ORDINARY PEOPLE. EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT.

Meet the 2024 Goldman Prize winners and watch the award ceremony.

Our Team

Our team brings a broad range of talents to the organization, with experiences drawn from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

The Foundation’s staff brings a broad range of talents to the organization, with experiences drawn from the academic, scientific, public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Michael Sutton

Michael Sutton

Executive Director

Melissa Eckert

Director, Finance & Administration

Liz Maw

Program Director

Ilan Kayatsky

Communications Director

Lindsey Freedman

Program Officer, Asia / Europe

David Corrado

David Corrado

Program Officer, North America / South & Central America

Crissy Canlas

PROGRAM OFFICER, AFRICA / ISLANDS & ISLAND NATIONS

Katie Clark

Senior Program Manager, Nominations & Tour

Laura Fernandez

Program Manager, Prize Winner Outreach

Ellen Lomonico

Digital Communications Manager

Amy Breshears

Administrative Coordinator

Alvaro Umaña

Former Environmental Minister, Costa Rica

Wanjira Mathai

Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute, Kenya

Yolanda Kakabadse

Former President of IUCN, Ecuador

Gidon Bromberg

Co-director, EcoPeace Middle East, Israel

John D. Goldman

President

Susan R. Gelman

Vice President

Jennifer Goldman Wallis

Vice President

Michael Sutton

Mike is a respected environmental conservation leader with extensive experience managing nonprofit organizations, influencing public policy, advocating for natural resources, and guiding successful philanthropic efforts. His distinguished career has ranged from work with the National Park Service to senior conservation roles at the World Wildlife Fund, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the California Fish & Game Commission, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and National Audubon Society. Mike received his BS in Wildlife Biology at Utah State University; did graduate studies in Marine Biology at the University of Sydney, Australia; and, received a law degree with honors from George Washington University’s National Law Center. He joined the Prize in 2018.

Melissa Eckert

Melissa joined the Prize in 2013 and manages the foundation’s finances, human resources, and office operations. She has worked in philanthropy, strategic planning, public health, and nonprofit administration for over 20 years, having held positions with the Koret Foundation, the Washington University School of Medicine, and the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. Melissa holds a BA in Psychology and a MPH in Community Health from Saint Louis University; she interned at the Carter Center and is a Coro Fellow.

Liz Maw

Liz is passionate about empowering and inspiring individuals to lead positive change. She has a rich background in sustainability, with leadership positions at the Presidio Graduate School, a sustainability-focused university, and Net Impact, a nonprofit focused on building a global network of grassroots changemakers. Liz received an undergraduate degree from Yale and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She joined the Prize in 2024.

Ilan Kayatsky

An enthusiastic strategist, Ilan has worked in communications and media for more than 15 years—as a communications director for the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and for Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); and as a freelance journalist and writer for the New York Post, Architectural Record, the Forward, and beyond. A Bay Area native, he holds a BA in American Studies from UC Berkeley. Ilan joined the Prize in 2017.

Lindsey Freedman

Prior to joining the Prize in 2013, Lindsey managed Kiva Microfunds’ South American portfolio, working with 22 partner microfinance institutions in six countries across the region to provide loans to small business owners. Prior to that, she spent a year volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Buenos Aires, Argentina, developing social performance metrics to measure the success of their microloan program. Lindsey holds a BA in Spanish from UC Santa Barbara and an MA in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

David Corrado

David is enthusiastic about empowering others to implement human-based solutions to local environmental challenges. Previously, he worked to strengthen partnerships between rural communities, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations within the Environmental Program of Peace Corps Panama, where he served as a volunteer and coordinator at the regional and national level. David received his BA in Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami. He joined the Prize in 2018.

Crissy Canlas

Crissy strongly believes authentic, collaborative partnerships are built at the speed of trust. She joins the Goldman Environmental Prize from the Hewlett Foundation, where she was a program associate on the environment team, providing thought partnership and grantmaking support to the western conservation portfolio. Before shifting her focus to philanthropy, Crissy worked for years in the nonprofit environmental sector—as a project manager supporting state parks and as a senior program manager and strategic communications consultant focused on community-based marine conservation in Asia-Pacific. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Ateneo de Manila University, and a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Silliman University, both located in the Philippines. Crissy joined the Prize in 2023.

Katie Clark

Katie has been with the Prize since 2012. She manages the Prize tour, nominations, as well as nominator recruitment and communications. Prior to joining the Prize, she worked at the American Jewish World Service and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society spearheading cross-departmental efforts to steward key donors and fundraisers. She received her BA in Family and Consumer Sciences from San Francisco State University.

