Neal is driven to apply his energy towards the protection of wildlife, natural communities, and ecological integrity. He joined WCN in July 2021 to lead the California Wildlife Program. His work focuses on connectivity conservation, incorporating experience with conservation planning, protected areas, land stewardship, and linear infrastructure. Prior to his work with WCN, he was with Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), where he focused on the organization’s efforts to establish a protected network of resilient ecosystems that enable wildlife to persist and adapt in a rapidly changing landscape and climate. In addition to conservation work, he enjoys writing and playing music, reading, cooking, gardening, and getting in motion. He holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, with a focus in landscape ecology and regional planning, and a BA in social ecology from UC Irvine. He was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.