Shara Howie is Director of Network Partnerships at NatureServe, based in Boulder, Colorado. With more than 30 years of experience advancing conservation data and standards, she is a recognized leader in helping organizations turn biodiversity data into better decisions. Shara has partnered extensively with U.S. and Canadian government agencies, private industry, and NGOs to integrate NatureServe’s science into real-world applications that strengthen conservation outcomes.

She brings particular expertise at the intersection of conservation and infrastructure—working with transportation and energy sectors to incorporate biodiversity data into highway and pipeline planning and project delivery.

At NatureServe, Shara collaborates closely with NatureServe Network Programs across North America to drive data quality, consistency, and sharing—ensuring critical information is accessible where and when it’s needed most.

Prior to joining NatureServe in 2001, Shara spent a decade with The Nature Conservancy’s Science Division and began her career at the Smithsonian Institution’s Botany Department.