Luncheon Speaker’s Biography January 27, 2020

Joe Bonfiglio

President of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund

 

Joe Bonfiglio leads EDF Action, the Environmental Defense Fund’s 501(c)4 sister organization.

As President of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, Joe Bonfiglio’s job is to develop strategies for the adoption of policies that will combat current trends toward catastrophic consequences of man-made climate change.

EDF Action is focusing both on Congress and on grassroots efforts across the country, working with policy stakeholders, opposing the current Administration’s anti-environmental initiatives, and strategically investing in elections in order to set the United States on the path of bolder climate action

Under Bonfiglio’s leadership, EDF Action has successfully fought against draconian budget cuts for EPA and other agencies and has lobbied against unqualified nominees for important protective roles – including chemical and tobacco industry consultant Michael Dourson’s nomination to lead EPA’s toxic chemicals office. It also launched a new campaign training program for political candidates – EDF Action Campaign Academy.

Bonfiglio joined EDF Action eight years ago, most recently serving as its Associate Vice President. Before that he worked on Capitol Hill for nine years, as Deputy Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging under Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, as Chief of Staff for Congressman Charles Melancon of Louisiana, and as Communications Director for Congressman Brad Miller of North Carolina.

Bonfiglio received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.