Liz Guinessey

As Manager, Food and Blue Carbon Innovation, Liz is responsible for advancing Verra’s food systems and blue carbon innovation workstreams. In this capacity, she explores opportunities for the scaling up of nature-based innovation activities that can reduce the climate impact of global food systems and contribute to sustainable seascape management. Liz coordinates and provides technical input to the development of VCS methodologies for natural climate solutions, including interventions to reduce food loss and waste. She also coordinates program development initiatives for Verra’s programs that are related to scaling up blue carbon activity.

Prior to joining Verra, Liz worked for the International Alliances Program at the National Audubon Society, where she worked closely with local partners to conserve habitat in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a focus on coastal areas, she helped to coordinate and implement a variety of conservation programs that aimed to meet climate, biodiversity and sustainable development goals. Before her time at Audubon, Liz spent a year as a Fulbright scholar in Costa Rica working on a community-based mangrove reforestation and blue carbon project.

Liz holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Georgia. Liz completed her MS thesis analyzing GHG budgets of Georgia’s coastal salt marshes and researching pathways to bring carbon stored to market. In her free time, Liz loves to spend time outside hiking, paddling, and finding the best swimming holes.