Matt Weiner is the CEO and founder of the Megafire organizations. His experience working in Congress convinced him that the megafire crisis was solvable. He started Megafire Action in 2022.

PREVIOUSLY

Executive Director of the CA Democratic Congressional Delegation (House of Representatives), Chief of Staff to State Senator Henry Stern (CA), various roles with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Born and raised in Southern California, Eric Horne serves as California Director of Megafire Action, where he leads our operations in the Golden State. Having seen the impacts of the Palisades fires on his own family and community, he is driven by the thesis that the megafire crisis is solvable.

PREVIOUSLY

Eric previously led Megafire Action’s federal policy initiatives, advancing permitting reform for fuels treatments and wildfire technology with a focus on removing barriers to scaling mitigation.

Kayla Calkins leads strategy and external partnerships at Megafire Action. With 15 years of experience at Fortune 50 and startup insurance companies, she shifted her attention to working in philanthropy and NGOs on wildfire solutions that reduce risk and increase resilience. She utilizes her cross-sector background to integrate diverse stakeholder perspectives and facilitate effective action.

PREVIOUSLY

Wildfire Resilience Funders, Insurance for Good, BurnBot, Quanata, State Farm, Harvard Kennedy School

Molly is the operations and growth lead of the Megafire organizations. Before this role, she served as the COO at a firetech solutions company. This position provided insights into the challenges and inefficiencies within the end-to-end wildfire system, fueling her commitment to navigating solutions to end the megafire crisis.

PREVIOUSLY

Tech & Operations leader in the firetech services and financial services industries, Strategy and Consulting at Innovative Insights, Accenture

Teresa Feo, PhD is the Research Director and leads the work of Megafire Institute to translate science and knowledge into holistic policy recommendations that allow both communities and ecosystems to thrive with wildfire.

PREVIOUSLY

California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), California State Senate, Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Yale University

James is the Director of Federal Affairs & Strategic Counsel with Megafire Action. He engages in direct advocacy navigating complex policy challenges, regulatory law, and shifting political landscapes to advance solutions to the megafire crisis. He earned his J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law and is admitted to practice law in D.C.

PREVIOUSLY

Federation of American Scientists, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM)

Cassidy Geoghegan is a seasoned communicator with a decade of experience in political campaigns, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. She specializes in breaking through crowded news cycles, crafting impactful narratives, and building trusted relationships to shape public discourse and advance mission-driven goals.

PREVIOUSLY

Bully Pulpit International, Democratic National Committee, Priorities USA, Everytown for Gun Safety

Jay Balagna is the California Policy Advisor for Megafire Action. Having worked as a federal wildland firefighter around the West before transitioning to public policy analysis, he’s seen the megafire crisis up close and knows the power of policy change in addressing catastrophic wildfire risk.

PREVIOUSLY

RAND, Palisades Recovery Coalition, U.S. Bureau of Land Management

Gabe 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.

Kate currently works on wildfire resiliency strategy though many pathways and institutions and advisor to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Kim-Mai 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.