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Sean McMahon

North American Agriculture Program Director

Contact Information

E-mail: smcmahon@tnc.org

Brief Biography

“We need sustainable intensification of agriculture in order to feed a hungrier world and not see mass conversion of natural areas. American farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses will lead the way forward.”

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Sean McMahon has worked on natural resources policy for nearly twenty years, leading The Nature Conservancy’s national efforts on the Farm Bill since 2010. As North American agriculture program director for the Conservancy, Sean focuses on strategies to make agriculture more environmentally sustainable. Among many policy and on-the-ground efforts he focuses on strategic partnerships with agribusinesses. 

Prior to this role, he served as state director of the Conservancy’s Iowa Chapter, implementing statewide strategies to improve natural resource conservation. His work included leadership efforts to conserve six freshwater and grasslands projects representing Iowa’s most important natural areas. As chair of Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Campaign, he also lead a coalition of more than one-hundred organizations dedicated to securing increased funding for clean water, soil conservation and wetland restoration to help protect against future flooding. 

Before joining the Conservancy, Sean directed national land stewardship campaigns for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). There he advanced national policy and advocacy work to protect public and private lands—most notably sites such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana. Sean also led NWF’s agriculture campaign leading up to the 2008 Farm Bill. 

His experience with agricultural policy extends back to 2001, when he engaged in the 2002 Farm Bill as assistant director of government relations for the National Audubon Society. In addition, Sean worked for the Department of the Interior in a variety of capacities, including as deputy director and acting director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs where he received two Vice-Presidential awards for his work to reinvent government. 

Sean earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in natural resources from Virginia Tech. He and his wife Rebecca have three young children—Marley Grace, Conor and Griffin.

Sean McMahon

North American Agriculture Program Director

Read Sean McMahon's Full Biography

Read Sean McMahon's Full Biography

Read Sean McMahon's Full Biography