Our Experts

Rabi Abonour

Transportation Strategist, Resilient Communities, People & Communities Program

As an active transportation advocate, Rabi Abonour believes that promoting walking, bicycling, and public transit is vital for creating cities that are healthy, equitable, and sustainable. Prior to joining NRDC, Abonour worked on the bike share and open streets programs…

Zak Accuardi

Senior Advocate, Transportation, People & Communities Program

Zak Accuardi works across the U.S. to advance equitable, low-carbon transportation policies and projects. Previously, he consulted on transportation policy and climate change mitigation with organizations including the World Bank and Project Drawdown. He also worked as a senior program…

Sophia Ahmed

Policy Analyst, Science Office

Sophia Ahmed is a policy analyst supporting NRDC’s work on industrial decarbonization, federal emissions standards, and Midwestern policy. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked on various aspects of the clean energy transition at Strategen, Tesla, and the New York City…

Ann Alexander

Senior Attorney, Dirty Energy, Lands Division, Nature Program

Ann Alexander works as a litigator and policy advocate with the Nature Program's Dirty Energy Team—fighting to curb polluting fossil fuel development that threatens the integrity of our public lands, and harms communities living in proximity. Before arriving at NRDC…

Dana Ammann

Policy Analyst, Sustainable FERC Project, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Dana Ammann leads the development of modeling, analyses, and materials to support NRDC's and Sustainable FERC Project's mission to decarbonize the U.S. power sector and deploy clean energy resources into America’s electricity transmission grid. She works on policy efforts related…

Zanagee Artis

Fossil Fuels Policy Advocate, Nature Program

Zanagee Artis is a founding member and executive director of Zero Hour and has worked in the youth climate movement advocating for the need to transition away from fossil fuels. He is outspoken about the climate crisis and was a…

Sylvie Ashford

Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellow, Western Region, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Sylvie Ashford works on building decarbonization, electricity planning, and other clean energy issues in California. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked as a research assistant at policy think tanks in the Bay Area and Washington, D.C., and completed her capstone…

Josh Axelrod

Senior Advocate, Nature Program

Josh Axelrod focuses on issues including public land protection and conservation, renewable energy siting on public lands, limiting oil and gas development on public lands, energy transmission, and climate policy. Since joining NRDC in 2013, Axelrod has also developed expertise…

Sandy Aylesworth

Director, Pacific Initiative, Oceans Division, Nature Program

Sandy Aylesworth advocates to combat illegal fishing and for responsible offshore wind development. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked at the U.S. Department of State and was a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at NOAA's Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs…

John Bailey

Senior Advocate, Federal and State Transportation, People & Communities Program

John Bailey has over two decades of experience as an advocate for sustainable and equitable communities at the national, state, and local levels. Bailey works to ensure that transportation investments and policies benefit people of all ages, abilities, and incomes…

Roger Baneman

Advisor, Green Finance Center

Roger Baneman is an advisor to NRDC, working principally with the Green Finance Center. He is a retired tax partner of the law firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP. His projects have included the potential use for clean energy investing…

Max Baumhefner

Senior Attorney, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Max Baumhefner works to make our nation’s cars, trucks, and buses zero emission vehicles. He focuses on electrifying the transportation sector in a manner that also accelerates the transition to a smarter, more affordable electric grid powered by renewable resources…

Sujatha Bergen

Director, Health Campaigns, Health and Food, People & Communities Program

Sujatha Bergen campaigns for changes in corporate and regulatory policies that protect public health—from eliminating toxic chemicals in everyday products to cutting subsidies to the fossil fuel industry to promoting climate healthy menus. Prior to working at NRDC, she was…

Merrian Borgeson

Director, California Policy, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Merrian Borgeson champions stronger climate policies by providing analysis and strategic guidance to help us shift to efficient, renewable energy. She works closely with policymakers and stakeholders at the state, regional, and national levels. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked…

Uchenna Bright

E2 Northeast Advocate, Center for Policy Advocacy

In addition to working with the China and the Climate & Clean Energy programs on green buildings and clean vehicles and fuels, Uchenna Bright also cofounded a web-based, green building company that produced a directory in support of individuals and…

Jordan Brinn

Clean Vehicles and Infrastructure Advocate, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Jordan Brinn focuses on transportation policy and analysis. She advocates for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle transportation electrification regulations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution burdens, as well as policies that support a robust electric vehicle charging infrastructure network…

Lena Brook

Acting Director, Food and Agriculture, People & Communities Program

Lena Brook uses her expertise in advocacy and communications to influence decision makers of all types, from elected officials to CEOs. Her work centers on advancing a sustainable, healthier, and more equitable food system for all by leveraging a wide…

Margaret Brown

Senior Attorney, New York Regional, People & Communities Program

Margaret Brown advocates for more just and sustainable food systems in New York and other regions around the United States. In particular, she brings legal and policy tools to partnerships working to improve school food, develop the growing field of…

Lara Bryant

Deputy Director, Water & Agriculture, Nature Program

Lara Bryant promotes soil health practices and policies that protect water quality, use water more efficiently, and help farms to be more resilient to climate change. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked on sustainable agricultural policy at the National Wildlife…

Pete Budden

Advocate, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Pete Budden leads NRDC's state and regional-level hydrogen policy work. Prior to joining NRDC, Budden researched next-generation solar energy technology, earning his PhD in physics and undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship. He also worked for the Climate Change Committee in the…