The speakers below are available for press interviews. Please send requests to Melissa Harrison (202) 513-6278

Peter Lehner, Executive Director, NRDC Action Fund

Peter is responsible for guiding NRDC’s and the NRDC Action Fund’s policy positions, advocacy strategies, communications plans, development and administration, and managing NRDC’s seven offices and for leading the Action Fund’s political activities. Since Peter’s return to NRDC in 2007, NRDC has opened new offices in Beijing and Chicago, started a Center for Market Innovation, and expanded both its policy and communications capacity. Previously, Peter served as chief of the Environmental Protection Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s office for eight years. He supervised all environmental litigation by the state, prosecuting a wide variety of polluters and developing innovative multi-state strategies targeting global warming, acid rain, and smog causing emissions. Peter previously served at NRDC as a senior attorney in charge of the water program. Before that, he created and led the environmental prosecution unit for New York City. Peter holds an AB in philosophy and mathematics from Harvard College and is a graduate of Columbia University Law School, where he continues to teach environmental law. He also has extensive experience in sustainable farming and green business.

Heather Taylor-Miesle, Director, NRDC Action Fund

Heather is the day-to-day director of the NRDC Action Fund where she guides the organization’s strategies to pass priority legislation. Heather has over thirteen years of experience in federal politics both as a public interest lobbyist and on Capitol Hill. Prior to taking on the role of Director for the NRDC Action Fund, she had her own consulting business and previously was the deputy legislative director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Prior to her position at the NRDC, Heather worked on Capitol Hill, first as an aide to now Governor Ted Strickland (D-OH) and then as a senior staff member for current Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. During her time on Capitol Hill, Heather also helped co-found the Democratic Caucus Environmental Message Team, which continues to help Democratic Members communicate more effectively with their constituents about environment and energy issues. Heather is married with two beautiful children and currently resides in Silicon Valley, CA.

Wesley Warren, Director of Policy Advocacy, NRDC Action Fund

Wesley P. Warren is the Director of Policy Advocacy at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and for the NRDC Action Fund.  In his role at NRDC Mr. Warren helps to develop and execute the major issue campaigns of the organization.  He also serves as a liaison to the NRDC Action Fund and works with its director to implement its strategic plan.  Wesley has a background in politics and economics and is a recognized expert on the federal budget, the regulatory review system, and energy policy. 

Before joining NRDC, Mr. Warren served in the White House in the Clinton administration as Associate Director for Natural Resources, Energy and Science in the Office of Management and Budget.  In this position he was responsible for giving oversight to and helping to set priorities for the major federal agencies involved in environmental policy, including the Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers.  Also during his seven-year tenure in the White House, Mr. Warren held positions as the chief-of-staff for the Council on Environmental Quality and the executive director of the White House Task Force on Livable Communities established by Vice-President Al Gore. 

Prior to his service in the executive branch, Mr. Warren worked as a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives for six years, first for Representative Claudine Schnieder (R-RI) on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and then Representative Philip Sharp (D-IN) on the Energy and Commerce Committee.  He is currently a member of the board of the Partnership Project, The Alliance for Justice, and the Environmental Integrity Project.  He also is a member of the political committee of the League of Conservation Voters and serves on the Energy Advisory Board of the Keystone Center.

Wesley received a B.A. and double honors in Economics and History from Wake Forest University in 1976 and attended graduate school in Political Science at the University of Chicago.