Board of Trustees

Dawn Rodney joined the National Park Foundation (NPF) in 2022 as Chief External Affairs Officer, leading the Foundation team responsible for marketing, communications, government relations, corporate partnerships, content strategy, and brand development.

Dawn brings more than three decades of experience driving brand growth, and leading innovative, high-profile marketing and media campaigns at nationally recognized organizations in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, Dawn served as Chief Innovation and Growth Officer at the National Wildlife Federation.

Rodney brings deep experience in  marketing, media, and brand growth. She served as senior vice president of marketing and brand at the National Geographic Society. During her tenure, Rodney led the global brand and unified its vision, messaging, and expression across the world. She orchestrated campaigns reaching more than three billion people across social and digital platforms and transformed the marketing strategies for enterprise-wide content initiatives driving significant revenue and growth. Rodney also launched the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD. Previously, she worked at the Discovery Networks, including Animal Planet, leading branding initiatives, and on-air strategy as well as producing campaigns for its highest priority programming. Rodney has received many awards for her work, including an Emmy for the “Next Generation of Explorers” campaign and a 2018 Webby for Best Homepage.

Elizabeth (Liz) Crego is a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the largest professional services networks in the world, providing international audit and assurance, tax, and consulting services. Liz is a seasoned deals consulting advisor with over 16 years of experience across many industries. She advises many of the world’s largest corporations and financial sponsors on complex transactions representing billions in deal value. Liz is a leader in PwC’s Divestiture Solution, and advises clients on public offerings (IPOs, spins, debt offerings), divestitures and acquisitions.

Liz has received many accolades, including the 2021 Rising Star Award from the Healthcare
Businesswomen’s Association.

Liz earned a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from George Washington University’s School of Business in Washington, D.C. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York state.

Liz is an avid scuba diver. From her first dive at the Great Barrier Reef to her more recent dives
in the U.S and the Caribbean, she has seen firsthand the impact of pollution and global warming on our oceans and sea life. When she is not submerged with work or underwater, Liz also enjoys many “above water” activities such as traveling and hiking in the Adirondacks.

Mark McDade is co-founder and Managing Partner of Qiming US Healthcare Fund, focused on early stage investment in US and European-based biotech and digital health companies.  He previously served as EVP and COO of Belgian-based UCB, CEO of PDL Biopharma and co-founder and COO of Corixa Corporation in Seattle. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and earned his BA at Dartmouth College.  He currently serves on multiple private and public company boards.  He resides in Seattle and is an avid kayaker.

Jose Astorqui holds more than 24 years’ experience in the reinsurance intermediation industry where he is a recognized leader having developed most of his professional career in Madrid, London and over the last 14 years in Miami. He is a founder and until recently CEO of BMS Latin America & Caribbean for BMS Group Ltd – a London Head-quartered corporation and has now transitioned to be its Chief Commercial Officer and CEO of Lions Gate Underwriting Latin America, its underwriting platform. Prior to this he was the Head of Reinsurance for Iberia and Latin America at Howden Insurance Brokers, first in London and since 2008 in Miami.

Jose is adept at working cross border and leading multi-cultural teams with an extensive network of clients and contacts in Latin America, Caribbean, UK, USA and Spain. He graduated from Universidad Complutense de Madrid with a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) and earned his  Master of Laws (LL.M) from IE Business School, which ranks among Europe’s top academic institutions. He practiced law in the Spanish courts for 5 years before moving to London and the reinsurance industry with Aon in the late 90’s.

A history aficionado, avid traveler and water sports enthusiast, Jose is an active member of Miami kitesurfing and windsurfing communities.

Barbara Birdsey is the founder of the Pegasus Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to animal protection, environmental preservation, and public education in various parts of the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean. Previously she founded the Orenda Wildlife Land Trust in Massachusetts and helped co-found the Cape Cod Stranding Network. Before that, she was a licensed Social Worker for the Department of Social Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She graduated from Boston University (M.A.) with a B.A. in psychology and from Bridgewater State College with a Masters of Education in counseling. She has been visiting the Treasure Coast area of Florida for many years and is now a resident. She still has ties to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where she has interests in various environmental projects. Barbara has had a lifelong interest in child protection, animal welfare, wildlife protection, and land conservation. 

Nikki Buffa provides environmental counseling in all areas of environmental law with a particular focus on the siting of major infrastructure projects, the energy transition and renewable energy, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management.

As partner, Ms. Buffa brings two decades of experience working on energy and environmental policy. Ms. Buffa has focused her career on regulatory compliance and federal and California-state environmental policy and advocacy.

