Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Norris, Ph.D.

We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Jennifer Norris as our keynote speaker for the State of Biodiversity Symposium. Her address also serves as our public Nat Talk for April.

Jennifer serves as Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency. She leads the state’s 30x30 initiative and oversees “Cutting Green Tape” in support of landscape scale habitat restoration. Jennifer has held numerous positions in federal and state government including most recently as supervisor of the Sacramento Office for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Jennifer has extensive experience in conservation policy, endangered species protection and ecosystem management. She holds a B.S. in Resource Policy and Planning from Cornell University, an M.S. in Conservation Biology from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of New Mexico. When she is not at work, she can be found exploring wild beaches, forests, and deserts with her family.