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Abigail Whittaker
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL
Abigail brings a wealth of practical skills, seasoned judgement, and a solution-oriented mindset to client relationships. Her colleagues would describe her as having tenacity, keen listening and observation skills, and an intuitive ability to grasp complex problems. She brings this thoughtfulness and determination to every project.
CORE TRAINING AREAS
Environmental and ecological science theory, applications, and research methods
Global wildlife and natural resource conservation
Land protection and stewardship
Global food systems, markets, and agricultural livelihoods
Global climate change interactions with social and ecological systems
One Health and human wellbeing
Poverty and international development theory, applications, and research methods
Qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis
Social science theory, applications, and research methods
EDUCATION
PhD Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (2024-present), Colorado State University
Graduate Certificate in Data Analysis (2025)
BS Environmental Science (2013), California State University, Chico
Minor in Development and Environmental Economics
AS Environmental Horticulture (2010) / AS Physical Sciences (2011), Butte College
PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT & SERVICE
Common Ground Fellowship Committee - Colorado State University (2026-present)
Board Member, Mkuyu Ilenga Foundation - Tanzania (2025-present)
Member, Cash for Conservation Working Group (2025-present)
Board Member, Society for Conservation Biology – Colorado State University Chapter (2025-2025)
Member, IUCN CEESP Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (2016-present)
Member, IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (2016-present)
Development Committee Member, 2017 International Congress for Conservation Biology (2016-17)
President/North America Representative, SCB Ecological Economics & Sustainability Science Working Group (2013-16)
EXPERIENCE
Founder/Principal (Sep 2025-present)
fraction – Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Project Director, Land Protection (Oct 2022-Oct 2025)
The Nature Conservancy – Sacramento, California, US
Graduate Researcher, US/Tanzania (Aug 2024-Jul 2025)
Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence – Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Deputy Director for Conservation (Aug 2020-Oct 2022)
Northern California Regional Land Trust – Chico, California, US
Research Analyst (Aug 2018-July 2020)
Center for Economic Development – Chico, California, US
Operations Manager (Mar 2018-Jul 2018)
Bamford Family Farms – Oroville, California, US
Graduate Researcher, Canada/Malawi (May 2016-Aug 2017)
University of British Columbia – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Operations Coordinator (Jan 2015-Apr 2016)
Sustainable Fisheries Group, UCSB – Santa Barbara, California, US
Project Manager (Feb 2014-Feb 2015)
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County – Red Bluff, California, US
Environmental Specialist (Jun 2011-Sep 2012)
Chico Environmental Science and Planning – Chico, California, US
Assistant Editor/Research Associate (Aug 2009-Mar 2010)
International Commodities Institute/The Rice Trader – Chico, California, US
Full CV and references are available by request.
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