Previously: Intterra, OppenheimerFunds, Accenture
A diverse background of making things happen coupled with desire and energy to catapult community resilience helped me find an organization that is tackling the issue at the top - excited to change the dynamic of fire by promoting advocacy and all things related to beneficial fire and fire-related data.
Previously: California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), Smithsonian Natural History Museum, PhD Yale University
Committed to leveraging her expertise in science and policy to ensure a more holistic approach to wildland fires that allow both communities and ecosystems thrive. Fun fact: Teresa maintains a Research Associate affiliation with the Smithsonian Natural History Museum - and can’t wait to get back to spend more time in DC!
Previously: Congressional Affairs at the FDA, Vibrant Planet, Peace Corp Volunteer, Harvard Business School
Focused on strategy and legislative outreach in pursuit of better data-informed wildfire and forest management practices, Eric is excited to bring his dynamic experience to Megafire Action so that he can affect systems level change for wildfire.
Previously: National Partnership for Women & Families, Law Clerk in the Office of Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts
James is the Wildfire Policy Specialist at the Federation of American Scientists, working with Megafire Action in a joint partnership. He is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia. He is skilled in Legislative Relations, Legal Writing , Policy Analysis, Legal Research, Government Relations. Fun fact: James is the Megafire Actions resident “foodie” when we spend time in DC!
Previously : Sonder, Medium, Twitter
Nick is an experienced freelance copywriter that assists Megafire Action with brand and communications work - he loves words - course correcting our voice is his specialty!
Previously : Obvious Ventures, IDEO, Creative Artists Agency
Gabe Kleinman is an Operating Partner at Emerson Collective, supporting EC venture portfolio companies and venture team operations. He is excited for the future, working with an array of deep tech founders, from climate tech to biotech to help nail their narratives to drive growth.
Previously : White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, California State Fire Marshal, 30 year firefighter/chief
Currently works on wildfire resiliency strategy though many pathways and institutions and advisor to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Previously: Reporter on financial markets and venture startups
Kim is a partner at Initialized Capital, an early stage venture capital firm. She has led several deals in proptech, real estate and climate. Among other interests that serve the intersection of industry and public policy, she is a founding member at California YIMBY, leading a decade of public advocacy that changed a number of state laws in California around housing and zoning.
Previously : Chief of Fire and Aviation Yosemite National Park
Kelly is a Fire Behavior Analyst and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss. Passionate about fire fighter pay and conditions - and teaching and leading people how to safely and successfully implement controlled burns. Also serves as the president for the International Association of Wildland Fire, is a member of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Representing Wildland Firefighters and serves on the board for Grassroots Wildland Firefighters.
Previous: Shefali led the development of the first-ever State of FireTech Report in partnership with members of the Wildfire Technology Funders Group.
Shefali is the co-founder of Wonder Labs, a climate justice focused think-and-do tank based in San Jose, California.
Previously: Co-Founder of Segment
Co-Founder & CEO at wildfires.org, Partner at Convective Capital. Passionate about prescribed fire and scaling fuels treatments in the Western U.S.
Previously: Wildfire Commissioner for California, member of the California Catastrophe Council, Consultant on wildfire issues to the Senate pro Tem, CPUC, and OEIS
Currently the Director of Policy, Sustainability Accelerator, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
Previously : Founder and CEO of Wepay
Currently serves as a managing partner at Convective Capital. Bill loves both the forests of Northern California and the energy and pace of Silicon Valley. He is passionate about the potential of startups to create new tools for firefighters, policy makers, utilities, insurance companies, landowners and other stakeholders in order to restore a healthy relationship with fire.
Previously : Founder of Dollar Shave Club
Michael is the founder of Safewoods, a non-profit dedicated to the eradication of devastating wildfire in collaboration with the US Forest Service, congress, and members of the private sector. He is a member of the 2022 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
Previously : NASA Chief of Staff, Virgin Galactic CEO
George Whitesides has spent his career solving problems. Over the past 20 years, he has helped lead NASA to new heights as Chief of Staff, created hundreds of quality jobs in the Antelope Valley as CEO of Virgin Galactic, and supported front-line responders and public health through his work on the wildfire crisis, co-founding Megafire Action.