Melissa is an experienced conservation leader, responsible for developing and executing strategies, managing teams and ensuring results to address the world’s most pressing challenges to people and nature. Melissa began working with The Nature Conservancy in 2006. She has served as the Deputy State Director for the US Washington State Chapter, took on the role of Managing Director, Global Oceans Strategic Initiatives in 2018, and became the Global Director of Ocean Protection in 2019. She leads the team responsible for TNC’s global ocean protection and blue finance strategies. Prior to coming to the Conservancy, Melissa was an attorney in commercial litigation practice. She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School, and her B.A., with honors, from Indiana University, with a triple major in Political Science, History, and Economics.