Caroline Mellor

Facilitator | Policy | Climate | Project manager | Environmental Justice | Conflict & Process

Olympia, Washington, United States

About

Experienced environmental planner, facilitator & project manager. Led environmental and public policy collaborative governance and conflict management. Skilled at leading & designing policy processes that are inclusive and meet a wide variety of interests.

Experience

  • Washington State Department of Ecology (Olympia, Washington, United States · Hybrid)
    • Statewide Drought Lead
      Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

      Senior Planner. Lead the State’s drought declaration process and implementation of state drought relief. Chair of the state’s Water Supply Availability Committee; collaborate with a range of stakeholders and present to legislative committees. Develop drought resilience policy to address water supply issues in the face of climate change.

    • Water Resources Statewide Rules Lead
      Jun 2023 - Mar 2024 · 10 mos

      Senior Planner. Lead rule development for the Water Resources Program. Lead rule processes and develop rulemaking strategy for all water resource program rules Lead internal and external meetings on rules, coordination with state agencies, Tribes and stakeholders Lead program environmental justice strategy and implementation of the Healthy Environment for All Act Support junior staff in developing project management skills and grant program guidance

    • Environmental Justice Planner, Climate Commitment Act
      Jan 2022 - Jun 2023 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Project management and policy lead for overburdened communities initiative within the CCA. Develop policies to address criteria air pollution reduction in overburdened communities Write budget requests and capital project requests for air quality environmental justice projects Coordinate multiple internal section managers and others in leadership across the agency. Lead meetings with the Governor’s Office, the EJ Council and other high-level stakeholders.

  • Associate, Planner & Facilitator at The Langdon Group
    Jun 2019 - Aug 2021 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Developed and wrote plans for government clients, integrated plan feedback from stakeholders and partners. Analyzed implications of different approaches for plan development Facilitated, designed and managed collaborative governance, conflict management processes and public engagement and stakeholder facilitation projects for clients (municipal, state and federal agencies) Project types: Forest Collaboratives (USFS), Public land, trails, natural resource, watershed, wastewater, bicycle and pedestrian, transportation, municipal, & public health.

  • Assistant Facilitator at Oregon Consensus/ Oregon Solutions, National Policy Consensus Center
    Jun 2018 - May 2019 · 1 yr

    Assist in project management, meeting coordination, stakeholder engagement & facilitation for the Willamette Falls Locks Commission (WFLC); Write Meeting Summaries, meeting materials preparation. Analyzed data and wrote a report on objections/appeals on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects, focus on implications for USFS forest collaborative groups and collaborative governance. Research and wrote report on funding options for the University Network of Collaborative Governance.

  • Project Manager, Finding Common Ground at Agora Journalism Center
    Mar 2018 - May 2019 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Research, evaluation & project management for grantees in community-based dialogue media projects. Facilitated workshops for grantees at two conferences & monthly video conference calls

  • Public Engagement Researcher at Oregon Department of Transportation
    May 2017 - Sep 2017 · 5 mos

    Deliverables: Public Engagement Toolkit; Recommendations for internal structural changes. Additional work: Research on public engagement best practices and related decision-making charts, engagement software, & collaborative forums; Interviewed ODOT staff; Contractor analysis.