Ms. Buffa currently advises developers, utilities, other clients on all aspects of project development from initial permitting and entitlement strategy through governmental approvals incorporating legal, political, community, and public relations issues. Her experience with landscape-level land and species management ranges from deep marine environments to the high desert. She currently serves on the boards of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Advisory Board of the University of California at Berkeley Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity.

In 2020–2021, Ms. Buffa served on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition team as the White House Council on Environmental Quality Transition Team Lead.

Ms. Buffa rejoined Latham after serving eight years in the Obama Administration, most recently at the United States Department of the Interior. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Ms. Buffa managed a diverse set of missions within the 70,000 employee, US$12 billion department, including serving as a key player in President Obama’s success in conserving more lands and waters than any President in history.

Prior to joining the Department of the Interior, Ms. Buffa was the Deputy Director of Cabinet Affairs at the White House. Here, she worked closely with senior White House staff and agency leadership to advance the President’s policy and regulatory priorities at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Energy and Transportation.

In 2009, after serving on the 2008 Presidential campaign and Presidential Transition Team, Ms. Buffa became the Deputy Chief of Staff, then later Associate Director, for the Council on Environmental Quality at the White House. Ms. Buffa helped develop and implement the Administration’s policies on clean energy, transportation, and environmental and human health protection.

Dr. Justin Dunnavant is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at UCLA. His current research in the US Virgin Islands investigates the relationship between ecology and enslavement in the former Danish West Indies. In addition to his archaeological research, Justin is co-founder of the Society of Black Archaeologists and an AAUS Scientific SCUBA Diver. In 2021, he was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and inducted into The Explorers Club as one of “Fifty People Changing the World that You Need to Know About.” Last year, he was awarded the 2022 Stafford Ellison Wright Black Alumni Scholar-in-Residence at Occidental College. His research has been featured on Netflix’s “Explained,” Hulu’s “Your Attention Please” and in print in American Archaeology, Science Magazine, and National Geographic Magazine.

As Google’s Vice-President for Trust & Growth, Suzanne is responsible for the privacy, security, and safety of applications on over 3B devices in the Android and Play Ecosystems worldwide.  In addition, she sponsors Android’s product investments in global growth markets.

Suzanne has served in a wide variety of technical, operational, and policy leadership roles across almost two decades at Google (and more within tech broadly). She received her BA from Wellesley College and her MBA from MIT. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Board of Directors for The Motley Fool, and the Board of Trustees for Wellesley College.  

Suzanne spends her spare time inhaling Nitrox and capturing the majesty and diversity of our oceans in underwater photos.  She is the co-founder of The Breakwater Collective, a photography gallery in Monterey, CA dedicated to showcasing, among other things, the beauty, fragility, and criticality of our marine wildlife and environments.     

Timothy J. Greene, Sr. is the Chairman of the Makah Tribal Council of Neah Bay, Washington located at the northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula. Chairman Greene is in his tenth year on the Tribal Council, and his fourth year as Chairman.

The Makah Tribe has a strong record of stewardship and engagement on ocean policy and fisheries management. Chairman Greene has served as Vice Co-Chair for the Governance Coordinating Committee under President Obama’s National Ocean Policy. The Makah Tribe has long been regional leaders on oil spill prevention and response, vessel traffic safety, air quality and environmental health, ecosystem management, and habitat restoration. Chairman Greene has previously worked as Chief of Police and the Manager of the Makah Forestry Enterprise.

• Cultural Preservation: Chairman Greene has been a strong advocate for preserving the Makah culture and traditions, including language revitalization programs and cultural events.
• Economic Development: He has worked on various projects to boost the local economy, including tourism initiatives, fisheries management, and sustainable development projects.
• Environmental Stewardship: Under his leadership, the Makah Tribe has focused on environmental conservation efforts, particularly in relation to marine resources and coastal ecosystems.
• Legal and Sovereignty Issues: He has been involved in legal battles and negotiations to protect the sovereignty and treaty rights of the Makah Tribe, including whaling rights.
• Community Services: He has supported the development of health services, educational programs, and infrastructure improvements within the Makah community.

Susanna Kondracki is the principal of Golden Woods Consulting LLC, focused on supporting Woman Owned Small Businesses and advancing Female Executive Leadership. Prior to founding her own firm, Mrs. Kondracki spent 30 years in Financial Services leading large Risk Management, Operational Management, and Structured Finance Teams at systemically important institutions including Capital One and Freddie Mac. As a transformational leaders, she is passionate about balanced leadership that drives sustainable, efficient, and effective execution in both the public and private sectors.

