Kirsten manages urban climate resilience initiatives aimed at systems change for a regenerative future. She develops and drives national multi-stakeholder projects, alliances, strategic partnerships, and policy communications around the deployment of equity-centered climate plans, and connects municipal nature-based climate initiatives to federal priorities.

An expert communicator on behalf of our planet's future, Kirsten is a strategist known for launching a range of emerging technologies to the world and accelerating new climate solutions, models, and movements. Prior to her work with USDN she developed and deployed advocacy campaigns, impact-centric narratives and media coverage for climate tech and public health policy issues as Managing Director at public affairs firm Waxman Strategies. Previously, Kirsten was Senior Director of the Venture Capital & Emerging Tech Practice at Spark where she advised investors and their startup portfolio companies in the creation of new market categories. 

A former environmental news writer and TV producer, Kirsten has deep experience at the intersection of technology, energy, environmental issues, climate policy, and storytelling. She is based in Washington DC.