emily finnell - Great Lakes Senior Advisor and Strategist
Click here to view Emily Finnell's 2025 GLEF presentation.
Ms. Emily Finnell is the Great Lakes Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Office of the Great Lakes within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. She has more than 20 years’ experience leading and implementing strategic initiatives for multiple gubernatorial administrations to address Great Lakes, conservation and water related issues. Currently Ms. Finnell leads the Office of the Great Lakes (OGL). In this role, she defines vision and provides strategic direction for the OGL on policy and program development to protect, restore, and sustain the world’s premier freshwater system. She is an experienced strategist and freshwater policy advisor specializing in the development of collaborative partnerships and programs to ensure ecological, economic and community sustainability across the Great Lakes basin. Through these collaborative relationships, she builds diverse teams to advance shared priorities, leverage resources and increase collective impact for community vitality. She serves as a bridge builder and integrator between agency programs and regional partners to develop forward thinking, innovative, inclusive, and equitable solutions to complex water issues. She enjoys working with communities to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to unite around a shared vision and developing and executing revitalization strategies to improve their community wellbeing.
Ms. Emily Finnell is the Great Lakes Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Office of the Great Lakes within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. She has more than 20 years’ experience leading and implementing strategic initiatives for multiple gubernatorial administrations to address Great Lakes, conservation and water related issues. Currently Ms. Finnell leads the Office of the Great Lakes (OGL). In this role, she defines vision and provides strategic direction for the OGL on policy and program development to protect, restore, and sustain the world’s premier freshwater system. She is an experienced strategist and freshwater policy advisor specializing in the development of collaborative partnerships and programs to ensure ecological, economic and community sustainability across the Great Lakes basin. Through these collaborative relationships, she builds diverse teams to advance shared priorities, leverage resources and increase collective impact for community vitality. She serves as a bridge builder and integrator between agency programs and regional partners to develop forward thinking, innovative, inclusive, and equitable solutions to complex water issues. She enjoys working with communities to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to unite around a shared vision and developing and executing revitalization strategies to improve their community wellbeing.
