Sierra joined Elise and Tim as a co-owner of Nuka Research in 2014. She has worked on and off with the company since 2004, while also expanding her career in other environmental policy areas. From 2004-2008, Sierra worked as a Project Associate and then Project Manager, during which time she played a key supporting role in Nuka Research’s response to the M/V Selendang Ayu oil spill, as an analyst for several high-profile arctic oil spill development projects, and oil spill contingency plan reviewer in Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound, Alaska.
From 2008 – 2012, Sierra worked for the Boston-based Product Stewardship Institute, where she became Director of Policy and Programs working on policy initiatives and multi-stakeholder negotiations related to consumer product waste. During this time, Sierra provided occasional support to Nuka Research projects and taught an online negotiation course for the Consensus Building Institute in Cambridge, MA.
Sierra returned to Nuka Research as a Senior Project Manager in 2012, working on projects in Alaska and beyond. Her work focuses on policy research, technical writing, and facilitation, as well as helping to grow and manage the company. Sierra has represented Nuka Research at meetings and conferences from Anchorage to Halifax to Reykjavik.
Sierra’s educational background includes a B.A. from Yale University and a graduate degree from the Fletcher (no relation) School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She lives in Yarmouth, Maine.
Email: sierra@nukaresearch.com