Kai Sauerbrey

Driven by a connection with fire and natural environments, Kai Sauerbrey is the Oregon Fire Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. They have more than a decade of experience working for government and non-profit organizations in both fire suppression and prescribed fire management and are the burn boss and director of TNC Oregon's Fire Program across the state. After beginning a career in fire management during undergraduate studies, Kai received an MS in environmental science and policy from Northern Arizona University with a focus on public acceptability of smoke from prescribed fire.

Kai is passionate about incorporating best-available science into land management planning and partnering with researchers on prescribed burns to broaden knowledge about fire processes. They are also committed to inclusivity within fire management and believe that the more diverse our fire workforce, the better off our management practices will be, resulting in healthier ecosystems. During their spare time, Kai enjoys trail-running, exploring fire scars to analyze fire effects and snuggling with their dog Finn.