Jackson Wild Team
Meet the Team
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Based in Boise, ID
christie@jacksonwild.org
Christie arrived in Jackson, WY, in the spring of 2012, where she found Jackson Wild. She began her journey with the organization as a Production Associate, quickly moving into the role of Film Competition Coordinator. Over the years, she has also served as Marketing & Design Director and Director of Operations before stepping into her current role as Interim Executive Director.
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Based in Virginia
tria@jacksonwild.org
Tria joins the Jackson Wild team as a 30-year veteran of the natural history filmmaking industry. After a brief stint at Bristol-based Partridge Films, in 1995 she moved to the United States and embarked on a freelance career producing a wide array of documentaries primarily for National Geographic/Nat Geo Wild, PBS and Discovery/Animal Planet.
For eight years she served as executive producer for natural history at Smithsonian Channel, where she developed and oversaw a broad slate of wildlife and conservation films. Her projects have garnered numerous honors in film festivals around the world, including the Emmy award-winning series Epic Yellowstone.
Over the years, Tria has supported Jackson in multiple ways, as judge, panelist, mentor, committee member and Media Lab teacher.
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Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee
melanie@jacksonwild.org
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Based in Austin, TX
scarlett@jacksonwild.org
Growing up in Texas, Scarlett has always had a passion for wildlife and conservation. With a BS in Wildlife Biology from Texas State University, her passion has taken her from field research, to film, then to communications and outreach. She now works with Jackson Wild's film competitions and her eclectic experience is all in an effort to facilitate an impact for conservation through media. She is beyond excited to be a part of the team and witness the power of media to inspire and ignite action to create a global impact for the preservation of our planet. In her spare time she prefers to be birding, hiking or working on film & photography. Her favorite books include Ishmael and A Sand County Almanac.
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Based in Reston, VA
angelica@jacksonwild.org
Although her innate love for animals began at an early age, Angelica’s passion for the natural world formed much later during her senior year of high school. She developed a love for the outdoors, and spent a semester in Portland, Oregon where she took advantage of numerous opportunities to experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She was born in China and raised in Virginia and graduated from George Mason with a degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on Equity & Environmental Justice, and a minor in Arts & Social Change. She is most excited about the nexus between environmental anthropology, filmmaking and social justice. In her down time, you can find her riding her bike, hiking, taking film photos and watching a new documentary.
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Based in Seattle, Washington
samanthalynn@jacksonwild.org
Born in the Philippines, then raised (and now based) in Seattle, Samantha-Lynn has always found endless inspiration in the natural world around her. As a wildlife ecologist and creative, she’s passionate about natural history storytelling, and its power to spark curiosity and a sense of belonging or responsibility in young minds and new audiences.
She received her degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (with a minor in Marine Biology) from the University of Washington, all while working interdisciplinary roles in environmental education and science communication through graphic design, illustration, and camerawork. From operating deep-sea cameras in the South Pacific to working with Steller sea lion pups in the Bering Sea, she’s happiest when her passions collide and gets a chance to share nature with those around her.
Now, as Jackson Wild’s Marketing Manager, Samantha is thrilled to bring inspiring stories to life within the community and beyond! When not working, she’s likely outside filming hummingbirds and starlings with her camera, sketching tattoo ideas in one of her MANY half-filled sketchbooks, or on a boat — somewhere, but who knows!
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Based in Salzburg, Austria
petra@jacksonwild.org
Born and raised in Salzburg, Austria, Petra studied international economics in Vienna and has lots of experience being Marketing Director including PR & Event for several international brands. When her daughter was born, 2005, she decided to work more independently, founded her own business and started working as consultant and event & congress manager. After spending two years in Capetown she followed the call of her home city and its nature around this area and moved back to Salzburg. Whenever possible, Petra spends time in the mountains or lakes that surround her home. It was one of her dreams to put all her efforts into a project that makes so much sense and so there was immediate love when she was introduced to Jackson Wild and to the idea of having the Jackson Wild Summit in Europe, which finally took place September 2022 in UNESCO World Heritage National Park Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel, Austria. Since 2019 Petra has been Managing Director of Jackson Wild Austria.
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Kathryn Jeffords is the Development Manager at Jackson Wild, bringing her experience as a television producer, marketing professional, and partnerships manager to support the organization's mission. Her career began at Jackson Wild, making her return a full-circle moment.
With a passion for storytelling, Kathryn has spent the past six years producing unscripted television, bringing compelling narratives to life. She has produced shows for RAW TV, Warm Springs Productions, Vice World News, and Law & Crime, with programs appearing on Netflix, Hulu, A&E and Discovery. She dabbles in the camera department, and most recently served as Second AC on the feature film Pacifica for DP Jasper Wolf.
Originally from North Carolina, Kathryn now lives in Idaho. She finds joy in exploring the mountain ranges of Idaho, teaching yoga, traveling, and embracing any opportunity for creativity and connection.