NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) has named Julie Cerqueira as Chief Program Officer. As a member of NRDC’s leadership team, Cerqueira will help drive strategy, fundraise and manage the organization’s key programs: climate and energy, environmental health, nature, green finance and international.
“Right now, we are called upon to defend everything the environmental movement has fought for over the last few generations—and to rebuild a future we can all feel more hopeful and excited about,” said Cerqueira. “At a moment where so much is being destroyed at a pace that’s hard to keep up with—I can’t think of a better place to be.”
Cerqueira comes to NRDC after serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy during the Biden-Harris Administration. Prior to that, she was the inaugural Executive Director of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of governors committed to addressing the climate crisis.
“I have been struck by Julie’s energy, optimism and belief in the power of teamwork to accomplish great things. A seasoned environmental policy expert with a distinguished track record in nonprofits and government, commendable fundraising experience, and keen commitment to integrity—she will be a tremendous asset to the organization, especially now,” said NRDC President and CEO Manish Bapna.
Cerqueira has served in three presidential administrations, including as a Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Climate Change at the U.S. Department of State. Before her work in the federal government, Cerqueira worked with emerging markets to design climate policies at the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), a Washington, D.C.-based climate think tank. She also advised U.S. companies to promote policy reforms while at the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia and implemented community-based conservation projects as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, among other roles.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by finding solutions that help communities thrive and protect this beautiful planet we call home. Our actions must be rooted in supporting and serving each other—not picking on the little guy. This is a moment to deepen our service to each other, to fight for a better future for all people. That’s what patriotism is,” Cerqueira said. “Our strength as an organization and a movement will be determined by how we leverage our best assets, the partnerships we build, and our focus on strategies that will drive meaningful change.”
