Chamois Andersen (Defenders of Wildlife) – Steering Committee Chair, Chair, Bison Working Group
Chamois Andersen is Defenders of Wildlife’s Senior Field Representative responsible for advancing the organization’s Great Plains Program. She conducts science, policy advocacy and fieldwork toward the recovery of imperiled wildlife, including American bison, endangered black-footed ferrets, prairie dogs, and swift fox. She also works on grassland restoration projects aimed at conserving grassland birds such as sage grouse, mountain plover, and burrowing owl. For nearly a decade, with Defenders she has fostered key partnerships with Native American tribes and has helped with management of their buffalo herds. She also coordinates with state and federal agencies and nongovernment organizations on bison recovery, and works with private landowners on projects designed for better coexistence between agricultural operations and prairie dog conservation. Chamois believes strategic management plans, communications, and engagement with a diversity of stakeholders are key to the successful recovery of imperiled species and the habitats upon which they depend
Ana Davidson (Colorado State University/Colorado Natural Heritage Program) – Co-chair, Prairie Dog Working Group
My research centers broadly on the ecology and conservation biological diversity, in the context of global change. My research spans multiple scales from local-scale community ecology and human-wildlife coexistence, to landscape ecology and global-scale macroecology. I use field studies, ecological modeling, and community engagement to address questions on the ecology and conservation of biological diversity at both local and global scales. My field research often focuses on species that play large and important ecological roles that shape and transform ecosystems, such as burrowing rodents and large mammalian herbivores in grassland systems. Much of this work centers on community ecology, but is interdisciplinary, integrating human dimensions, restoration, population, ecosystem, and global change ecology. My macroecology research addresses questions in basic ecology and those related to the large-scale conservation challenges that face our planet, such as global biodiversity loss and extinction risk.
Cameron Hunter (Alberta Wilderness Association)
Growing up in Alberta’s Rockies, foothills, and grasslands instilled in me a deep connection to the natural world. I studied Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership, experiencing everything from sea kayaking in the Sea of Cortez to backpacking in Kananaskis. I then earned a degree in Geographic Information Systems, completing a capstone project on wildlife-vehicle collisions within Alberta’s southern foothills. As a GIS/Data Analyst and IT Administrator at a planning and design firm, I’ve worked on projects spanning city planning, parks analysis, mining restoration visualizations, and connectivity modeling. I also hold ten years of photography experience, focusing on nature and birds, with a soft spot for Alberta’s native grasslands. I use my lens to support conservation work and share the wonder of the outdoors. I approach nature with curiosity, humility, and a commitment to learning and educating others.
Adriann Killsnight (Northern Cheyenne)
Adriann Killsnight, also known as He’heenóhká’e (Blackbirdwoman), is a Northern Cheyenne Wildlife Biologist with over 15 years of consulting experience in cultural and natural resources. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Resource Management. Adriann specializes in conservation and the repatriation of black-footed ferrets to the Northern Cheyenne, collaborating with partner organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and Wilder Institute-Calgary Zoo. She helped co-develop a Black-footed Ferret community-focused conservation plan and outreach strategy that prioritizes Northern Cheyenne values and other related projects.
Adriann serves on the board of Buffalo Nations Grasslands, contributing to efforts that supports Northern Great Plains Tribes. Additionally, Adriann is a member of the Intertribal Native Plant and Seed Working Group. She founded Charging Buffalo, LLC, which offers services in GIS, research, data analysis, education, and outreach grounded in Northern Cheyenne culture and traditions.
Outside of work, Adriann serves as a Team Director and Coach for the Northern Cheyenne Bison Mountain Bike Team. She enjoys the outdoors, camping, biking, hiking, gardening, hunting deer, elk, and for morels. She is actively involved in her family’s life, supporting her nieces and nephews sporting events and activities. Additionally, she cares for her chickens and finds joy in hiking and walking her fur babies, Tiny, Daisy, and Creed.
Rurik List (CBS Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Lerma)
Rurik is a professor at the Research Area on Conservation Biology at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Lerma. He is a Mexican carnivore and conservation biologist. His work focuses on research and implementation of actions that advance the conservation of carnivores, threatened species and their habitats. He has a special interest in species’ reintroductions, and in the identification and protection of biologically important areas. An important part of his activities is on outreach about the species and areas he studies and about Nature conservation issues in general. Most of his career has taken place in grasslands and temperate forests. He has been involved in research and in conservation efforts with species like bison, black-footed ferret, Mexican wolf, kit fox and jaguar.
