Wonder of Animal Life in California’s Sierra Nevada, which will be released in October of 2025. She obtained a B.S./B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, an M.B.A. from Regis University, earned the LEED AP credential, and trained with Vice President Al Gore as part of his Climate Reality Leadership Corps. She also served as a founding board member and the board chair for the nonprofit Outdoor Afro for eight years. The Western Section of the Wildlife Society named her “Conservationist of the Year” in 2023, and in 2024, she received the Alan Rabinowitz Conservation award from the Explorers Club. She spends much of her time in Los Angeles, but makes her home outside of  Yosemite, “my north star,” with her six dogs, two cats, and the mountain lions, bears,  foxes, frogs, and other wildlife that frequent her backyard. 

Maggie Reinbold

Maggie Reinbold serves the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as Director of Community Engagement in the Conservation Science & Wildlife Health Department. In this role, she oversees and supports the work of the Conservation Science Experiential Learning and Applied Conservation Social Science teams as they design and implement programs that connect communities to conservation for the benefit of both wildlife and people. Reinbold manages various programs including Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science, Exploring Conservation Science field trips, Advanced Inquiry Program Master's Degree, Native Biodiversity Corps program, and supports innovative projects that address the human dimensions of conservation at field sites around the world. She Is also the author of multiple books focused on bringing conservation science to the community, served as Chair of the San Diego County Fish & Wildlife Commission for several years, and is a part-time Faculty Instructor in the Department of Biology at Miami University in Ohio. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biology at San Diego State University. Since early childhood, Maggie has cherished her time spent in nature and is dedicated to instilling that same love of wildlife and wild places in her two young daughters.  

Gloria Roberts

Gloria Roberts is the Caltrans District 7 Director where she leads over 2,500 employees dedicated to serving the eleven million residents in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.  Roberts and her team are responsible for an annual $4 billion capital program that improves, operates, and maintains 42 freeways and state highways. These roadways serve 25% of the state’s population, as well provide access to the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Hueneme through which 40% of the nation’s imported goods enter the country. She has been instrumental in driving cultural change that embraces people, engagement, and partnerships. Roberts combines her passion for collaborative partnerships with sound business acumen to implement a holistic approach that advances transportation programs and projects. Under her leadership, District 7 is responsive to the needs of communities within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. She received her B.S. from Cornell University and her M.B.A. from U.C. Davis.  

Robert Rock

In addition to over twenty years of professional experience working at every scale of project management on projects distributed across the continental United States, Rock’s upbringing on a rural Iowa family farm instilled in him a sense of resourcefulness, frugality, and pragmatism that permeates every facet of his work. Rock believes in making even the most complex and dynamic designed landscapes understandable and approachable to all who build, maintain, and use them. Throughout his career, he has focused on the artful integration of infrastructure and ecology. As landscape architecture is increasingly called upon to perform essential functions of the built environment, it is his belief that the experiential quality of a landscape is as critical to its success as its quantitative performance. Beginning with his nearly fifteen-year tenure at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates in Brooklyn, his eight years as Principal of Living Habitats in Chicago and continuing with the founding of Rock Design Associates LLC, he has played a vital part in the coordination and implementation of ambitious, large-scale projects with complex institutional clients and stakeholder groups. In each he has committed to delivering a built design that is beautiful as well as functional. Since 2019, Rock's work has included the design, documentation, and construction oversight for the crossing and over 13 acres of supporting landscape, as well as coordination with an extensive internal and external team. The project involves an ambitious collaboration between five core project partners including the National Wildlife Federation, the National Park Service, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority.

Nate Roth

Nathaniel (Nate) Roth is the Department of Conservation's (DOC) Science and Data Advisor. Previously, he served as DOC's Geographic Information Officer overseeing their geographic data publication, practices, and the infrastructure that support them. He is a liaison for GIS data between DOC and other states, federal, and local agencies as well as private and non-governmental organizations. A constant theme in his work includes the use of data to improve decision-making processes through in-depth analysis emphasizing data and process transparency. Some recent efforts that he takes pride in have been supporting California's 30x30 initiative and building partnerships to complete acquisition of lidar coverage for California. Nate has a B.S. in Environmental Biology & Management, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from U.C. Davis. 

Melanie Schlotterbeck

Melanie Schlotterbeck, works as a consultant to the regional non-profit Hills For Everyone (founders of Chino Hills State Park) and serves as the Southland Regional Leader for the Power in Nature Coalition. With a degree in Geography and a master’s in Environmental Science, she has honed in on how useful maps can be used to tell a story, share data, educate decision makers, and win campaigns. Using both paid subscriptions and inexpensive or free resources, she has developed maps for acquisition, biodiversity, wildfire ignitions, park history, and more. Since 2010, Schlotterbeck has been recognized by numerous organizations including the Orange County League of Conservation Voters, Sea and Sage Audubon, and Women For: Orange County, as well as the Association of Environmental Professionals and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for her conservation work. 

Geneva E. B. Thompson

Geneva E. B. Thompson joined the California Natural Resources Agency in June 2021 as the Deputy Secretary for Tribal Affairs. In this role, Geneva will cultivate and ensure the participation and inclusion of tribal governments and communities within the work of the California Natural Resources Agency. She recently served as Associate General Counsel for the Yurok Tribe, where she practiced environmental and cultural resource law and represented the Yurok Tribe in tribal, state, and federal forums. She also served as Staff Attorney for the Wishtoyo Foundation, and clerked with the Department of Justice Indian Resource Section, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. Geneva graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, with specializations in Critical Race Studies and Public Interest Law and Policy. She has published several law review articles and has served in leadership positions across multiple bar associations, including the National Native American Bar Association, California Indian Law Association, and the American Bar Association. Geneva is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and enjoys beading, gardening, and hiking with her spouse in state and national parks.  

Clayton Tschudy

Clayton Tschudy is the Executive Director of San Diego Canyonlands, an urban environmental nonprofit that uplifts communities through specialized ecosystem restoration, equitable workforce development, education and advocacy, and by harnessing the mutually beneficial power of conservation to safeguard biodiversity and improve quality of life. For 30 years he has had a varied career in environmental biology and sustainable horticulture, worked through a variety of environmental nonprofits including the California Native Plant Society and the Water Conservation Botanic Garden, and served on numerous wildlife and horticulture advisory boards. He attended Humboldt State University for biology where he affirmed his lifelong identity as a plant nerd. 

Rachael L. Olliff Yang 

Rachael L. Olliff Yang is a technical science consultant supporting California’s 30x30 initiative. In this role, she supports the Pathways to 30x30 reports with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) as well as projects to improve biodiversity conservation with the California Biodiversity Network. Her work focuses on elucidating gaps and opportunities in biodiversity conservation in California, and improving community connections to effectively reach 30x30!