Elizabeth Ruther is thrilled to join the Alliance’s board and fully supports the Alliance’s vision to weave together coastal livelihoods, lifeways, kelp ecosystems, and climate action. Liz’s career has focused on finding solutions to issues that improve outcomes for nature and communities. She has worked across sectors including advocacy, government, or consultancy. She moved to Oregon in 2010 and dove into coastal issues in 2015, first with Defenders of Wildlife, next with the Department of Land Conservation and Development, and finally The Pew Charitable Trusts, working with the Alliance to support its newly born vision. Currently, she coordinates the natural climate solutions program at the Oregon Department of Energy, which focuses on nature-based actions the state can support or implement that offer climate mitigation and adaptation benefits.