We've Added Three New Powerhouse Members to our Board

Activate is pleased to introduce the latest additions to our board of directors—three powerful leaders who bring exciting perspectives and rich expertise to Activate. Liesel Pritzker Simmons, a philanthropist and investment strategist, joined the board in August 2022, and CPA Troy Brewster and strategic communications expert Morry Cater joined in August 2021.

Activate’s board of directors is diverse and purpose-built, formed intentionally so that each member’s skills, experiences, and networks correspond closely with the organization’s areas of growth. Although the trio of new members brings vastly different perspectives, they share a common vision for Activate to address some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Liesel Pritzker Simmons

Liesel Pritzker Simmons is a change-maker in the world of investing. She is the co-founder and principal of the Blue Haven Initiative, an investment firm that focuses on social and environmental solutions, and one of the first family offices with an impact investing focus. She is a leader and sought-after speaker in impact and next-gen investing. Specifically, she envisions a new approach to funding climate tech.

“I feel that there is a narrative that climate tech must be funded by Silicon Valley-style venture capital. And I think that’s wrong,” she says. “I think family offices and global conglomerates—often family-owned—are a natural fit for these innovations, but they don’t have access to the startup pipeline.” She hopes to open up those conversations through her role on Activate’s board.

“Activate has always been very clear that the people determine whether good science scales,” she says. “I see Activate as the most exciting hotbed in terms of what’s needed in climate innovation, because Activate focuses on what the scientists need.”

Troy Brewster

Troy Brewster brings financial and accounting expertise to the board as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Information Technology Professional. As senior audit manager at Blazek & Vetterling, she has performed non-profit, governmental, as well as, corporate  audits with expenditures ranging from $500 thousand to over $1 billion. She has been recognized for excellence in financial reporting, and she has a proven track record of examining complex transactions and guiding clients through complex compliance requirements.

She appreciates that Activate ensures that fellows understand what makes a sound business. And she notes that critics of climate innovations often say that they fall short in terms of economic feasibility. “Activate has changed the paradigm by parlaying innovation and business acumen into results that address such barriers," she says.

Morry Cater

Morry Cater is dedicated to changing the conversation around climate change. She is founding principal and president of Cater Communications, a strategic communications and public policy firm advancing clean energy and climate solutions. Key to her work is reaching across partisan lines. She has taken to the national stage, including as a TED speaker, to reframe the issue and create common ground for climate change action.

"For over two decades, I have been deep in the trenches of policy wars over climate change. The political divide stalls action as the urgency and gravity of this existential threat accelerate,” Cater says. “Lost in the debate is the opportunity this moment in history presents. From my perspective, Activate seizes that opportunity by turning scientists into entrepreneurs and their ideas into game-changing technology with the potential to reinvent our economy, making it more just, more resilient, and far more sustainable. I could not be more hopeful, or more driven to scale this work."

With these additions, Matt Rogers has transitioned to emeritus status after serving on Activate’s board since 2019. Rogers co-founded Nest, the first learning thermostat and the leading connected home brand, and now runs Incite.org and Chewie Labs, a new venture tackling waste. 

Last year Rogers shared with us what he thinks makes Activate special. “Activate’s network is a group of people who aren’t afraid to do hard things,” he said.

Activate’s board is no exception. Led by Chair Liesl Schindler (entrepreneur at Trillium and previously 22 years at Shell) and Vice Chair Todd Johnson, who recently stepped in as interim CEO, Activate’s board is fearlessly and skillfully guiding the organization through this key time of growth and onto new frontiers.