Fresh Focus
Andy Meeks oversees fundraising effortsat the nonprofit conservation trust in Portland
Ore., and calls himself a “disrupter
of the status quo” in the fight for clean and
abundant fresh water. The organization’s
approach, known as quantified conservation
focuses on measurable outcomes to deliver
innovative water-management solutions, using
big data, geospatial imaging technologies
and mobile software.
“Quantified conservation emphasizes
transparency and scientific rigor and has the
potential to elevate the conservation sector
from not only doing good work but to also
being a highly accountable and investable
instrument of change. I’m very proud to be
a part of these efforts,” says Meeks, whose
favorite activity in the water is fly fishing.
“Fresh water is the world’s lifeblood.
It unites our communities, sustains native
fish and wildlife, and serves as the hidden
fuel for our economy,” he says. “Yet
our freshwater resources are becoming
less resilient every day.”