Chris Wilke
Senior Global Advocacy Manager
Since 7/1/19
Chris Wilke has been Global Advocacy Manager at Waterkeeper Alliance since 2019. He leads Waterkeeper Alliance’s advocacy work outside the US with a focus on fossil fuels, free flowing rivers, plastic pollution, and other topics. He helps lead coalitions against offshore drilling and hydropower and engages in fossil fuel finance and insurance divestment, as well as international agreements at the U.N. Chris also leads Waterkeeper Alliance’s advocacy work on its Climate and Safe Energy campaign, which encompasses climate mitigation (phasing out fossil fuels, petrochemicals), addressing energy-related pollution, and improving climate adaptation/watershed resilience.
Hailing from the Salish Sea region of the Northwest Coast of the U.S., Chris has a passion for the environment and all things aquatic. Chris grew up boating, swimming, fishing, clamming, crabbing in the cold waters of Puget Sound. These early connections with the water drive his environmental work to this day. Whenever he is on the water, he is watching for wildlife.
Chris has more than 20 years of experience in environmental advocacy and conservation. Prior to joining staff at Waterkeeper Alliance, Chris was Executive Director at Puget Soundkeeper in Seattle, where he led the organization's advocacy on water pollution issues, and served on Boards for local, regional and global water protection efforts.
Chris studied Music and Liberal Arts at Cornish College of the Arts, and later Fundraising Management and Non-Profit Executive Leadership at the University of Washington. When not working for the world’s waterways, he devotes free time to music performance and sailing aboard his 22’ sailboat: the Blue Heron.
“The more time you spend on the water, the more you learn. It’s like getting to know a friend or family member. Sometimes the subtlest sound, smell, or flash of color invites you to watch carefully. Next could be the blow of an orca whale, the splash of a salmon, or the call of a kingfisher, the smallest cue is all you need.”
Chris Wilke's Articles
Waterkeepers Meet in Sweden for Regional Summit
- By: Chris Wilke
- Climate And Safe Energy | News
Skill building in the far North, with 24 hours of daylight, sled dogs, and coffee. Earlier this month, Waterkeepers from Africa, the Middle East, Europe,...
Help The Bahamas Say NO to Offshore Oil Drilling – Once And For All
- By: Chris Wilke
- Climate And Safe Energy | News
The Bahamas could send a message to the world – by banning oil drilling now. As Planet Earth spirals toward climate catastrophe, the math is clear:...
COP26 – Fighting for protection of the world’s waters and a hospitable planet under an intensifying call to action for all humankind
- By: Chris Wilke
- Climate And Safe Energy | News
It was an honor to represent the Waterkeeper Movement at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. It was an intense two weeks of collective advocacy, learning, networking,...