DONNA WISE BUCKLEY

Over 20 years, Donna Buckley has established herself as an innovative and team-oriented strategic communications executive. Donna advises organizations on all facets of internal and external communication strategy including strategic planning and assessment, public policy advocacy, partnerships, outreach, program development, staffing and administration.

As Director of Communications for the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, Donna worked with policy experts to communicate policy programs and findings, raising the profile of the program as well as that of Brookings. As the founder of DB Strategic Communications in 2000, Donna works with CEOs and executives on strategic communication plans and audits, marketing initiatives and member communications, offering her professional expertise to redefine branding materials, establish clear messages and direct outreach. Some of her clients have included the Women’s Business Research Organization, My Sister’s Place, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, and The First Church of Christ Scientist.

Donna worked for the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC as the Vice President of Communications and Policy Affairs for nine years as well as the Policy Affairs Director for three years. While at WRI, Donna directed strategic communications and political strategy for an independent policy research center on global environmental and development issues. She managed and directed outreach initiatives, publications, marketing, external relations, events planning, electronic communications and all broadcast, print, and electronic media relations resulting in widespread domestic and international coverage of WRI’s policy recommendations.

Donna served as Staff Director of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators, developing and promoting policy positions to Congress and Administration on key environment issues. She is also a past President for the Center for the Great Lakes in Chicago, IL a bi-national center for Great Lakes environmental policy and research. Later as an Environmental Management Consultant for the CGL she prepared a plan and received funding for a $100 million Great Lakes Protection Fund.

Donna is a graduate of DePauw University, where she received her B.A. in Psychology. She has also successfully completed professional development courses in management, communication and presentation skills, media relations, and web marketing.