Laura Fernandez

Laura is a Latina immigrant from Colombia, passionate about grassroots work to support communities and the environment. She manages Prize winner outreach through grantmaking and networking, and coordinates security for Prize winners. Laura has worked internationally and brings extensive climate and environmental nonprofit experience in philanthropy and civil society advocacy spaces. Prior to joining the Prize, Laura was a program officer at the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, where she helped facilitate millions of dollars in grants for water protection, community stewardship, and environmental justice across California and the Pacific Northwest. Laura holds two bachelor's degrees, in Geography and International Relations, and did graduate studies in international development and sustainability at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. She joined the Prize in 2022.

Ellen Lomonico

Ellen is excited to elevate the stories and amplify the impact of Goldman Prize recipients around the globe. She manages the Prize’s digital presence, produces written and visual content, and contributes to strategic communications planning. Prior to joining the Prize, Ellen held various roles in the solar industry, from marketing to education program management. She holds a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies, with minors in Spanish and Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles. She joined the Prize in 2020.

Amy Breshears

Obsessed with organization and devoted to detail, Amy brings a well-honed talent for office administration and management to the Prize. She is responsible for daily office operations and supports in driving the Prize toward its goals. She brings over 20 years of experience in philanthropy, hospitality, and nonprofit event management. Amy earned her BA in English Literature at UC Berkeley and is currently pursuing her MA in mass communications. Amy joined the Prize in 2024.

John D. Goldman

John Goldman is a civic volunteer, active in various philanthropic and community organizations following his business and government career. A passionate advocate for the environment, he is the current President of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. John is the immediate past President of the San Francisco Symphony and continues to serve on its board. He is a past President of the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation and currently serves on the board of Stanford Health Care and the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation. In April 2017, John received Stanford University’s Gold Spike award, its highest recognition for service to the institution. He has been a General Trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since his appointment by President Obama in 2014. Professionally, John is the former Chair of Willis Insurance Services of California, Inc., and was CEO of Richard N. Goldman & Co. Prior to joining Goldman Insurance Services in 1986, he served in the Office of Legislative Analyst for the State of California and as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the State of California.

Susan R. Gelman

Susie Gelman is a vice president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. She is president and managing director of The Morningstar Foundation, a private family foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. She also chairs the board of the Israel Policy Forum, an organization that has existed since 1993 to advance and promote the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Susie previously served on the board of Jewish Federations of North America and has held a number of positions in the organization, including co-chair of its Israel Advisory Committee and co-chair of JFNA's 2003 and 2013 General Assembly, which were both held in Jerusalem, Israel. She received a BA from Harvard University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

Jennifer Goldman Wallis

Jennifer is a vice president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. She started her career as a CPA in the audit practice at Ernst & Young and later created a mobile app to nudge users toward sustainable transportation decisions. During graduate school, Jennifer led the MBA Stanford Impact Fund’s Environment and Energy deal team. She also completed graduate summer internships in cleantech venture capital, sustainable forestry in Kenya, and environmental nonprofit work at the Rocky Mountain Institute. Jennifer has previously served as a board member of the Rainforest Connection and the Stern Grove Festival Association. She is currently a board member at the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund. Jennifer holds an MBA and an MS in Environment and Resources from Stanford University. She received a BS in Accounting with a minor in Psychology from the University of Southern California. Jennifer currently lives in San Diego with her husband and daughter.

Alvaro Umaña

A member of the Jury since 1991, Alvaro Umaña’s international career spans academia, government, philanthropy, and NGOs. As Costa Rica’s first Minister of Environment (1986-1990), under President Oscar Arias, he was internationally recognized for his pathbreaking contribution to conservation, including the implementation of innovative financial instruments like debt-for-nature swaps. Dr. Umaña created the National Biodiversity Institute and developed a masters-level specialization in natural resources and sustainable development at Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas. He was founding member and chair of the World Bank Inspection Panel, an innovative mechanism for transparency and accountability in international organizations, and has served on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, the UNESCO Executive Council, the World Resources Institute, and the Stockholm Environment Institute. Dr. Umaña presently co-chairs Climate Transparency, which focuses on the climate performance of G-20 countries. Dr. Umaña holds a BS in physics with honors and a master’s in environmental pollution control from Pennsylvania State University. He holds a PhD in environmental engineering and science and a master’s in economics from Stanford University.

