Our Team

We are a team of scientists from seven partner institutions that are passionate about conserving global biodiversity.

Chicago Botanic Garden.

CBG is a 385-acre garden situated in the greater Chicago area. The Plant Science and Conservation department is dedicated using advanced approaches to conserve plant diversity at a global scale.

Kayri Havens – Senior Director of Ecology and Conservation and Senior Scientist, co-PI

Jeremie Fant – Conservation Scientist, Genetics, co-PI

Andrea Kramer – Conservation Scientist, Restoration

Bianca Rosenbaum – Conservation Data Manager

Zoe Diaz-Martin – Post-doctoral researcher

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), U.S.

BGCI-US connects conservation interests, best practices, and information with botanic gardens and conservation partners to secure threatened plants in North America and around the world. We utilize BGCI’s global network to increase the impact of conservation efforts by North American botanic gardens and ensure that the world’s amazing plant diversity is valued, secure and supporting all life.

Abby Meyer – Executive Director

Meirion Jones – Head of IT at BGCI-global

Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) and Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative (SCTI)

CZS operates Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago metro area and supports a wide range of conservation and research projects worldwide. SCTI is a partnership of zoos and conservation organizations whose mission is to create, deliver, provide training in, and sustain accessible software tools and associated scientific innovations that facilitate science-based decision making in species conservation.

Taylor Callicrate – Conservation Scientist & Software Developer

Sara Sullivan – SCTI Training Specialist

SCTI Project Advisors:

Robert Lacy – Senior Conservation Scientist Emeritus, CZS.

Jon Ballou – Research Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution.

Atlanta Botanic Garden

Emily Coffey – Vice President of Research and Conservation

Montgomery Botanical Center

MBC advances research, conservation and education through its living collection of palms and cycads.

Patrick Griffith – Executive Director

National Tropical Botanic Garden

NTBG is dedicated to preserving tropical plant diversity and stemming the tide of extinction – through plant exploration, propagation, habitat restoration, scientific research, and education. NTBG’s gardens and preserves are safe havens for at-risk species that otherwise might disappear forever.

Seana Walsh – Conservation Biologist