Leading Colorado’s Progressive Resurgence, National Audubon Society, and Building Successful Teams with Alice Madden

Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR)

Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR)
Leading Colorado’s Progressive Resurgence, National Audubon Society, and Building Successful Teams with Alice Madden
Jun 19, 2026 Episode 250
Nic Frederick and Laura Thorne

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Laura and Nic sit down with Alice Madden, Senior Director of Climate Strategies at the National Audubon Society, to talk about Colorado’s clean energy transformation, what it takes to lead progressive policy change, and how strong teams help turn big environmental goals into action. Along the way, Alice shares candid career advice on mentorship, fundraising, public service, and building a meaningful path in climate and conservation work.

Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! 

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This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.

Connect with Alice Madden at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-madden-3868112b/

Guest Bio:
Alice Madden is the Senior Director of Climate Strategies for the National Audubon Society where she oversees efforts to achieve the organization’s strategic goal of influencing the responsible clean energy transition to abate climate change. An innovative changemaker, Alice brings several decades of success in developing and implementing groundbreaking policies in myriad areas, including clean energy, sustainability, environmental justice, land/water conservation, and climate action. 

Alice practiced law for a decade before serving in the Colorado House of Representatives. She is considered the architect of the 2004 progressive resurgence and as Majority Leader, Alice led the passage of an historic agenda – including implementing the means to grow a sweeping clean energy economy. She went on to become Gov. Bill Ritter’s Climate Change Advisor and was a Climate Fellow at the Center for American Progress in DC. She then held the Timothy E. Wirth Chair in Sustainable Development at the University of Colorado’s School of Public Affairs. In 2013, she accepted a high-level appointment in the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of Energy, serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental and External Affairs. Alice led the prestigious Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy & the Environment at University of Colorado School of Law. Just prior to joining Audubon, Alice served as Greenpeace USA’s first Policy & Political Director. 

Alice has always believed in giving back to her community and has served on multiple non-profit boards. In everything she does, Alice incorporates efforts to create broad collaborations, and to ensure equitable and inclusive support of women and historically under-represented populations.

Music Credits
Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa
Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller

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