Our Leaders in California
Executive Leaders
Scott Morrison, Conservation Director
Conservation Programs & Science Director
As the Director of Conservation Programs & The Victor E. Shelford Director of Conservation Science, Scott leads an interdisciplinary team of conservation scientists and practitioners who design and implement cutting-edge conservation strategies across the lands and waters of California. He began his career with The Nature Conservancy in 2001, working to develop the science and planning foundations for our work to protect a network of conservation lands across that rapidly urbanizing landscape of southern California. In 2008, he assumed the directorship of California’s science and geodesign teams; his contributions during that tenure included co-leading the team that spearheaded the 2016 refresh of the Conservancy’s signature “approach”, Conservation by Design. In 2017, his scope was expanded to include leadership and management of California’s Conservation Programs Department.
Policy
Liz Forsburg Pardi, State Policy
California Policy Director
Liz Forsburg Pardi is The Nature Conservancy's California Policy Director overseeing policy engagements and directing strategies on public policy, legislation and funding issues. She joined TNC in 2005, leading the organization’s outreach on forest and agricultural policy in Washington, D.C. She brings more than 18 years of experience advancing policy change as well as extensive leadership on public funding and conservation ballot initiatives.
Mark Kramer, Federal Policy
Federal External Affairs Director
Over the past two and a half decades, Mark has helped TNC advocate for impactful environmental policy, programs and projects across multiple administrations. Prior to joining TNC in 2000, he spent a decade working on natural resource and environmental policy in Washington D.C., in both the Executive branch and in Congress.
Development and Marketing
Catherine Rondinaro, Development
Interim Chief Development Officer
Catherine Rondinaro has served as the Interim Chief Development Officer for The Nature Conservancy in California since April 2024, following roles as Special Advisor, Interim Director of Philanthropy, and Interim Director of Strategic Partnerships with Nature United, TNC’s affiliate in Canada. Catherine joined TNC in 2001 as a Development Assistant in TNC CA's state membership program, and held various development operations roles until 2011 when she left to become Associate Director of Philanthropy at ClimateWorks Foundation. She returned to TNC CA’s CFR team in 2016, and then led that team until 2021. Originally from New York State's Finger Lakes Region, she earned a B.A. in Music from Roberts Wesleyan College (and still spends her free time practicing and performing music).
Danny Johnson, Marketing
Marketing and Communications Director
Danny Johnson brings over 20 years of experience in marketing, content, operations, and growth leadership to The Nature Conservancy in California where he leads Marketing and Communications. His role is critical within the organization given California’s position as one of the most biodiverse locations in the world, combined with the state’s capabilities in global conservation leadership, fundraising, technology, public policy and innovation.
Danny joined in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of marketing, strategy, creative and production experience in the media and entertainment space. Most recently, he led Paramount Pictures’ Worldwide Creative Content team, crafting and producing content for film properties including A Quiet Place, Mission Impossible: Fallout, and Rocketman. Prior to that, he helped build a new discipline at Twentieth Century Fox focusing on strengthening the connection between worldwide audiences and the studio’s most valuable franchises. He founded a creative agency, Creative Asylum, and over a decade led the company from 2 to 120 employees and 4 offices worldwide. He has a law degree from Loyola Marymount University and a Cultural Anthropology degree from UC Santa Barbara.
Danny is a native Californian and has a lifelong love of the outdoors and the sense of well being he finds in nature. When he’s not working he enjoys good whiskey, dogs, baseball, basketball, fitness, and watersports of all types (surfing and being near any body of water). Danny and his wife, 18-year old son and 16-year old daughter, two Old English Sheepdogs and one mystery mutt, live in South Pasadena, a short jaunt away from the Los Angeles office and LA’s most sacred place—Dodger Stadium.
Conservation Program Leads
Rodd Kelsey, Land Program Director
California Land Program Director
Rodd leads TNC California's efforts to create a connected and resilient network of protected lands. He has served as both lead scientist and strategy lead for TNC California's Land and Water programs. He has also worked in both the public and private sectors as a natural resources manager. Rodd has published more than 40 papers on land conservation, wildlife-friendly agriculture and migratory birds. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in ecology and animal behavior.
Sandi Matsumoto, Water Program Director
California Water Program Director
Sandi leads a multidisciplinary team focused on securing a sustainable and resilient water future for California. At TNC, she has worked at the nexus of water and agriculture across the state, including launching BirdReturns and working to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. A Central Valley native, she earned her B.A. from Yale University and her M.B.A. from the Anderson School at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2017, Governor Brown appointed her to the board of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. She is also a member of the first cohort of the Water Solutions Network.
Tom Dempsey, Oceans Program Director
California Oceans Program Director
Tom leads the effort to transform how marine biodiversity and ecosystems are protected and managed. Prior to joining TNC, Tom held various positions from a crew member on commercial fishing boats, to the Policy Director of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Association, to a member of the New England Fishery Management Council. He is advancing a new paradigm for fishery management, coastal and island habitat restoration and ocean conservation. His team partners with community leaders and managers and leverages cutting-edge science and technology tools to drive change. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in wildlife biology from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
Laura Crane, Climate Program Director
California Climate Program Director
Laura leads a team of conservation practitioners who design and execute innovative strategies at the nexus of climate and land use. Laura was previously director of TNC’s California Renewable Energy Initiative. In this role, she provided scientific analyses and collaborated with government, industry and other environmental groups to develop solutions for preserving and protecting unique biodiversity and ecosystem function while facilitating clean energy development.Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Lead Scientists
Jeanette Howard, Land Science Director
California Land Science Director
Jeanette leads science initiatives designed to restore and protect California's natural lands. Before joining TNC California, she served as a research scientist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, restoring freshwater mussels and Pacific lamprey to tribal rivers. She has also worked as a researcher at National Geographic Magazine. Jeanette completed her Ph.D. in physical geography at the University of California, Berkeley.
Julie Zimmerman, Water Science Director
California Water Science Director
Julie leads science initiatives that allow TNC to design and implement transformative water projects and policies. She develops collaborative, science-based approaches to water management, environmental flows and river restoration. Before joining TNC California, Julie was a fish biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a river ecologist with TNC’s Connecticut River and Chesapeake Bay programs. Julie holds a Ph.D. in fisheries from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Jono Wilson, Oceans Science Director
California Oceans Science Director
Jono works in collaboration with governments, communities and the private sector to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing ocean challenges and restore resilience to our ocean ecosystems. He earned his Ph.D. from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor.
Sophie Parker, Climate Program Director
California Climate Program Director
Sophie's work is focused on generating the relationships, evidence and communications necessary to integrate conservation priorities into both on-the-ground projects and land use and climate policies. Sophie has over two decades of experience in science leadership in the non-profit sector and she holds a Ph.D. from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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