Melissa Roberts is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Flood Coalition, a nonpartisan group of more than 370 cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, civic groups, and 35 Federal Champions. As the first and largest grasstops coalition of its kind, AFC brings together leaders from both sides of the aisle to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding through national solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations.
Under Melissa’s leadership, AFC’s membership has grown to represent over 8 million people across 21 states in its first three years, including a remarkable 400% growth during the organization’s inaugural year. AFC supports its members developing local adaptation solutions, and the growing coalition has successfully passed legislation in multiple state capitols and Congress. In recognition of Melissa’s work to advance responsible and equitable adaptation to higher seas and more frequent flooding, she was named as a Forbes 30 under 30 Social Impact Leader.
Melissa regularly comments on flooding and sea level rise, and has been mentioned in USA Today, The Washington Post, E&E News, NPR, Science News Magazine, Miami Herald, The Gazette, Tampa Bay Times, and Post and Courier. She has also been a featured speaker at convenings hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Aspen Institute, the Milken Institute, Keystone Energy Board, the Metcalf Institute at the University of Rhode Island, and others.
Prior to her current role, Melissa was the Director of Strategy at First Street Foundation, a research and technology nonprofit that quantifies and communicates America’s changing flood risk. Previously, Melissa was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company where she specialized in infrastructure finance and planning, working with national governments, cities, major foundations, private sector investors, and developers. She was a lead author on the publication Financing Change: How to Mobilize Private Sector Financing for Sustainable Infrastructure.
Melissa holds a B.A., Summa Cum Laude, in History from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Benjamin Franklin Honors Scholar.
