Meet the Team

Experts from the University of Georgia and The Nature Conservancy have teamed up to lead this project.

Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, University of Georgia
Director, Coastal Ocean Analysis Simulation Team (COAST), University of Georgia
Matt Bilskie is an Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia and the director of the Coastal Ocean Analysis Simulation Team (COAST). He is a member of UGA’s Instititute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS) and the Network for Engineering with nature (N-EWN). Matt’s research focus is on coastal hazard prediction and impacts for present and future conditions. A main research theme is the use of natural and nature-based features for flood hazard mitigation, specifically salt marshes and barrier islands. Matt has been funded by several federal agencies including NOAA, USGS, and the USACE. He has a PhD from Louisiana State University, an MS and BS from the University of Central Florida in Civil Engineering.

Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia
Yukiko Hashida is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia. As an environmental and natural resource economist, Yukiko is interested in the intersection of land use and resource decisions, climate change, and natural systems. Most of her research relates to questions: 1) how will we adapt to a new climate, and how will the human impact interactively affect the natural systems and landscape? 2) how can we quantify the value of natural assets such as forests, wetlands, and mangroves and incorporate these values into adaptation strategies that allow for natural capacity to protect us from natural disasters? Yukiko’s research has been funded by federal agencies, including NOAA and USDA. She obtained her Ph.D. from Oregon State University.

Coastal Climate Adaptation Director, The Nature Conservancy Georgia Chapter
Ashby Nix Worley joined The Nature Conservancy as their Coastal Climate Adaptation Director in November 2016, where she works with coastal partners and communities to bring nature-based solutions to help address coastal hazards in order to build a more resilient Georgia Coast.
Ashby has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Mercer University and Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science, specializing in Wetland studies, from Louisiana State University. Ashby has worked as coastal scientist in the coastal Georgia region for over 10 years, working for the Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division and the University of Georgia in conducting long term ecological research, oyster restoration, water quality monitoring and marsh studies. From 2013-2016, she served as the Executive Director of the non-profit organization Satilla Riverkeeper, where she worked with local communities on environmental outreach, education, awareness, advocacy and policy.
Ashby currently serves as Chair of Coastal Wildscapes, a local non-profit promoting native coastal habitats and as Vice-Chair of the City of Brunswick Tree Board. Ashby is a Certified Floodplain Manager since November 2017.

Director of Resilience & Ocean Conservation, The Nature Conservancy South Carolina Chapter
Dr. Elizabeth Fly, CFM, is the Director of Resilience and Ocean Conservation for the South Carolina chapter of The Nature Conservancy. She works with local communities, state government, and conservation partners to enhance resilience throughout the state using nature-based solutions. She is also expanding the chapter’s engagement in important ocean conservation issues, including sustainable fisheries and offshore wind advancements. She received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina, studying climate change impacts on marine mussels around the world. Liz spent a year in Washington D.C. as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, working on ocean and coastal issues for the Third National Climate Assessment which was released in 2014.

Additional project support provided by:

Mary Conley, The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Marine Conservation Director

Eric Roberts, The Nature Conservancy, Climate Risk and Resilience Senior Manager

Steering Committee

This project is made possible with the support of a large group of stakeholders, including representatives from: