2025 Conference Speakers
Tribal Governance Session
Neil Harrington is an Environmental Biologist with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. In his twelve years with the Tribe his work has focused on harmful algal blooms, shellfish safety, native Olympia oyster restoration, invasive European green crabs, and outreach and education. Previous to working for Jamestown, he worked as a shellfish biologist for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and as the Water Quality Manager for Jefferson County. He earned a BA in Biology and a Master of Science in Biological Oceanography from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Creating Messages that Drive Behavior change
Justine Asohmbom is a Strategic Communications and Education Specialist with the Department of Ecology, where she provides leadership in cross-program and cross-agency coordination on Puget Sound education and outreach priorities. She designs programs that motivate behavior change to reduce pollution entering Puget Sound.
With over 20 years of experience, Justine is a seasoned practitioner in social marketing. She has developed and implemented award-winning campaigns such as Don’t Drip and Drive – Fix That Leak. Her recent work includes leading the Pump Out, Don’t Dump Out program, which educates and inspires boaters to properly manage vessel sewage.
Passionate about projects that integrate audience insights with measurable behavior change, Justine collaborates closely with regional partners to design strategies that achieve lasting impact. She serves on the Board of the Pacific Northwest Social Marketing Association and has presented at both national and international conferences.
She holds dual master’s degrees in communications and education and has been recognized with multiple awards from the Department of Ecology for her innovative, results-driven campaigns.
Land Use Session
Dr. Caitlin Magel is a coastal ecologist at University of Washington's Puget Sound Institute in Tacoma. She primarily studies habitats at the land-sea interface through field studies and modeling to understand how to better manage stressors originating from human activities and climate change. With training in inter- and trans-disciplinary research, Caitlin collaborates with a wide array of natural and social scientists, managers, and stakeholders through her work. She holds a BA in Biology and Environmental Science from Lawrence University in Wisconsin, MS in Marine Science from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and PhD in Integrative Biology from Oregon State University.
Erik Kingfisher works as the Director of Stewardship and Resilience at Jefferson Land Trust, leading strategic initiatives related to climate and community resilience, and helping with permanent protection and stewardship of conservation properties across Jefferson County on the Olympic Peninsula. Erik grew up outside Seattle (Woodinville), and on SW Whidbey Island, spending a lot of time in the mountains, forests, creeks, and tidepools. He focused on natural history when studying for his B.A. in Environmental Education at Western WA Univ. in Bellingham (he also holds an M.A. in Environmental Politics from Keele University in the UK). He’s worked as a guide and naturalist in Olympic N.P., SE Alaska, Yosemite N.P., and north coast California, and has been working primarily in private forestland conservation since 2004.
Andi Kopit, M.S. (she/her) is the Education Coordinator Whidbey Camano Land Trust and holds a master’s degree in pollination biology from Utah State University, where she studied pesticide exposure in native bees. She has worked in outdoor environmental education with local school programs and serves on the Island County Marine Resources Committee, focusing on marine conservation and community engagement. Passionate about invertebrates and environmental stewardship, Andi loves connecting young people with their environment, and participating in community science and environmental restoration. In her spare time, you may find Andi wandering around in nature, identifying the living organisms around her or putting up produce from her garden.
Erika Harris is a Senior Planner in the Growth Management group at Puget Sound Regional Council. She has over 15 years of experience in environmental, urban, and regional planning. At PSRC, Erika works on Puget Sound recovery, open space planning, comprehensive plan review, advancing racial equity, and other issues at the intersection of planning and sustainability. She holds master’s degrees in urban planning and public policy and governance from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pacific Lutheran University.