Heather Stokes

Heather is a Director of Practice with The Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy at the University of Montana. She works with a variety of NGOs, government agencies, and private corporations creating collaborative partnerships to promote awareness and advance social and environmental issues. She engages diverse stakeholders through inclusive and equitable participation and respect, building a foundation of trust that generates innovative ideas and long-lasting relationships and results. She is currently working with the Montana DNRC’s Water Resources Division where she designs process and facilitates external stakeholder groups that are charged with providing recommendations on statute, rule, and policy changes both to improve new permit and change processes (including mitigation and exempt wells) and to inform the roles and responsibilities of water administration and management post final decree issuance.

Heather thrives on bringing diverse people and interests together to help strengthen relationships, work through challenging conversations, and find solutions that benefit all in the end.