Lisa M Fernandes

Climate, Sustainability, and Food Systems

Lisa has been a dynamic and inspiring leader in nonprofit, sustainability, and social impact sectors for more than two decades, with particular strengths in delivering results for values-driven initiatives while using participatory methods and centering equity and justice.

She is currently the Interim Development Director for the North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) helping to strengthen their systems and resources for long-term sustainability. Most recently she has held leadership roles for the Food Solutions New England network, The Resilience Hub, and the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, among others.

Her specialties include strategic and operational communications, project/program/people management, community and campaign organizing, research/analysis and evaluation, coalition building, and network weaving and supporting democratic & inclusive methods.

As founder and Executive Director of the Maine-based Resilience Hub from 2005 until 2018, she grew the organization to nearly 3K members and delivered more than 800 network-building and community-strengthening events. She and Hub community members appear in the 2015 film "Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective."

She's a Trustee for the North American Marine Alliance, Advisor to Interlace Agroforestry Commons, and a member of Grist's New England Fix! Network, and on the editorial board of the Journal of Agriculture, Food & Community Food Systems. She served on the Eat Local Foods Coalition (ELFC) board, the Permaculture Association of the Northeast (PAN) board, the Grant Review Committee of the Grassroots Fund, and the Advisory Panel for Green & Healthy Maine Homes magazine. She was also active in the Portland Mayor's Initiative for Healthy Sustainable Food Systems, MOFGA's Agricultural Services Committee, the Portland Food Coop, Hour Exchange Portland, and is a Master Food Preserver and Master Composter.

An avid gardener, orchardist, and forager, Lisa and her family have been converting their 1/2 acre Maine (Wabanaki territory) home site into a model for comfortable, affordable "post-fossil fuel" living.

  • Work
    • Leadership & Communications
  • Education
    • Boston College
    • The Evergreen State College
    • University of New Hampshire
    • The Resilience Hub