As the conservation policy analyst, Heather works on wildlife conservation policy, with a focus on the Endangered Species Act—particularly its implementation and emerging federal policy issues. She engages in collaborative efforts to strengthen private land conservation, emphasizing the development and support of effective Habitat Conservation Plans that balance species protection with development needs.

Heather has a background in wildlife conservation, prior to her time with Defenders, she worked at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. Heather was involved in animal husbandry and care with a specialty in primate husbandry. She was also actively involved in community engagement, primate behavioral research and was a member of the Gibbon Species Survival Plan working group. Heather holds a Master of Arts in Global Environmental Policy from American University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University.