Ask a Leader: Earth Day Edition

Gold Chinder and Katie Hawkins are ready to answer your questions about how to get involved in environmental work, how you can make sustainable changes in your own life, and more.

Gold Chinder is the national officer for environmental education programs at the National Administration of Conservation Areas. For the past three years, Gold has dedicated his time to designing, coordinating, and monitoring environmental education programs across more than a dozen of Mozambique’s national parks and national reserves, including the implementation of seven environmental education programs. 

Under Gold’s leadership, over 80,000 people benefit annually, ranging from children of the surrounding schools to community members, natural resources management committees, and teachers. Gold is dedicated to addressing the pressing issues of environmental education and conservation in Mozambique. 

Recognizing the critical role education plays in fostering a sustainable future, he continues to spearhead projects aimed at integrating environmental awareness into school curricula and community engagement programs. With extensive experience running a high volume of environmental education programs across Mozambique, Gold has made a significant impact on both residents and visitors alike.

Katie Hawkins is the program director for Outdoor Alliance, an organization that mobilizes outdoor enthusiasts to protect public lands and waters. Katie works at the intersection of climate change, grassroots community building, and urban planning to ensure America’s public lands and waters are safe and accessible to all. 

Katie established the Recreate Responsibly California coalition that brought together the long-competing motorized and non-motorized communities with the outdoor industry to help pass The Great American Outdoors Act, historic bipartisan legislation to preserve and enhance the country’s public lands. 

Katie was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to his outdoor recreation commission and by Secretary Wade Crowfoot to coordinate for the California Natural Resources Agency.