Guest Speakers

Leigh Whelpton, Program Director

Conservation Finance Network

Leigh leads the organization’s effort to accelerate land and resource conservation by expanding innovative funding and financing strategies.

By sponsoring intensive training opportunities and supporting a growing number of public, private, and nonprofit professionals, the Conservation Finance Network helps increase the financial resources deployed for conservation.

Erik Meyers, Vice President

Climate and Water Sustainability, The Conservation Fund

Erik currently leads projects on climate adaptation and resilience, provides leadership on urban and coastal water sustainability relationships, and assists with mitigation efforts.

Recent projects include pioneering coastal marsh adaptation, nature-based green infrastructure in vulnerable urban communities, regional restoration and resilience strategies, and a national nature-based coastal protection initiative led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA.

Moderator

Kim Penn, Climate Coordinator

NOAA Office for Coastal Management

Kim focuses on connecting partners to resources that advance coastal community resilience, with a primary interest in nature-based solutions and resilience investment. Kim also provides leadership and support for intra- and interagency activities related to these areas. Previously, at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Kim led the resilience finance portfolio within the President's Climate Action Plan.

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