Speakers for the West Africa Climate Reality Leadership Training

Phyllis Cuttino is a leader with deep experience and success leading campaigns, coalitions and issue advocacy efforts to achieve policy and narrative change. She has extensive climate and clean energy experience and expertise. Cuttino was the executive director of the Climate Action Campaign - a coalition of 14 of the country's leading climate and health organizations representing more than 12 million Americans -- which is dedicated to making progress on federal climate, clean air and clean energy policy. As the Managing Director of Climate Nexus' Issues Management team, she piloted a unit dedicated to identifying emerging policy and narrative threats and opportunities and conceiving and operationalizing responses for the broader environmental movement. At The Pew Charitable Trusts, Cuttino led all sustainability efforts including the Clean Energy and Flood Prepared Communities programs, the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate, the Clean Energy Business Network and the Pew Campaign for Fuel Efficiency. She has a background in policy, strategic communications and campaigns. In the policy arena, Cuttino worked on the senior staffs of two United States Senators. In philanthropy, she served as vice president of public affairs for Ted Turner’s $1 billion gift to U.N. causes. As a senior vice president at a consulting firm in Washington, she helped Fortune 500 companies and nongovernmental organizations influence public policy and increase awareness of critical issues. Cuttino has directed issue advocacy campaigns and served in various roles for political campaigns. Cuttino holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Furman University in Greenville, SC.