Andrea Akall'eq Burgess
Global Director of Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Honolulu, Hawaii
Andrea Akall'eq Burgess Global Director Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities © Jenna Schoenefeld
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Indigenous stewardship & traditional knowledge, Environmental justice, Public policy & Advocacy
Biography
Andrea Akall'eq Burgess, is Global Director of Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at TNC.
She has a deep understanding and respect for the importance and inter-connectivity of place, culture, language, and worldview and has dedicated her professional career working to protect and uplift Indigenous rights and advance racial and climate justice locally and globally.
Originally from Bethel, Alaska, Andrea currently resides in Oahu, Hawaii. Her cultural background is Yup’ik (Inuit) on her mother’s side and Belgian/Norwegian on her father’s side. Andrea is a Tribal Citizen of the Native Village of Kwinhagak.
Prior to coming to TNC, Andrea was Director of the Alaska Native Policy Center within First Alaskans Institute, a role which allowed her to develop and cultivate relations and community connections all across the state of Alaska, and with Indigenous communities nationally and internationally.
Andrea holds a degree in Political Science and Government from Georgetown University. She previously worked for US Senator Mark Begich, supporting him on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and as the telecommunications lead for the Senate Commerce Committee.
She is also founder & owner of With Real People LLC, an Indigenous consulting firm dedicated to advancing truth and excellence through creative and strategic advocacy, policy guidance and facilitation. In addition, Andrea serves as co-founder and president of Native Peoples Action and as a board of trustee for the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA).
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