JUST TRANSITION FUND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Operations
A leading expert in AI and advanced analytics, Antonia de Medinaceli now focuses on advancing social change through better evidence and insights. Over a 20-year career as a data scientist, Antonia has worked with both public and private sector clients to ensure their analytical efforts align with their goals. In addition to conducting statistical data analysis and predictive modeling, she has helped organizations develop a measurement and evaluation framework to objectively quantify progress against desired outcomes. As an advocate for the symbiosis of goal development and data analysis, she's enabled public sector clients to achieve significant impact in their respective fields, and private sector clients a significant return on their investments. She holds degrees from the University of Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Manager of the Federal Access Center
Audrey helps enact the strategic vision of the Federal Access Center (FAC) through research and analysis of federal programs, identifying cross-sector relationships with potential, and overseeing the FAC report collection and impact measurement processes. As Manager of the FAC, her role involves capturing data, conducting prospective grantee outreach, and reviewing proposals to ensure that communities receive the resources and support they need to thrive.
Her commitment to creating equitable systems where everyone can lead choice-filled lives is deeply rooted in her own personal experiences. Growing up in Washington State, she witnessed firsthand the disparities that exist across rural and urban, racial, gender, and economic lines. This fueled her passion for addressing disparities, and inspired her to pursue a career focused on creating sustainable economic solutions for historically under-resourced communities.
Audrey's professional journey began in the nonprofit education sector, where she applied trauma-informed care practices and worked in various operational roles at the Relay Graduate School of Education. There, she supported the Professional Education Team, managing programming for K-12 superintendents and principals across the U.S. Her work in education further solidified her determination to create systems that foster equity and opportunity.
Driven by a desire to deepen her impact, she returned to graduate school, earning a Master's in Community Development from Vanderbilt University. During her studies, she explored the intersection of economic opportunity and climate sustainability, which led her to discover the just transition movement, and soon after, the Just Transition Fund. She joined the JTF in 2022 as an Impact & Evaluation Fellow, and then Impact & Evaluation Manager, before moving to the FAC team.
Audrey also holds a B.S. in Psychology from Tulane University, which helps to inform her approach to understanding the human and social dimensions of this work.
Audrey resides in California and enjoys visiting any and all public libraries, going to see live music, and swimming and hiking her way through the state's natural beauty.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
- Director of Communications at JTF
As the Director of Communications at JTF, Camille is responsible for orchestrating and overseeing strategic communications and media relations to advance JTF's mission, vision, and organizational goals.
She joined the JTF in 2024 and brings more than a decade of award-winning communications and marketing experience from grassroots, private, and nonprofit sectors worldwide. She began her career as a publicist in Las Vegas where built her early PR work around iconic clients such as the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Jabbawockeez, the National Clean Energy Summit, and the Palms. Venturing beyond Las Vegas, Camille spent two years in Peace Corps Madagascar as a Community Health Advisor, Health Sector Officer, and Regional Malaria Coordinator. There, she collaborated with local communities to prevent and combat malaria, support maternal and child health, improve water and sanitation conditions, and streamline access to medicine. She also piloted an active-case malaria detection program in her community, in partnership with USAID, and organized a 370-kilometer malaria prevention bike ride with other volunteers in her region.
Following her service, she returned to the nonprofit sector, providing communications, branding, marketing, and special event leadership to organizations that serve vulnerable populations, including victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and support services for at-risk youth and families. She firmly believes that real influence and meaningful change emerge at the intersection of innovation and accountability.
Recognized as an industry leader, she was honored with the prestigious "Emerging Leader" award from the Women's Fund and Community Foundation of Central Illinois in 2019, inducted into the 2019 class of "40 Leaders Under 40" by Peoria Magazines, and was named one of "25 Women in Leadership" by 25 News, WEEK in 2020. She is a graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School. Her branding, website, and marketing campaigns have been recognized by the Illinois Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations.
Camille earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in Creative Writing at Bradley University where she became a decorated collegiate speech competitor.
She currently lives in Central Illinois with her husband and their two dogs, Marvel and Stark. She loves baking, reading, and DIY projects.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Chief Operations
- Impact and Evaluation Systems Manager
As the Impact and Evaluation Systems Manager at the Just Transition Fund, Courtney supports JTF processes by curating, managing, and analyzing data, bringing a person-centered approach informed by her Masters in Social Work and more than a decade of analytics and social work experience. She believes in the intersection of data and humanity, understanding that the numbers must never lose sight of the people at its core.
She has a strong background in supporting social justice nonprofits with strategic decision-making and transforming processes through a data-driven lens.
