Staff Biographies

Alexandra Thornton
Vice President, Public Policy

Alexandra Thornton has a broad range of experience in public policy advocacy which includes non-profit and congressional staff roles. She is responsible for developing a new public policy department at the Institute which is strengthening the Institute's voice in federal agency and congressional decision-making on numerous conservation issues.

Ms. Thornton is also a tax law specialist, and served for nearly 10 years as counsel and senior advisor to a former U.S. senator and majority leader, advising the senator on all tax legislation, as well as on trade, banking and securities, and judiciary legislation.  She earned her juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

She served as executive director of the Center for a Sustainable Economy, a non-profit organization seeking tax and economic solutions to energy and environmental problems. She also served as a consultant to the World Resources Institute, where she provided expert analysis aimed at educating lawmakers about tax and economic approaches to addressing environmental concerns.

She can speak about public policy education and advocacy, nonprofit management, and a variety of policy topics including great ape conservation and captive great ape welfare, funding for international conservation, and integration of conservation and development policy

To inquire about engaging Ms. Thornton as a speaker, please Contact Nona Gandelman.