Heather Cole
Washington State Tribal Partnership Program Director
Heather Cole Heather is the Tribal Partnership Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Washington. © Hannah Letinich
Biography
Heather’s tenure at The Nature Conservancy has enabled her to collaborate with Tribal Nations, state and federal agencies, and community groups in floodplain and salmon recovery efforts. She also leads TNC's Supporting Indigenous Rights and Connections to Lands and Waters Strategy in Washington. When invited, TNC collaborates with Indigenous Peoples on opportunities to reconnect, restore and manage lands and waters, and on reacquiring and accessing those lands and waters.
With a passion for working cross culturally, Heather has lived, worked and studied overseas for six plus years most specifically, China, Taiwan and Australia. Her Masters in International Development and Environmental Analysis from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia deepened her overseas experiences with an academic understanding of participatory methods, cross cultural communication and sustainable livelihoods.
Earlier in her career, she worked in the public sector in natural resource and ecosystem recovery but craved a better understanding of how people and nature could be in relationship together rather than at odds.
Everyday it's an honor and privilege to work alongside Tribal leaders across Washington in finding opportunities to partner on shared goals.