Jared Wildwistle

With almost a decade of experience, Jared is dedicated to driving tangible progress towards a climate-positive future by mobilizing both private and public sectors. His diverse skill set, honed through various roles, offers invaluable insights into addressing today's pressing challenges.

During the past eight years, Jared co-founded Flight Deck Brewing and advocated for Maine to permit reusable packaging in food service establishments. He facilitated municipalities in the Blue Hill region of Maine to secure funding for climate change initiatives, provided crucial support to businesses navigating the COVID-19 shutdowns, and played an integral role in his town's transition towards energy sustainability.

Currently, Jared serves as the Business Climate Action Program Manager at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. In this role, he collaborates with businesses and industries to implement climate adaptation and emissions reduction strategies. His approach involves identifying industry-wide vulnerabilities and opportunities, followed by tailored technical assistance to individual businesses towards achieving their climate-related goals.

Jared is an active member of Portland Reuse, advocating for circular economic solutions in waste management, and serves on the board of Climate Work Maine, where he works with businesses and leaders to advance climate action in Maine's economy.

I am an experienced sustainability and climate strategy professional with over a decade of leadership across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Currently, as Program Manager at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, I design and implement climate risk mitigation strategies, conduct greenhouse gas inventories, and lead cross-sector collaborations to advance circular economy solutions. My background includes founding and operating a mission-driven craft brewery recognized for environmental and social responsibility, conducting applied research on reusable packaging systems, and advising small businesses on operational resilience. I bring proven expertise in stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, supply chain sustainability, and strategic program management.

I hold a Master of Science in Ecology and Environmental Sciences and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maine. This dual degree program equipped me with a strong foundation in environmental systems analysis, lifecycle assessment, and circular economy policy. I am also pursuing professional certifications in CSRD/ESRS disclosure, GRI reporting, and accredited small business consulting to further strengthen my expertise in sustainability strategy and reporting.