Kathy Baughman McLeod

Kathy Baughman McLeod recently joined Bryant Miller Olive, as the head of its newly created Public Policy Group. As Director of Public Strategy, Baughman McLeod will develop and manage the new consultancy that helps clients build effective business strategies, successfully navigate public policy challenges, establish political, corporate, and non-governmental partnerships at all levels, and prepare for and take advantage of the new low-carbon economy.

Ms. Baughman McLeod recently left the service of Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. Ms. Baughman McLeod’s responsibilities included policy development and execution related to the Florida Treasury, State Board of Administration, and the financial aspects of climate change, Florida’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, the My Safe Florida Home mitigation program, the Healthy Kids Corporation and the acquisition and stewardship of conservation lands.

Ms. Baughman McLeod led the initiative that resulted in Florida’s being the first Treasury in the nation to formally analyze climate risks in the Treasury portfolio. In addition, she directed Florida’s participation at the UN Foundation Investors’ Summit on Climate Risk in spring 2008. In December 2007, Ms. Baughman McLeod attended the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, as a delegate. She orchestrated a climate change, insurance and financial services tour of United Kingdom in November 2007 and three workshops titled “Conversations on Climate Change” with the Governor and Florida Cabinet, a CEO Roundtable on Clean Energy and Florida Business.

Long involved in the public sector, Ms. Baughman McLeod is the former principal of Healthy Development, Inc., a national environmental health consulting firm and of Baughman McLeod Associates. She worked with the CDC on utilizing the Health Impact Assessment, to analyze the health and economic impacts of an 800 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Florida.

As the Program Director of the Florida Communities Trust at the Florida Department of Community Affairs, she administered a $66 million annual grant program for local governments for the acquisition and creation of community parks, open space and trails related to the Florida Growth Management Act. She has held positions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, The Nature Conservancy, and The Trust for Public Land. As the Director of Government Affairs for the Trust for Public Land, she led the legislative advocacy and public finance initiatives for the organization's nine-state, southeast region. She holds a BS in International Affairs and an MS in Geography, both from Florida State University. She is a board member of Leadership Florida and a member of Class XXV, a director of the Florida Council for Sustainability at the Collins Center for Public Policy, and a member of the national board of advisors of the Children & Nature Network.

Workshop

Climate Change, Economic Crisis and Targeting a Green Recovery for Florida

This session will give a brief overview of the State Energy and Climate Commission's work and the efforts to boost the economy through green initiatives. We will have a group discussion of the financial and economic aspects of climate change that will impact business and government at all levels in our state.