Wanjira Mathai

A member of the Jury since 2019, Wanjira Mathai has over 20 years of experience advocating for social and environmental change on both local and international platforms. She is currently the vice president and regional director for Africa at the World Resources Institute (WRI), and previously served as co-chair of WRI’s Global Restoration Council and senior advisor to the Global Restoration Initiative. Mathai is the current chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation and the former chair of the Green Belt Movement, which was founded by her late mother, Wangari Maathai (1991 Goldman Prize winner and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate) in 1977. Over the years, Mathai has also served in important strategic and advocacy roles raising the prominence and visibility of global issues such as climate change, youth leadership, sustainable energy, and landscape restoration. She has held various roles with Women Entrepreneurs in Renewables and currently serves on the board of the World Agroforestry Center and as a Leadership Council member of the Clean Cooking Alliance. Mathai was named one of the 100 Most Influential African Women in 2018 and 2020.

Yolanda Kakabadse

A member of the Jury since 2009, Yolanda Kakabadse’s distinguished career in conservation and international development spans civil society, government, and the private sector. Her career in the environment began as the executive director of Fundación Natura in Ecuador (1979 – 1990), where she led the organization to become one of Latin America’s most important environmental NGOs. In 1993, Kakabadse founded Fundacion Futuro Latinoamericano to promote sustainable development in Latin America through conflict prevention and management. She served as its executive president until 2006 and is presently chair of the Advisory Board. Kakabadse was appointed Minister of Environment for the Republic of Ecuador in 1998. She was president of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) from 1996 to 2004, and a member of the board of the World Resources Institute during the same period. Kakabadse co-chaired the Environmental Sustainability Task Force of the UN Millennium Project and is a former president of WWF International. Among her many international roles, Kakabadse is a member of the boards of the Ford Foundation, Yale School of Forestry, Environmental Advisory Board of CocaCola, and special advisor to the Commission of Education and Communication of IUCN.

Gidon Bromberg

A member of the Jury since 2022, Gidon Bromberg is the founder and Israeli co-director of EcoPeace Middle East, a unique regional organization that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists to promote sustainable development and advance peace efforts in the Middle East. Bromberg has spearheaded the organization’s advocacy campaigns in the Middle East and internationally. He developed a cross-border community peace-building program known as “Good Water Neighbors,” which has been a model for environmental peacebuilding in other conflict areas. Bromberg has written extensively on the relationship between water and climate issues and Middle East peace and has presented before the UN Security Council, UN Climate Summit, US Congress, European Parliament, and other international forums. An attorney by profession, he was named an Environmental Hero by TIME magazine, awarded the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, is the recipient of Stanford University’s Bright Award for the Environment, and awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice under the theme of the environment.

John D. Goldman

John Goldman is a civic volunteer, active in various philanthropic and community organizations following his business and government career. A passionate advocate for the environment, he is the current President of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. John is the immediate past President of the San Francisco Symphony and continues to serve on its board. He is a past President of the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation and currently serves on the board of Stanford Health Care and the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation. In April 2017, John received Stanford University’s Gold Spike award, its highest recognition for service to the institution. He has been a General Trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since his appointment by President Obama in 2014. Professionally, John is the former Chair of Willis Insurance Services of California, Inc., and was CEO of Richard N. Goldman & Co. Prior to joining Goldman Insurance Services in 1986, he served in the Office of Legislative Analyst for the State of California and as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the State of California.

Susan R. Gelman

Susie Gelman is a vice president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. She is president and managing director of The Morningstar Foundation, a private family foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. She also chairs the board of the Israel Policy Forum, an organization that has existed since 1993 to advance and promote the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Susie previously served on the board of Jewish Federations of North America and has held a number of positions in the organization, including co-chair of its Israel Advisory Committee and co-chair of JFNA's 2003 and 2013 General Assembly, which were both held in Jerusalem, Israel. She received a BA from Harvard University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

Jennifer Goldman Wallis

Jennifer is a vice president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. She started her career as a CPA in the audit practice at Ernst & Young and later created a mobile app to nudge users toward sustainable transportation decisions. During graduate school, Jennifer led the MBA Stanford Impact Fund’s Environment and Energy deal team. She also completed graduate summer internships in cleantech venture capital, sustainable forestry in Kenya, and environmental nonprofit work at the Rocky Mountain Institute. Jennifer has previously served as a board member of the Rainforest Connection and the Stern Grove Festival Association. She is currently a board member at the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund. Jennifer holds an MBA and an MS in Environment and Resources from Stanford University. She received a BS in Accounting with a minor in Psychology from the University of Southern California. Jennifer currently lives in San Diego with her husband and daughter.