Board Chair
Jessie Rountree has been in love with the natural world since childhood, respecting it as our primary source of home, healing, play, and community. Her nearly 20-year career includes experience in environmental non-profits, climate change philanthropy, government relations, government funded public health, organizational learning, and cause-driven consulting.
She is motivated by the complexity and urgency of global problems, which require us to work smarter by collaborating and learning together to advance just solutions. At Pathfinder International, she partnered with colleagues to identify climate risks and solutions, refine strategic clarity, and secure funding to offer improved health care access across Africa, Middle East, and South Asia. At The Nature Conservancy, she launched the 50 State Climate Strategy for US states to enable policies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She also launched the Climate Justice Learning Community for colleagues to understand, create, and operationalize equitable climate solutions.
She continues to seek knowledge and skills to better support the Earth’s well-being and encourage deeper and joyful connections between the Land, self, and others. Jessie is committed to supporting the visionaries and change makers that have boldly led change movements. She lives in the Bay Area of California, where you can often find her enjoying trails, xeriscaping with native plants, and rock climbing. Jessie has a B.S. in Ecology and a M.S. in Environmental Management.