Heather Ludemann leads the David & Lucile Packard Foundation’s work on marine conservation in the U.S. Her grantmaking and investment portfolio at the Foundation focuses on advancing the ability of U.S. marine ecosystems to sustain biodiversity and productivity as pressures and demands on these systems grow. Prior to joining the Foundation, Heather was a Presidential Management Fellow at analyst at NOAA Fisheries. Heather brings nearly two decades of experience working on marine conservation and fisheries management in the U.S. Heather has a master’s degree in marine policy from the University of Washington and an undergraduate degree in biology and environmental studies from Tufts University. In her free time, Heather spends time skiing, hiking and camping with her partner Dan and husky Quinn.

Jodie Ng is a thought leader, connector and strategist in sustainability, passionate about creating a more sustainable and equitable future that means a high quality of life across all communities in harmony with the planet. Most recently as Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Macquarie Group in the Americas, she defined strategy and drove action to enhance environmental and social sustainability across the operational footprint and upstream value chain of the organization. Jodie is a published and registered Organizational Psychologist, who prior to her move into sustainability led organizational development functions across multiple geographies and has over 15 years practical experience spanning the spectrum of human capital management. Jodie has a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of New South Wales, and an honors degree in psychology from the University of Sydney in addition to her Certificate in Sustainability Business Management from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. Jodie enjoys pursuing new experiences, outdoor adventures and learning about other cultures through food and travel.

Martin Peters is Division Manager of Marine External Affairs for Yamaha’s U.S. Marine Business Unit, the entity within Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, that markets, sells, and distributes Yamaha Outboards in the United States. The unit also operates G3 Boats®, Skeeter Boats®, Yamaha Marine Performance Propellers, Inc., and other marine industry companies.

Peters joined Yamaha in  2006 and currently leads the business unit’s government relations, advocacy, conservation, and Yamaha Rightwaters sustainability efforts. He also leads teams that create communication, education, and sponsorship strategies that support the marine brand. Peters joined Yamaha in 2006 and played an integral part in establishing government relations, advocacy, conservation, and Yamaha Rightwaters sustainability efforts for Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. In his role as Division Manager of Marine External Affairs, he leads teams that create communication strategies that support the marine brand.

Before joining Yamaha, Peters spent seven years with Porsche Cars North America as Corporate Communications Manager and seven years with Michelin North America as Public Relations Manager. In the 1990s, Peters served as the feature editor for Exotic Cars Quarterly magazine and Road & Track Specials publications. He began his career as a   researcher, writer, and associate producer at Maryland Public Television (MPT) for the national program “MotorWeek.” At MPT, he produced a segment on Chesapeake Bay log racing canoes for “Outdoors Maryland” that won a Capitol Region Emmy Award.

In January 2017, Peters was appointed to NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Business Advisory Council (BAC) as one of 15 council members to  serve a three-year term. He currently serves on the Natural Resources and Energy Policy Sub Committee for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and on the Government Relations Committee of the American Sportfishing Association® (ASA). Past service includes chairman of the Communication Committee for the Center for Sportfishing Policy, chairman of Boat PAC for the National Marine Manufacturers Association® (NMMA®), and chairman of Tread Lightly, a non-profit organization that advocates for ethical land use and public land access. In 2019, ASA presented Peters with its Fisheries Conservation Achievement Award in recognition of “outstanding contributions to  fisheries conservation and recreational fishing and boating.”

Peters holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Towson University and a master’s degree in  Publications Design from the University of Baltimore. He raced sports cars in endurance events throughout the 1990s and now enjoys hunting, shooting sports, and fishing with his family. His father handed him a   fishing rod for the first time at age six on the Patuxent River in Maryland.

In 2011, Peters won the Kenai River Classic fishing tournament in Alaska, having caught a 51- inch king salmon. He fishes for cobia and red drum on the Georgia coast and for bass and crappie in his family’s North Georgia pond. Peters and his wife, Dianne, and their children live in Marietta, Georgia.

John Rudolf is Chairman of Glacier Peak Capital. He attended Gonzaga Prep, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, and attended the Columbia University Graduate School under the Herbert Lehman Doctoral Fellowship.

In 1974 John began his investment career in New York City and joined Oppenheimer & Co. In 1984, he founded Summit Capital Partners, a value oriented private investment fund. In 2012 he sold his interest in Summit Capital and founded Glacier Peak Capital to focus on managing Glacier Peak U.S. Value Fund and Glacier Peak Global Value Fund.

John has always been active in his communities with selected activities including Chairman of the Building Committee for the Pelham Art Center; board member and co-chair of the Million Dollar Roundtable of the United Way of King County; board member and chair of the University of Notre Dame Art Museum; trustee of the Pacific Northwest Ballet; chairman of the College Baseball Classic Foundation; board member of Andean Health and Development; advisory member of the Investment Management Program at the University of Notre Dame Business School; and member of the executive advisory committee of the Institute For Prostate Research (a consortium of the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center). John is a very active athlete and enjoys mountain climbing, cycling, tennis, skiing, golf, and most water sports.