EPR Academy was founded by Michael Washburn, a pioneering advocate for Extended Producer Responsibility. A leading consultant with firsthand experience in guiding corporate sustainability, Michael believes in the power of companies to shape a better future – and that with the right knowledge and support, companies can easily navigate compliance and move the needle.
Michael Washburn is a public affairs executive with over two decades of experience, including work on ESG trends, land conservation advocacy, lobbying, and campaign strategy. He is a talented consensus-builder with proven credentials as a listening leader. Michael is respectful and alert to the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in stakeholder processes. He is a trusted consultant to global brands, NGOs, charitable foundations, and government. Michael has a strong cross-sector understanding resulting from leadership experience in academic, corporate, and non-profit settings. Michael has been an Eagle Scout since 1984, he is a fifth-generation Adirondack Guide, and a father of four.
Contact Michael: forestinsight@gmail.com
Elizabeth Biser is the President of Biser Strategies LLC, an environmental policy consulting firm. Governor Roy Cooper appointed Biser to serve as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in June of 2021, where she served until September 2024. She was the first woman confirmed to serve as DEQ Secretary.
In August of 2023, she was elected by her peers to serve as President of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), the national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders.
As DEQ Secretary, she oversaw the state agency whose mission is to protect North Carolina’s environment and natural resources. The organization has over 1600 employees located in offices from the mountains to the coast and administers regulatory and public assistance programs aimed at protecting the quality of North Carolina’s air, water and land, its coastal resources and fisheries, and the public’s health.
Under Elizabeth’s leadership, DEQ developed the Action Strategy for PFAS and took proactive steps to prepare public water systems for federal drinking water limits. She has led DEQ’s efforts to propose state groundwater and surface water standards to reduce the amount of PFAS entering the environment and ensure residents are not paying the entire cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination. Additionally, she has been an outspoken advocate of ensuring the entire lifecycle of PFAS is addressed, recently petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to list four PFAS compounds as Hazardous Air Pollutants.
She successfully oversaw the implementation of over $6.5 billion in state and federal investments to improve water and sewer infrastructure in communities throughout the state. She led the effort to ensure that the historic funding helped the communities that needed it the most, which resulted in 2000 homes being connected to public water for the first time.
Previously, she served as the Vice President of Policy & Public Affairs at The Recycling Partnership, and the Government Relations & Policy Advisor of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Contact Elizabeth: elizabeth@biserstrategies.com
Garth Hickle is a Managing Partner of the Signalfire Group, a consultancy with an emphasis on environmental product policy and the circular economy. Previously, he led the product stewardship program for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and oversaw the implementation of EPR programs for rechargeable batteries, electronics, and architectural paint. Garth is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Minnesota. He holds a MA in Public Administration from Hamline University, an MSEL from Vermont Law School, and a PhD in Industrial Ecology and Sustainability from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Contact Garth: garththickle@gmail.com
Kate is a recognized expert and leading voice in the transition to a circular economy. She has presented on a multitude of zero waste topics, including presentations to World Bank, global conferences, conference keynotes, consumer brands, state and local elected officials and staff, and industry coalitions. She has also written dozens of reports and articles for local, state and national press. Kate spent 15+ years working for one of the oldest non-profit recycling organizations in the world. This gave her unparalleled first-hand experience with nearly every aspect of the recycling: hauling materials, MRF operations, education and outreach programs, local and state legislation, advocacy, and hard-to-recycle material collections. She leverages this operational background to craft policy solutions from the ground-up based on proven solutions and best practices.
Contact Kate: katebailey@plasticsrecycling.org
Eileen Cowdery is a seasoned consultant and sustainability strategist with extensive experience in circular economy, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, and climate initiatives. Currently a Principal at Boston Consulting Group, she leads North American efforts in circularity and EPR, advising major corporations on sustainable packaging, regulatory compliance, and data-driven environmental solutions. With a strong foundation in business and finance, including an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Eileen has worked across industries to develop sustainability roadmaps, corporate engagement strategies, and digital tools for climate impact measurement. Her expertise spans global markets, from driving policy advocacy in the U.S. to leading international sustainability projects. Passionate about integrating data, policy, and business strategy, Eileen is dedicated to shaping impactful, scalable environmental solutions.
Contact Eileen: eileen.cowdery@gmail.com
Resa Dimino is a managing principal with RRS, a sustainability and materials management consulting firm, and a managing partner at Signalfire Group a subsidiary of RRS focused on supporting governments and businesses to navigate policy and regulation to move toward a circular economy. Resa has over 30 years of experience in waste reduction, recycling, product stewardship, and environmental economic development. She has held roles in the recycling industry, trade groups, and public sector including WeRecycle, NAPCOR, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As of late, she has managed and directed multiple recycling supply chain assessments, infrastructure gap analyses, EPR modeling, and policy development projects. Resa recently led and participated in projects supporting the development of carpet EPR in New York, the study of PET thermoform recycling costs and material flows, and mapped the infrastructure and material flow of plastics in the US and Canada.
Contact Resa: Resa@Recycle.com
Rowan Sharkey holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment. Her background focuses specifically in environmental data analysis, storytelling, and communication. While the data world allows Rowan to gain insights into various environmental spheres, her primary interest lies in food systems, nutrition accessibility, and ecosystem management. She holds a deep connection to the land and pursues best management and restoration practices to further the effort against global climate change.
Contact Rowan: sharkeyrowan@gmail.com
Dot Think is a branding and design studio focused on taking a client’s vision, and turning it into actionable goals for finding and converting new customers. Principal Corti Cooper leads a collaborative team experienced in branding, print advertising, graphic design, web design, full-stack development and marketing strategies. Their passion for quality design, meaningful content and flawless execution drive every project and campaign.
Contact Corti: corti@dotthinkdesign.com
