Lj Sinsley

The most important thing is to remember the most important thing. For me, that's using communications to advance climate and nature-based solutions that ensure a thriving planet.

I came to this work through journalism and growing up in one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots. My career sits at the intersection of climate, conservation, finance, and innovation. Having operated as an in-house lead and an external advisor for global NGOs, technology startups, government agencies, and Fortune 500s, I offer a rare fluency in the languages of the climate and conservation ecosystem.

I specialize in complexity translation: turning intricate science, policy, and nature finance into clear, credible narratives that build trust, influence stakeholders, and move capital. My work is designed to bridge the gap between what science demands and the market understands—ensuring that critical solutions get the traction and support needed to bend the emissions curve and scale.

Areas of Expertise

Strategic Communications & Narrative Architecture

Media Relations & Executive Positioning

Reputation, Crisis & Issues Management

Impact Storytelling

• Investor & Stakeholder Communications

Whether working in-house or advising and executing as a consultant, my focus is the same: helping mission-driven clients and partners communicate with the clarity and credibility required to gain competitive advantage.

Strategic Communications & External Affairs Director May 2025–Present; 2016–2021

All Things Green PR (Consultancy) | Palo Alto, CA

• Stakeholder Engagement: Designed engagement strategy for Santa Clara Valley Water District (2M customers) to build public support for critical infrastructure investments; advised senior leaders on multi-stakeholder issues management across corporate, NGO, and government audiences.
• Strategic Communications: Elevated Locus AG as a B Corp and nature-tech leader, launching its regenerative agriculture carbon program—generating 1M+ impressions, 16 investor meetings, thought leadership at Cleantech Forum North America, and multiple industry awards.
• Sustainability Advocacy: Developed ESG narratives and influencer mapping for Wells Fargo, Nokia, and SAP to strengthen brand credibility and mitigate greenwashing risk.

Communications & Marketing Director June 2023–April 2025

Conservation International, Nature Finance Group | Arlington, VA

• Crisis & Issues Management: Directed rapid-response communications amid international media scrutiny from BBC, Guardian, and MIT Technology Review, protecting institutional and partner reputations for Apple and Microsoft’s carbon investments.
• Impact Reporting & Fundraising: Co-led CI Ventures’ 2023 Impact Report documenting $15M invested across 43 nature-positive startups—including 3,000+ jobs created and 300,000+ hectares protected—helping to secure $2M in follow-on funding.
• Cross-sector Storytelling: Developed data-driven narratives for forest conservation projects across the Global South; coordinated corporate partner site visits showcasing and aligning how the climate, community and biodiversity impacts their investments enabled demonstrated progress on their sustainability goals.

Communications Director May 2021–November 2022

Everland | Remote

• Strategic Communications: Directed launch of The Forest Plan—a $2B private-sector REDD+ financing framework—executing integrated paid, earned, social, and owned media campaigns across four World Environment Day events, including a press conference with UNEP officials and a sold-out Concert for Climate.
• Sustainability Advisory: Advised Netflix, Disney, and Delta on sustainability communications strategy, developing messaging frameworks that positioned nature-based investments as credible, defensible assets.
• Media Relations: Secured 22 earned media placements in BBC, Fortune, Financial Review, and The New York Times; provided crisis messaging and proof points for corporate buyers navigating reputational exposure.

Communications Director June–December 2016

Stem | Millbrae, CA

• Media & Analyst Relations: Enabled $300K in sales leads for AI-enabled battery storage by cultivating media and analyst relationships that secured favorable coverage in Bloomberg, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and GTM Research.
• Market Positioning: Developed and executed integrated communications to position Stem as a market leader in AI-enabled energy storage, building visibility and investor confidence during the company’s Series C raise.
• Executive Thought Leadership: Managed a speakers bureau and prepared C-suite executives for panel opportunities at World Economic Forum events, Energy Storage North America, and Advanced Energy Economy Pathways to 2050.

Deputy Executive Director, Strategic Planning & Media | Executive Office Advisor July 2013–November 2015

California Energy Commission | Sacramento, CA

• Team Leadership: Built and led a 12-person cross-functional communications team, setting strategic priorities and aligning messaging across policy, legislative, and public engagement efforts for California’s primary energy policy agency.
• C-Suite Advisory: Served as trusted advisor to the Executive Director, Chair, and five commissioners on clean energy communications strategy, policy messaging, and climate advocacy.
• Crisis Communications: Served as agency spokesperson and directed crisis response to Wall Street Journal coverage of the Ivanpah Solar project and a Center for Investigative Reporting investigation into crude-by-rail risks.

California Media Director November 2008–May 2012

Environmental Defense Fund | San Francisco, CA

• Policy Advocacy Campaigns: Co-led media relations for the decisive defeat of Prop 23, protecting California’s landmark climate law (AB 32) and cap-and-trade program; led winning advocacy campaigns for clean cars standards and congestion pricing.
• Crisis Communications: Directed smart grid communications strategy for PG&E’s advanced metering deployment, managing customer-facing messaging during a national consumer backlash.

BA, Journalism, San José State University

Certified Digital Marketer, American Marketing Association

Fellowship: Climatebase

Awards: Best of California Awards: Energy News You Can Use Blog (CEC); Gold Quills for Government Relations & Employee Engagement