In addition to her role at the JTF, Courtney also serves as the Co-founder and Chief Operations and Culture Officer at Weavers Circle, where she leads operational and culture policy processes, including OKR development and program evaluation.
Courtney's background in analytics has propelled her into meaningful roles where she used her skills to support vulnerable populations, advance strategy, and improve processes. She has experience as a Data Analytics Specialist Department at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, where she enhanced program evaluation through information gathering and focus groups, leading to the design of a user-friendly data collection process that significantly reduced data errors.
During her time as an MSW Intern at Voices for Virginia's Children, she conducted qualitative research on the Foster Care Bill of Rights legislation, providing a comprehensive legislative proposal to the state of Virginia. At the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Courtney researched the intersection of economic justice with domestic and sexual violence. She also spent time volunteering with local organizations and leading workshops on diversity, belonging, and equity.
Courtney holds a B.A. in Music with a minor in Psychology from Queens University of Charlotte, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Administration, Planning, and Policy Practice from Virginia Commonwealth University. She was recently accepted into the 2025 class of Leadership Metro Richmond's flagship "Leadership Quest Program," focused on exploring community challenges and opportunities, developing leadership skills, and inspiring civic engagement.
Courtney resides in Virginia and outside of work she enjoys reading, games, and spending time with those she loves.
Our Federal Access Center is a one-stop resource hub to help ensure that coal communities have the support they need to overcome the barriers they face to apply for federal funding. We accept interest inquiries on a rolling basis for this rapid response program.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Co - Founder
Heidi Binko is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Just Transition Fund. With more than two decades of experience addressing climate, coal, and energy issues, Heidi is a leader in energy transition and climate philanthropy, and has dedicated her career to championing economic resilience and sustainable development in coal-impacted communities across the United States.
With an audacious goal to reach all of the hardest hit coal communities by 2028, Heidi and her team have offered innovation and hope for those significantly impacted by the energy transition, notably rural and Tribal places. Under her leadership, the JTF pioneered a national model for the equitable implementation of federal funds by helping disadvantaged communities overcome barriers to successfully accessing federally investments in locally led projects. Today, many organizations, at the national and state levels, have replicated this approach, and regularly seek JTF's guidance and leadership.
Heidi's commitment to this model and her expertise have been instrumental in leveraging $2 billion in public funding to support projects that create tangible economic impacts in more than 300 coal communities across 28 states.
Prior to co-founding the JTF, Heidi was the Associate Director for Special Climate Initiatives at the Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF), where she worked to played a pivotal role in the development and expansion of the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, galvanizing climate funders to focus on coal communities, supporting the field from $5M-$8M investments to more than $100M over five years. Her earlier tenure as Executive Director of the WestWind Foundation further solidified her reputation as a leader in philanthropic circles.
A sought-after speaker, Heidi has delivered remarks at the White House under the Biden Administration, Climate Week, Aspen Ideas, Richmond Federal Reserve and numerous other high-profile venues across the country, sharing her insights and expertise on the energy transition. She played an instrumental role in informing and influencing national policy, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, under the Biden Administration, to increase availability of federal funds for transitioning communities through the National Economic Transition platform.
Her influence extends beyond organizational leadership; she has held positions as co-chair of the Climate and Energy Group of the Appalachia Funders Network, the board of directors of the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) and of the Climate and Energy Funders Group, a project of the Biodiversity Funders Group. Her academic credentials include degrees from Yale University and the University of Notre Dame.
In recognition of her commitment to climate action, in 2023, Heidi was honored as one of Google's six most influential women in climate change. Her passion, expertise, and leadership continue to inspire and drive transformative and economic change in the energy transition.
"As a native of western Pennsylvania, I lived my first 8 years in a town called Nanty Glo, which literally translates to ‘the ravine of coal.' I understand the significance of the industry as a marker of identity, just as much as I understand the negative environmental, economic, and health-related ramifications of the industry and its decline. I'm a firm believer in the necessity of the energy transition, just as much as I'm a firm believer that it absolutely can and must center the needs of the most affected people and communities."
As the Director of Events at the Just Transition Fund, Melissa leads the events and convening strategies, where she plays a key role in fostering community and knowledge-sharing within the transition field. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and event management, Melissa has a strong background in promoting collaboration and advancing environmental justice.
Prior to joining JTF in 2022, she worked in higher education administration at Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee, focusing on community-building and leadership development for students. Her earlier roles included fundraising and administrative leadership positions at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition.
Melissa's passion for environmental protection began in her college years, where a class on environmental justice opened her eyes to the intersection of justice and environmental protection, particularly for low-income and minority communities. This sparked a lifelong commitment to addressing environmental and economic challenges through a lens of justice. She further deepened her expertise while completing a Master's in Applied Environmental Anthropology at Northern Arizona University, where she explored how the climate crisis intersects with economic issues, especially for communities reliant on fossil fuel and industrial sectors.
