SEEC Institute Appoints Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, to Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, DC - May 7, 2026

The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute is pleased to announce that Melanie Nakagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft, has joined its Board of Directors, bringing two decades of experience at the intersection of climate policy, global business, and technology.

"Melanie is joining our board at a critical time for SEEC Institute and for climate action broadly," said Max Frankel, Executive Director. "Her firsthand experience driving policy change in Congress, at the White House, and leading sustainability at one of the world's most influential technology companies is exactly the kind of expertise that will help us drive solutions at the scale this moment demands."

As Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Nakagawa leads the company’s sustainability strategy and targets, as well as global initiatives focused on expanding digital connectivity and inclusive access to technology worldwide.

"SEEC Institute has a unique ability to bridge Members of Congress with the private sector and civil society in ways that translate climate ambition into real outcomes — through initiatives like the Thriving Economy Project and hosting its annual Solutions Summit," said Nakagawa. "I'm excited to join the Board of this organization that equips decisionmakers to act." 

Nakagawa most recently served as Special Assistant to President Biden and Senior Director for Climate and Energy on the National Security Council, where she shaped U.S. climate and energy policy. Prior to her time in the administration, she helped to launch Princeville Capital’s inaugural global growth equity climate technology fund, investing in companies delivering transformative climate solutions.

Earlier in her career, Nakagawa served as a strategic advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry on climate change and environmental issues and held roles in the U.S. Senate and at the Natural Resources Defense Council. She holds a JD and MA from American University and an AB from Brown University.

For more information on SEEC Institute’s Board of Directors, including background on its current members, click here.

Media Contact:
Pearson Croney-Clark
Director of External Affairs
SEEC Institute
pearson@seecinstitute.org

About SEEC Institute
SEEC Institute is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening collaboration, convening and educating, and developing strategic planning on climate and clean energy issues. We connect congressional leaders with the private sector, civil society, advocates, academics, and other experts to foster stronger dialogue and accelerate progress. Our work aims to broaden understanding, build momentum, and drive meaningful action on durable and effective environment and clean energy policy.

We were established in 2024 to complement the leadership of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), a caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives founded in 2009 and composed of 100+ Members of Congress committed to advancing durable and effective environmental policy.