The Miami Foundation recently welcomed Dawn Shirreffs as its new director of public affairs. She joined the team on January 22, 2018.

In her position, she is responsible for implementing The Miami Foundation’s Civic Leadership Agenda, including support of Resilient Greater Miami & The Beaches and advancing public policy solutions around transportation, sea-level rise/climate resilience and parks/public spaces.  She has more than 16 years of experience in public and government affairs and nonprofit management.

“A focus on policy-level work has proved critical to tackling local issues of concern that impact our resilience and quality of life for every Miamian,” said Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “With Dawn, we’re equipped to expand the Foundation’s efforts strategically to effectively build upon past wins in the policy space.”

Prior to joining The Miami Foundation, Shirreffs worked with the Everglades Foundation, focusing on researching, developing, and implementing policy positions related to Everglades protection and ecosystem restoration.

Shirreffs has served on the boards of the Everglades Coalition, Tropical Audubon Society and Intercultural Outreach Initiative, and has advised emerging nonprofit organizations, including Captains for Clean Water.  A New York native, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Growth Management from Rollins College, and a Master’s of Public Administration from Florida International University. She was also selected to the 2014-2015 class of The Miami Foundation’s Miami Leaders program, which enabled her to earn an Executive Nonprofit Management Certificate from Georgetown University.