Liza Heavener

Liza Heavener has a diverse work experience, starting their career as a Campaign Manager for the Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee in 2007. Liza then worked as a Development & Events Associate for the Faith & Politics Institute from 2008 to 2009. Following that, they served as the Political Action Committee Administrator for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) from 2009 to 2012.

In 2012, Liza became a Co-Founder of DeforestACTION, where they led an international team and contributed to the rescue and conservation efforts for endangered orangutans. Liza also launched an innovative program called "Earthwatchers" to protect rainforests from illegal logging.

Liza's next role was as an Associate Director of Advocacy & Engagement for the American Nurses Association from 2013 to 2016. During this time, they managed advocacy campaigns and engaged with stakeholders to promote the nursing profession.

Since 2015, Liza has been the Founding Chair of the Nexus Working Group on Animal Welfare & Biodiversity Conservation, where they have been focused on bringing together next-generation philanthropists and social entrepreneurs to address global issues.

Most recently, Liza has been serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the NEXUS Global Summit, a leading global network dedicated to advancing impactful solutions and uniting the next generation of change-makers.

Liza Heavener completed their Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Political Science, and Psychology at Eastern Mennonite University, where they studied from 2003 to 2007. In 2006, they also briefly attended Howard University with a focus on Business and Marketing, although they did not obtain a degree from there. Additionally, in January 2018, Liza obtained a certification as a Destination Impact Member from the Raikes Foundation.