Tia Beavert, Sara Santiago, and Elizabeth Woodworth

Forestry’s transformation over the past 50 years has reshaped not only how forests are managed, but who manages them. This panel explores workforce change and women’s leadership in forestry, drawing on perspectives from tribal forestry, academia, and the private and nonprofit sectors to consider how diversity strengthens resilient, multifunctional forest stewardship.

Speaker Biographies

Tia Beavert – Tribal Forestry Program Manager, Yakama Nation Tribal Forestry

Tia Beavert serves as the Tribal Forest Manager for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Tia is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation and oversees the management of the Tribal Forestry program. Before stepping into her current role in 2019, she spent several years as a Presale Planner for the Yakama Nation Branch of Forestry. Tia holds a BS in Biology and Environmental Science from Heritage University, followed by post-baccalaureate studies in Forestry and a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Natural Resources from Oregon State University. Beyond her local leadership, she serves on the Steering Committee for the Women’s Forest Congress and is a member of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities Forest and Wood Products Inclusion Council.

Sara Santiago – Assistant Director, The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment

Sara Santiago serves as the Assistant Director of The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment, where she oversees TFS’ communications, programming, and strategic planning. She specializes in the intersection of sustainable agriculture and forest conservation, with her research focused on agroecology farm recovery in Cuba and Puerto Rico after hurricanes. Before joining Yale, Santiago worked in conservation education for the USDA’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry in San Juan, Puerto Rico and managed the forestry program at a stakeholder engagement organization in San Francisco. Santiago holds a Master of Forestry degree from the Yale School of the Environment and a B.A. in Geography and International Studies from The Ohio State University.

Elizabeth Woodworth – Founder, Wood & Co. Consulting

Elizabeth (Liz) Woodworth is the founder and CEO of Wood & Co. Consulting, a sustainability-focused marketing and communications firm she launched in 2017 after more than 20 years in marketing and communications leadership roles across both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She works with mission-driven teams to clarify their message, strengthen stakeholder trust, and communicate sustainability commitments with authenticity and impact. Woodworth believes the most effective solutions for improving our planet’s health happen at the intersection of conservation and the public and private sectors, and that sustainability leadership is only realized when organizations can communicate their commitments clearly and consistently. She was a founding member of the Women’s Forest Congress steering committee and served in that leadership role for more than four years, helping elevate women’s voices and advance equity in the forest and conservation sectors. Liz holds a BA in International Studies and French from the University of Richmond, an MBA from the Wharton School, and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.