Kari Vigerstol

Kari Vigerstol is the Director of Water Security Science and Innovation for The Nature Conservancy’s global water program, strategically strengthening and advancing the freshwater science needed to meet global challenges around water security, climate adaptation and food production. Kari’s experience includes community organizing for improved urban waterways, water resource engineering and planning, managing complex projects across organizations and disciplines, and leading the Conservancy’s corporate water stewardship work, including advancing collective action in critical basins around the world through integrated water resource management, agricultural best management practices and development of sustainable funding mechanisms.

Kari holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rice University and the University of Washington, with a focus in Water Resource Planning and Management. She led the team behind Beyond the Source: the environmental, economic, and community benefits of source water protection, co-founded the California Water Action Collaborative, directed the development of WaterProof, and most recently led the publication of Accelerating Adaptation, which explores the role of nature in adapting to increasing risks of floods and droughts.