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…

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…

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…

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…

Yvette Cabrera

Director, Food Waste, People & Communities Program

Yvette Cabrera focuses on building a better food system for people, the climate, and the environment. Cabrera oversees engagement on federal and state food waste policy and cutting-edge research on food waste. She also manages the Food Matters project, through…

Britt Carmon

Senior Advocate, Federal Clean Vehicles and Fuels, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Britt Carmon focuses on reducing the environmental impact of the transportation sector by encouraging the government to adopt policies that advance clean fuels and the development of energy-efficient vehicles. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked for the White House, aiding…

Andrea Collins

Senior Specialist, Sustainable Food Systems, People & Communities Program

Andrea Collins focuses on making our food system more efficient, sustainable, and equitable. She is helping to create strategies that can be implemented at various stages throughout the supply chain, including on farms, within cities, and by companies. Previously, she…

Amanda Eaken

Director, Transportation, People & Communities Program

Amanda Eaken is responsible for managing and overseeing a team driving ambitious climate action in 25 U.S. cities to create transportation choices like walking, biking, and public transit, and to accelerate vehicle electrification. In 2020, her team helped to advance…

Jacqueline Ennis

Policy Analyst, Science Office

Jacqueline Ennis leads NRDC's net zero modeling work, using data to analyze decarbonization policies at the federal and state levels. She works on policy efforts related to clean electricity, transportation electrification, and NRDC's advocacy in the Eastern states. Prior to…

Meleah Geertsma

Director, Environmental Justice Policy; Environment, Equity & Justice Center

Meleah Geertsma works with communities of color and low-income communities to address environmental injustices, combining her background in public health with legal advocacy to support frontline partners. Her focus includes addressing the impacts of concentrated industrial sources and freight on…

Ashok Gupta

Senior Energy Economist, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Ashok Gupta focuses on policies relating to global warming, energy efficiency, renewables, sustainable building design, smart growth, and transportation. During former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration, Gupta served as NRDC’s representative to the Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Board and Energy…

Irene Gutierrez

Senior Attorney, Nature Program

Irene Gutierrez protects our oceans by promoting sustainable fisheries, fighting illegal fishing practices, preventing dirty energy development, and supporting policies to curb climate change. Prior to joining the Oceans division, she was an attorney on NRDC’s Climate and Clean Energy…

Kathy Harris

Senior Advocate, Clean Vehicles and Fuels, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Kathy Harris leads NRDC's work on clean vehicle policies and programs that accelerate the transition to zero-emission passenger cars and trucks. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked for the state of Delaware as a planner, addressing a variety of statewide…

Meghan Hassett

Midwest Campaign Manager, Center for Policy Advocacy

Meghan Hassett manages and coordinates Illinois and Midwest campaign efforts on behalf of NRDC and NRDC Action Fund, working with NRDC’s policy experts and advocates, as well as coalition partners, to build the political support needed to protect public health…

Samantha Henningson

Advocate, Clean Transportation, People & Communities Program

Samantha Henningson advocates for transportation options that are affordable, equitable, low-carbon, and maybe even joyful. Previously, in Saint Paul, MN, Henningson managed the EV Spot Network program—the nation’s first renewably-powered, municipally-owned carshare and curbside public charging network. Prior to that…