Ann Clarke

Ann’s Resume [PDF]

Ann Clarke joined Silicon Valley Mediation Group in 2013 as a mediator and environmental conflict resolution facilitator after a distinguished career in public service at the national, State, regional, and local levels. With a broad background in science, law, policy, and management and more than 30 years of real world experience, she is adept at facilitating resolution of complex matters involving multiple parties with diverse and often competing interests.

Collaborative Partnering Facilitation and Mediation

  • Natural resources and environment, e.g., environmental impact analysis, wildlife, historic preservation, geology, agriculture, forestry, environmental justice, Tribal government, climate risk, spectrum, hazardous materials, water and air quality
  • Development of facilities, e.g., research park, airport, spaceport, energy
  • Clean-up and restoration of contaminated sites

ann-workProfessional Experience (Selected Examples)

  • NASA/FAA/USDA: During tenure as Environmental Chief and Assistant Director of Operations at NASA Ames Research Center and earlier at NASA, FAA and USDA Headquarters, Ann facilitated collaboration among and negotiated with entrepreneurs, engineers, regulators, and stakeholders, for example, in California, Hawaii, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, and elsewhere, to resolve disputes over use of natural resources and environmental compliance.
  • NASA: As Executive Officer to the NASA Chief Scientist, Ann acted as Secretariat to the NASA Science Council and represented NASA on the White House Office of Science and Technology subcommittee to align grant management procedures across grant making agencies. Ann also mediated conflicting interests among science policy leaders to align internal basic and applied science decision-making procedures and implement established research misconduct policies associated with grants.
  • Federal Aviation Administration: Ann, for example, facilitated collaboration among Native American tribes, resource managers, and tourism interests in the Grand Canyon and at other traditional cultural sites to mediate aircraft noise, cultural resource, economic development, recreational access, and wildlife concerns.
  • Solo Practice: Prior to her Federal career, Ann participated in task forces and as a consultant in facilitating collaboration among multi-generation farmers, woodlot owners, conservation organizations, and government officials in New England, the Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest to craft regional, State, and county agricultural water pollution, forest management, open space, and land use plans in response to changing regulations.
  • Volunteer Mediator: Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Resolution

Licenses and Affiliations

  • Attorney licensed in D.C. (active), New Mexico (inactive), Colorado (inactive)
  • Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • Associate member, California Bar Association Environmental Law Section
  • Association for Conflict Resolution, Environment and Public Policy Section
  • Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Alumni Advisory Board
  • Member, Society of American Foresters, Carmel Valley Association, Water Committee

Education

  • University of New Mexico, Juris Doctor with Natural Resources Program Certificate. Lead Articles Editor, Natural Resources J.; District Attorney Clinic.
  • Yale University, Doctor of Forestry & Environmental Studies and Master of Forest Science
  • University of Oregon, Master of Science (joint – geography and education)
  • Colorado College, Bachelor of Arts (geology)
  • More than 100 hours of conflict resolution training, including the 40-hour Civil Mediation course at the National Judicial College and Environmental Conflict Resolution at the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution

Author and Presenter

“Tips for Avoiding Fractious Relationships in Fractious Projects: The Benefits of Partnering and a Checklist of Considerations,” Presented at the National Association of Environmental Professionals annual conference, St. Petersburg, Florida (2014).

“Seeing Clearly: Making Decisions under Conditions of Scientific Controversy and Incomplete and Uncertain Scientific Information,” 46 Natural Resources Journal 571-99 (2006).

“Understanding sustainable development in the context of other emergent environmental perspectives,” 35 Policy Sciences 69-90 (2002) (based on Yale dissertation).

“Beliefs regarding society and nature: A framework for listening in forest and environmental policy,” 24 Operant Subjectivity 159-182 (2001).

“The International Law of Forests,” 34 Natural Resources Journal 823-77 (1995).

“American Indian Sacred Sites on Federal Public Lands: Resolving Conflicts between Religious Use and Multiple Use at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico,” 19 American Indian Law Review 132-58 (1994) (based on law school thesis).