Kelly Wanser is an innovator committed to pursuing near-term options for ensuring a safe climate. As the Executive Director of SilverLining, a respected non-profit organization devoted to addressing near-term climate risks, she leads the organization's efforts to promote scientific research, science-based policies, and international collaboration on possibilities for rapidly responding to climate change. In this capacity, she contributed to the development of US legislation, reviewed key reports for leading organizations such as the IPCC, NSTC, and NOAA, and established a program and fund for research on atmospheric climate intervention.

Prior to founding SilverLining, Wanser co-founded—and currently serves as Senior Advisor to—the University of Washington Marine Cloud Brightening Project, an effort to research and understand one possible form of climate intervention: the effects of particles on clouds and climate. Wanser is an Advisor to Dendra Systems, a company that deploys automation (including aerial drones) and artificial intelligence to restore natural ecosystems. She is also a member of the President's Circle of the National Academy of Sciences, where she works with prominent scientists and science funders to advance strategic priorities for the nation.

Wanser previously served as a strategic advisor to national environmental and energy groups, assisting with ocean-climate risk efforts at Ocean Conservancy and developing industry strategy for fusion energy for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Prior to that, she worked in the technology sector, founding companies in IT infrastructure, security, and networking. Early in her career she served as a corporate strategy consultant in London and taught Economics and Philosophy as a volunteer at St. John’s College in Belize City. Wanser holds degrees in economics and philosophy from Boston College and the University of Oxford.

Environment, Sustainability, TED, Environmental Policy, Climate Change, Environmental Activism