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…

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…

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…

Emily Barkdoll

Northeast Regional Director, Resilient Communities, People & Communities Program

Emily Barkdoll provides policy and advocacy expertise to help cities and states in the Northeast advance their climate goals through building and activating partnerships, advancing holistic policies and climate solutions that provide strong health, economic, and social benefits, and seeing…

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…

Claudia Blanco Nuñez

Program Assistant, Dirty Energy Project, Nature Program

Claudia Blanco Nuñez focuses on environmental issues affecting marginalized communities and those most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Nuñez supports advocates in the Dirty Energy Project by investigating discourse and policies for a just transition towards clean energy and following…

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…

Jordan Brinn

Eastern Sustainable Energy and Climate Schneider Fellow, 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

Director, Food Campaigns, 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 ending the overuse of antibiotics in livestock and advancing a sustainable and healthy food system…