2026 Symposium Speakers

We are thrilled to have such a wonderful lineup of speakers for this year’s symposium. Learn more about each of them below. Speakers are listed in speaking order, which you can find on the agenda.

NVBA’s Executive Director, Amanda Robinson, has a passion for nature and community building. Before joining NVBA she spent her career working with nonprofits focused on climate action and education, serving most recently as the Director of Development for The Climate Initiative.

Growing up in Maine, Amanda's earliest memories of birds and conservation revolve around the annual efforts to protect Piping Plover nests along her hometown's beaches. These experiences sparked a lifelong love of wildlife and a particular interest in protecting endangered species. Her path to NVBA was inspired by reading Birding to Change the World, which led her to explore local bird organizations. Upon discovering NVBA, she was immediately drawn to its mission and was delighted to join the team.

Throughout her career, Amanda has worked with organizations driving impact in climate education, faith-based environmental advocacy, and access to higher education. She has focused on strategic fundraising to transform organizational missions into reality, building inclusive cultures, and fostering meaningful connections between people and nature. She brings this collaborative approach to NVBA, along with her commitment to expanding access to nature and environmental education.

more bio information goes here.

Sponsors

This event is sponsored in part by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. We are grateful to their support for this collaborative event.

Thank you to our individual donors who have helped make this event possible!