Christina DeConcini is WRI’s Director of Government Affairs. Christina is an attorney and advocate with demonstrated effectiveness in achieving policy change through litigation, designing and directing legislative strategies, forging diverse and effective coalitions, and framing and advancing issues for public support. At WRI Christina has focused on overseeing WRI’s legislative work and strategy on climate change and energy issues, engagement with the US Administration and corporate partners on these issues and leads WRI’s Climate Impacts work. Christina speaks on these issues in a number of forums.

Prior to joining WRI in September 2007, Christina spent 20 years representing and advocating for the rights of immigrants and refugees, serving as the as the Director of Policy and Advocacy in several national organizations seeking to change federal immigration laws, provide representation to indigent immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers and improve conditions of detention for immigrants. Christina has written and spoken frequently on issues related to immigration and refugee policies, has taught immigration law, served on a number of boards and been recognized for her work in this field.