Tara is passionate about using technology to help realign natural, social, and economic systems. As the Director of Forest Programs at Planet, she oversees the company's strategy for leveraging its unprecedented earth observation capacity to help improve the world's ability to monitor global forests today - and account for the value of forests in the global economy tomorrow. Trained in the natural sciences, Tara began her career advancing ecosystem services research at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. In 2012, she helped start a nonprofit focused on engaging the private sector in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), a financial mechanism for sustainable land use under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Prior to joining Planet, Tara advised several foundations and investment firms on integrating the reality of climate and environmental change into their portfolios, including organizing the Climate & Capital Summit that brought together investors representing over $1 Trillion AUM alongside the COP21 in Paris. Tara holds a Master's of Environmental Management and International Development from Duke University, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Gettysburg College.