Zach Bartscherer Senior Officer
Zach Bartscherer focuses on connecting state and federal policymaking processes on disaster resilience, energy modernization, and climate adaptation. In this role, he engages policymakers and stakeholders to secure commitments for clean energy and mitigation funding and to help states develop comprehensive resilience plans and strategies to transition to renewable energy. Before joining Pew, Bartscherer worked with corporate and nonprofit clients to build advocacy and business development strategies around international technology, environmental, and health care priorities. Earlier in his career, he developed policy advocacy and communications campaigns in multiple industry sectors. Bartscherer holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from American University.
Courtney Durham Senior Officer
Courtney Durham leads Pew’s engagement in the United Nations negotiations on climate change and supports efforts to incorporate and strengthen climate considerations in Pew’s conservation projects. She is also a part of the energy modernization project, which advances the transition to electric vehicles; builds a clean, reliable electric grid; and expands renewable energy solutions, such as offshore wind.
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Leah Ford Senior Associate
Leah Ford works on the state policy and campaigns portfolio of Pew’s energy modernization project. She focuses on accelerating the U.S. clean energy transition through the advancement of electric vehicles, offshore wind, and a reliable and modern grid. Prior to this, Leah was a policy advisor at E3G, a global climate think tank, where she created a network of leaders and stakeholders in legacy coal states to promote economic diversification and a transition toward clean energy. She also previously worked as a researcher at Food & Water Watch. Leah has bachelor’s degrees in public policy and in global studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Laura Lightbody Director
Laura Lightbody directs Pew’s energy modernization project, which advances the transition to electric vehicles and a clean, reliable electric grid and the expansion of renewable energy solutions such as offshore wind.
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Yaron Miller Senior Manager
Yaron Miller leads the state policy and campaigns portfolio of Pew's energy modernization project, which advances the transition to electric vehicles and a clean, reliable electric grid and the expansion of renewable energy solutions such as offshore wind.
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Brian Watts Principal Associate
Brian Watts works on Pew’s efforts to improve community resilience to natural disasters and accelerate the transition to renewable energy by advocating for federal and state policy change. Watts has expertise in researching the impacts that poor planning, natural disasters, and climate change have on disadvantaged communities. He previously worked as a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security on policies supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He has also taught English in South Korea as a Fulbright scholar and interned at George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication. Watts holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology from the University of Georgia and master’s degrees in public affairs and environmental science from Indiana University.