Laura Viggiano began working as a consultant for CCIF in 2006. She brings six years of experience in conservation finance and strategic planning for foundations and nonprofits. Laura’s projects for CCIF include developing a business plan for El Nido, a marine protected area in the Philippines, and designing a conservation trust fund for a network of marine protected areas in Southeast Asia.
Laura is also a full-time associate with San Francisco-based consulting firm, California Environmental Associates and works with large, US-based, environmentally-focused foundations and nonprofits on strategic and business planning efforts. Laura’s clients have included the Packard Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, the Marine Stewardship Council and the Environmental Defense Fund. Prior to her work with CCIF, Laura worked for the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, analyzing the impacts of fishing and aquaculture on marine and terrestrial biodiversity and determining trends in U.S. seafood supply and demand. In addition to holding positions with other conservation organizations, Laura has conducted academic field research on the ecology and traditional cultures of Nepal, Tanzania, and Mexico.
Laura has a bachelor’s degree with distinction in Environmental Science and Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA and master’s degree in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. In her free time, Laura enjoys being in the mountains, cooking over campfires, and sailing on San Francisco Bay.