The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is pleased to welcome Nigel Sizer, who joined the Foundation in summer 2026 as director of the Global Climate initiative. 

Sizer brings more than three decades of experience working globally on climate change, tropical forests, food systems, human rights, and sustainable development. Throughout his career, he has brought together governments, civil society, communities, and the private sector to tackle complex, interconnected challenges. Most recently, he served as CEO of the Good Food Institute and previously led the Rainforest Alliance and also Preventing Pandemics at the Source.  

“Nigel is exceptionally well suited to lead this next chapter of our global climate work,” said J.R. Littlejohn, vice president of Environment and Science at the Packard Foundation. “He is a thoughtful, collaborative leader with the experience to help partners turn shared ambition into lasting progress for people and nature. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Foundation.” 

As director, Sizer will lead the Global Climate initiative team and guide its strategic direction. The initiative works with partners to halt and reverse tropical deforestation — one of the most powerful and immediate ways to slow climate change — while supporting the people who rely on tropical forests for their lives and livelihoods. The work is concentrated in the Brazilian Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Indonesia, where protecting forests is critical for global climate stability. The initiative advances this work by increasing access to funding and technical support for local organizations, strengthening collaborative networks, and helping ensure local leaders have the freedom and safety they need to organize, speak out, and drive lasting change.