How do you engage in policy in a way that actually leads to tangible results? Join a panel of wildlife professionals for a candid conversation about ways to engage in policy and learn the processes for influencing legislation. Panelists will share their experiences in policy and how they have shaped the careers that they are in now. They will also provide practical advice for wildlifers interested in policy careers.

Moderators:

  • Moed Gerveni, Public Policy Graduate Student
  • Emily Williams, Student Liaison to TWS Council & Student Development Working Group Chair
  • Kelly O’Connor, TWS Conservation Policy Manager

Panelists: (all previous TWS policy interns)

  • Cassi Ferri, Legislative Analyst, Defenders of Wildlife
  • Charlie Booher, Consultant, Watershed Results
  • Lindsay Martinez, Research Program Coordinator, East Foundation
  • Tom Klein, Policy Associate, National Conference of State Legislatures

Bios:
Moed Gerveni is a wildlife conservation professional with field and research experience primarily with birds. More recently, he has transitioned into advocacy and government relations, focusing on translating conservation science into public policy. His areas of interest are sound habitat management and increased conservation funding at all levels of government.

Cassi Ferri specializes in the Endangered Species Act. She supports Defenders of Wildlife’s federal congressional advocacy efforts through coalition work, direct lobbying and grassroots mobilization. Prior to joining Defenders in February 2024, Cassie interned at Environmental Defense Fund, where she focused on tropical forest conservation and indigenous land tenure in the Brazilian Amazon. Previously, she had served as The Wildlife Society’s policy intern. She has also worked as a field technician researching imperiled Seaside Sparrows and Saltmarsh Sparrows in New Jersey’s salt marshes. Cassie holds a B.Sc in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine and an M.Sc in Environmental Science and Policy from Northeastern University.

Charlie Booher specializes in natural resource conflict resolution. He has the great privilege of representing some of this country’s oldest, largest, and most generous conservation organizations in Helena, Montana and in Washington, D.C. Charlie is an Associate Wildlife Biologist®, a Professional Member of the Boone and Crockett Club, and an occasional outdoor writer. Outside of the office, you can find him hiking in the mountains of Western Montana and re-learning how to hunt and fish in the Northern Rockies.

Lindsay Martinez supports research and conservation projects for species of conservation concern across East Foundation’s private cattle ranches in deep South Texas. Martinez is originally from Great Falls, Montana, studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton, and has a master’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M. Prior to working with East Foundation, she completed internships with the National Park Service at Dinosaur National Monument and with TWS’ Government Affairs Program on Capitol Hill.

Tom Klein conducts nonpartisan research on wildlife, water and agriculture policy for state legislators and legislative staff and convenes meetings that connect legislators with experts to support informed, science-based decision-making. Before joining NCSL, Tom worked at The Wildlife Society, first as a policy intern and later as a government affairs associate, and previously worked as a wildlife technician with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. He holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science and a master’s degree in public policy and administration. Tom is also an Associate Wildlife Biologist and serves as an appointed member of the City of Golden Colorado’s Planning Commission.