Mirna Manteca (Cuenca los Ojos)
Mirna is a biologist with over ten years of experience working in the US–Mexico borderlands. She specializes in ecological connectivity, road ecology, and community engagement, focusing on integrated solutions that protect wildlife movement through large landscapes by combining applied science with key stakeholder participation. She has led regional monitoring initiatives for species such as jaguar and ocelot, strengthening ecological corridors and promoting coexistence between ranchers and predators in priority conservation areas. Mirna currently serves as Rewilding Coordinator for Cuenca Los Ojos, where she supports landscape-scale restoration and connectivity efforts. She previously served as co-chair of the Latin America and Caribbean Transport Working Group within the IUCN Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group and is a co-founder of the Asociación Mujeres y Conservación. Her work is grounded in cross-sector collaboration, applied science, and strong community engagement.
Michael Menefee (Colorado State University/Colorado Natural Heritage Program)
Michael Menefee, Data Distribution and Environmental Review Coordinator at CNHP, has been working as a conservation scientist at CNHP for over fifteen years. He has expertise in technical report writing, geographic information systems, spatial analysis, information technology, graphic design, desktop publishing software, project administration, photography, public outreach and communications. He is proficient in purposing datasets to help answer complex conservation planning and natural resource management questions. Michael applies his skill set to review proposed projects for potential impacts to sensitive species and significant natural communities and provides this information to a myriad of clients including governmental entities, private consultants, researchers, agencies, citizens and nonprofit organizations.
Henry Pollock (Southern Plains Land Trust) – Chair, Grassland Birds Working Group
Dr. Henry Pollock is the Executive Director of the Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT). Henry has a background in ecology and conservation with a strong focus on quantitative, data-driven science and practice. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology and nearly 15 years’ experience as a wildlife biologist and academic researcher. He is dedicated to gaining ground for prairie wildlife and continuing to expand SPLT’s reach throughout the Southern Plains to bring back the American Serengeti. Henry is a true believer in GPCN’s big landscape approach and focus on keystone species such as bison and prairie dogs.
Jonathan Proctor (World Wildlife Fund)
Jonathan Proctor is director of the Great Plains Wildlife Initiative, part of World Wildlife Fund’s Great Plains program. His team works in support of Native Nations and locally-led efforts to conserve and restore keystone and endangered wildlife of the Great Plains – including bison, black-footed ferrets, prairie dogs, and beavers – in ways that contribute to ecological, economic, and cultural sustainability. Jonathan joined WWF in 2023, previously working for Defenders of Wildlife (2005-2023), Predator Conservation Alliance (1997-2005), and the U.S. Forest Service (1990-1997). His career has centered on restoration and conservation of imperiled and keystone species of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains including wolves, bison, grizzly bears, prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, wolverines, lynx, swift fox, and beavers. This work has included policy change, human-wildlife conflict prevention, and collaboration with Tribal and state wildlife agencies, ranchers, rural landowners, land trusts, and NGOs. Jonathan is co-founder of the Northern Plains Conservation Network and co-author of Ocean of Grass: A Conservation Assessment for the Northern Great Plains.
Lindsey Sterling Krank (Humane World For Animals) – Co-chair, Prairie Dog Working Group
Lindsey Sterling Krank is the Humane World for Animal’s Program Director for Prairie Dog Conflict Resolution. She is a part of the Humane Wildlife Coexistence team and has served in this role for twenty years. Lindsey has an Environmental Science degree from the University of Montana. And she loves bringing people together, working with wildlife on the ground and learning from each other. Her work has been featured in newspapers, TV, on National Geographic and most recently in a documentary film, The Nature Makers. Lindsey was also the first PDC Coordinator for over ten years and is excited to be a part of what the Coalition will do next!
Cliff Wallis (Alberta Wilderness Association)
Born in London, UK, Cliff immigrated to Canada in 1957 and has lived in Alberta since. He is a Professional Biologist and President of Cottonwood Consultants Ltd. (an environmental consultancy). He facilitated the twinning of Dalai Lake National Nature Reserve in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia with Hay-Zama Wildland Park in northwestern Alberta and helped organize the Sage Grouse and Wild Buffalo Summits. Cliff’s nature conservation work has been recognized with awards by several environmental groups and he was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2023. Cliff currently serves on the boards of the Alberta Wilderness Association (since 1979) and Milk River Management Society (since 1989) as well as the core team for the Transboundary Grassland Partnership; steering committee for the Great Plains Conservation Network; and the Central Grasslands Roadmap, Canada Work Group.
Don (Doc) Woerner
Don is a large and small animal veterinarian whose focus is on bison restoration with the goal of re-establishing wild bison herds in Montana and adjoining states. He is currently collaborating with Indian tribes in assessing them to establish disease-free bison herds on Indian reservations. The challenge of Indian tribes establishing buffalo herds on their tribal lands isn’t one that Don has shied away from. He has been a student of western history as well as the science necessary to nurture wild bison on native prairie lands and understands well the importance of bison in the culture of Plains Indians. Don has worked with Yellowstone National Park in quarantining bison to ensure they are disease-free and understands the additional health needs of bison on the reservation. He is keenly interested in improving veterinary services for Indian people on the reservations.