Vidya Balasubramanyam has over 7 years of experience working with coastal communities to proactively prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change by empowering equitable, justice-driven adaptation planning. She is now interested in evolving the field of climate adaptation planning; moving beyond resilience to drive transformational change for communities to equitably thrive within new climate normals.

Vidya is the Research, Science and Program Director at the Coastal States Organization (CSO). In her role, she leads CSO’s programmatic efforts working closely with coastal managers and programs across the nation. She brings on-point experience in project management, climate adaptation and resilience, DEIJ work, and a good understanding of Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast issues. Previously, she worked with the Illinois Coastal Program as the Hazards Coordinator leading efforts relating to community resilience and adaptation planning, nature based shoreline management, and regional sediment management. Prior to that, she worked at the New Hampshire Coastal Program as a NOAA Coastal Management Fellow dabbling in projects on advancing living shorelines in coastal New England. Vidya is passionate about more intentionally addressing social justice issues through coastal management work. In her free time, Vidya enjoys learning contemporary styles of dance and urban sketching.

Within the Climigration Network, Vidya is co-chair of the Learning, Programming & Events Workgroup, stewarding a deep learning community and creating programming to further member learning on equity, justice, and the lived experiences of climigration.