Michelle Passero is the Senior Climate Policy Advisor to The Nature Conservancy, California office. She has over 12 years of experience working in land conservation and environmental law and policy.  Her prior professional work includes serving as a Business Development Executive for EcoSecurities, Director of Policy Initiatives for the Pacific Forest Trust and as a contract attorney for The Natural Heritage Institute and Heller, Ehrman, White and McCauliffe.

In addition to serving as a Board member for MCL, Michelle’s current public service includes serving on the Boards of the Namibian Elephant and Giraffe Trust and the Presidio Restoration Advisory Board. Michelle holds an LL.M. in Sustainable International Development from the University of Washington, a J.D. from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont.  She is also an active member of the California State Bar Association and its Environmental Law Section.