Kayla Drozd Calkins: A Leading Voice in Climate Resilience and Wildfire Risk Management
Kayla Drozd Calkins is a highly respected professional in the field of climate resilience, specializing in wildfire risk management and disaster preparedness. Based in Portland, Oregon, Calkins is dedicated to creating and promoting strategies to mitigate climate-related risks, with a particular focus on wildfire resilience, flood safety, and sustainable practices. Her diverse experience spans across various sectors including insurance, climate policy, and public administration, underscoring her comprehensive approach to tackling climate challenges.
Early Career and Educational Background
Before her ascent into the world of climate resilience, Calkins pursued a strong academic background in public administration and policy. She completed her Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School, where she concentrated on climate and energy policy, disaster resilience, and systems change. This education equipped her with the critical tools needed to approach climate issues from a systemic and leadership-driven perspective.
At Harvard, Calkins excelled in courses like Policy Writing, Evidence-Based Decision Making, and Climate Change Science, all of which sharpened her ability to analyze and propose effective solutions for pressing climate challenges. She also held a leadership role as the 2023 Elections Chair for the Climate Justice Organizing Committee, showcasing her commitment to advocating for marginalized communities in the climate conversation.
Professional Journey and Key Contributions
1. Climate Resilience Fund: Leading Wildfire Resilience Efforts
Currently, Calkins serves as the Program Officer for the Wildfire Resilience Funders at the Climate Resilience Fund. In this role, she collaborates with various stakeholders to fund and promote wildfire resilience efforts across the country. The fund is dedicated to helping communities better prepare for and recover from the devastating impacts of wildfires, ensuring that vulnerable populations are protected, and ecosystems are restored. Through this position, Calkins is directly influencing the development of policies and initiatives aimed at reducing the devastating effects of wildfires, especially in high-risk areas such as the West Coast.
2. Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District: Ensuring Flood Resilience in Portland
Calkins’ dedication to climate resilience also extends to urban flood safety. In 2024, she was elected to the Board of Directors for the Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District in Multnomah County, Oregon. In this capacity, she works to ensure that Portland’s flood protection infrastructure—such as levees and pump stations—is modernized and integrated with nature-based solutions.
Her leadership at the district emphasizes the importance of blending engineering solutions with environmental sustainability, highlighting her focus on integrating nature-based flood resilience strategies. This aligns with her broader philosophy of promoting long-term, sustainable climate action through collaborative, equity-focused initiatives.
3. Insurance for Good: Senior Advisor
Calkins’ work also intersects with the insurance industry, a crucial sector when it comes to managing climate risk. As a Senior Advisor for Insurance for Good, she provides guidance on integrating climate resilience into insurance practices, ensuring that policies are both effective and equitable. This role allows her to leverage her expertise in risk management and public policy to promote innovative insurance solutions that address the growing financial risks posed by climate change.
4. FireUp and BurnBot: Advancing Wildfire Resilience and Communications
Before her current roles, Calkins worked as a Senior Communications and Product Advisor for FireUp and as part of the Marketing and Communications team at BurnBot, Inc. These positions allowed her to focus on wildfire resilience through product development and public engagement strategies. She helped bridge the gap between technology and communities, ensuring that wildfire risk management tools were accessible and user-friendly for the general public.
Leadership and Advocacy in Disaster Resilience
Beyond her technical roles, Calkins is a fierce advocate for disaster resilience and community engagement. She believes that climate adaptation is not just a matter of implementing technical solutions but also of fostering strong, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters. Her commitment to social cohesion and collective action is evident in her advocacy for policies that support community-led adaptation to climate risks.
Calkins emphasizes that public policy must focus on inclusivity and equity, ensuring that historically marginalized communities are not left behind in the fight against climate change. By centering social impact in her work, she is ensuring that climate resilience strategies serve everyone, particularly those most vulnerable to environmental hazards.
The Impact of Kayla Drozd Calkins’ Work
Kayla Drozd Calkins’ contributions to climate resilience are reshaping the way communities approach and respond to climate risks. Through her work at the Climate Resilience Fund, her leadership on the Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District, and her strategic advice in the insurance sector, Calkins is helping to craft a more resilient future for regions like Portland, Oregon, and beyond.
Her work is particularly noteworthy for its intersectionality, addressing not only environmental sustainability but also social justice, equity, and community empowerment. As climate risks continue to evolve, professionals like Calkins are essential in ensuring that future strategies are both innovative and inclusive.
Conclusion: A Vision for the Future
Kayla Drozd Calkins is a dynamic leader whose career exemplifies the future of climate resilience and disaster preparedness. From leading wildfire resilience efforts to advocating for equitable flood safety solutions, her work is setting a benchmark for other professionals in the field. With her unwavering commitment to community-driven resilience and systemic change, Calkins continues to inspire those working towards a more sustainable, secure, and just climate future.
Her academic background, professional experience, and advocacy efforts place her at the forefront of climate resilience work, not only in Portland but also across the United States. As she continues to shape the future of climate risk management, Kayla Drozd Calkins is undoubtedly a leader to watch.
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