Ms. Alison Branco

Dr. Alison Branco is the Director of Climate Adaptation for The Nature Conservancy in New York, where she is focused on using the latest climate science to help communities and governments across New York plan for and adapt to changes in our climate, with a focus on sea level rise and flooding. Dr. Branco earned a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Connecticut College and a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Connecticut. After completing her graduate studies, Dr. Branco spent time conducting oceanographic research in the US and in Australia, and then held a position as the lead oceanographer in the environmental consulting sector of a global resource engineering firm in Western Australia. From 2011-2017, Alison served as Director of the Peconic Estuary Program, part of the EPA’s National Estuary Program working with stakeholders and policy makers to protect and restore water quality and habitats in the Peconic Estuary watershed, on the East End of Long Island. Now with the Nature Conservancy, she leads a statewide team engaging across New York’s diverse floodplains to help build healthy and resilient shoreline communities for the long-term benefit of both people and nature. Since 2014, Dr. Branco has served on the board of directors of the Seatuck Environmental Association and is currently the President of the Board. Alison enjoys supporting Seatuck’s staff and volunteers in Protecting Long Island’s Wildlife and Environment. Alison lives in Brightwaters, NY with her husband and two daughters.