Melissa began her career in the Anthropology and American Indian Liaison program at Yosemite National Park, which laid the foundation for her environmental advocacy work. Her work was recognized with the Carleton T. Hodge Award for Excellence in Anthropology and the Excellence in Service Award from Yosemite National Park.
She lives in Durham, NC and outside of work, you can find her walking her dog, Ragnar, rock climbing, and writing and performing sketch comedy and taking improv classes at her local comedy theater.
"The energy transition is one of the most important issues of this century. The end of the reliance on non-renewable energy like coal mining, presents the opportunity to move forward into an economy that's forged with intentionality, centering equity and sustainability as primary pillars. I cannot think of a better time or reason to get involved in this work."
As the Just Transition Fund's Policy Program Associate, Mollie supports the programmatic and administrative needs of policy grantmaking efforts. Her journey with the JTF began as an intern for the Federal Access Center, where her dedication and passion for public service quickly became evident, and her impressive performance paved the way for her to join the team full-time in 2024.
She brings a rich background in federal and state policy to our team, developed through her work with the national transportation advocacy organization, Transportation for America. In her previous role as an Assistant Policy Associate, Mollie played a crucial part in researching and advocating for legislation that ensures safe, efficient, and equitable access to public transportation and safe streets across the United States.
A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Mollie was inspired by her upbringing, surrounded by civil servants, to pursue a career in public service. She furthered her education at Middlebury College in Vermont, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Sociology. While at Middlebury, Mollie was also a member of the Women's Hockey team.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Federal Access Center
"I love what JTF does - we are putting money into the places that have been left behind for too long by too many people. And we are saying: we believe in you and we believe you have what it takes. We know these communities have been underinvested in and we're trying to do our part to change that."
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Group at the Appalachia Funders Network
- Deputy Director of Partnerships
"Working for many years in climate philanthropy, I saw the critical importance of ensuring that everyone is able to benefit from the transition to a clean energy economy and that communities don't get left behind. This means approaching the climate problem as an economic problem, which requires exactly the kind of place-based, bottom up approach to solutions that the JTF is so committed to."
As the Deputy Director of Partnership at the Just Transition Fund, Rachael oversees fundraising strategies to support communities navigating the clean energy transition. With more than 15 years of experience in philanthropy, Rachael has worked at the intersection of climate, energy, and economic and racial justice.
Before joining the JTF as Director of Grantmaking in 2021, Rachael served as Program Officer at the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, where she led both place-based and national grantmaking initiatives. This work included longstanding engagement with coal transition efforts. Under her leadership, Mertz Gilmore became a founding donor to the JTF in 2015. Rachael also led efforts to increase strategic alignment across the Foundation's programs, which led to a focus on supporting communities most impacted by the energy transition and embedding a commitment to equity into the Foundation's strategies and operations.
Earlier in her career, Rachael held roles at the Open Society Foundations and the NYC Campaign Finance Board, where she developed expertise and experience in grants administration and community engagement.
As the Development Manager at the Just Transition Fund, Rhea plays a pivotal role in supporting fundraising strategy, ensuring that JTF continues to secure the resources necessary to advance our mission of accelerating economic resilience in coal communities. Her experience and strategic thinking contribute to the efficacy of JTF's fundraising efforts, from identifying funding opportunities to crafting compelling proposals that resonate with donors and partners.
For Rhea, this work is deeply personal.
Originally from Knox County, Kentucky, she is a systems-level thinker with a deep passion for giving back to the community that raised her. She is a multigenerational Appalachian and granddaughter of a coal miner, and her roots are central to her work. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands firsthand the importance of fostering economic opportunity and resilience in historically underserved communities.
She graduated cum laude from Berea College in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and double minors in Appalachian Studies and Peace and Social Justice Studies. She has also earned certificates in Successful Grant Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Results Based Accountability from Clear Impact.
Rhea's passion for supporting Appalachian communities led her to serve as an AmeriCorps fellow at Partners for Rural Impact, where she worked closely with residents of southeastern Kentucky's Promise Zone to promote digital equity, expand postsecondary access, and support youth development initiatives. She helped secure $2.5 million in funding for Kentucky-based organizations. Before joining the JTF, Rhea worked as the Grant Writing and Fundraising Specialist at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass.
In 2023, Rhea was recognized as an Obama USA Leader, where she completed a 6-month hybrid leadership program and connected with 99 other leaders from across the nation.
Rhea resides in Kentucky, where she enjoys cooking, reading, listening to music, and spending her time with her partner, Micah, and their cat, Stella.