Todd Barker is CEO of Meridian Institute, a 25-year-old non-profit consultancy that serves as a trusted third party supporting diverse stakeholders in addressing complex and controversial societal issues. In addition, he serves as President of Meridian Prime and Meridian Implementation Fund. Meridian Prime is a non-profit organization that provides fiscal sponsor services to mission-aligned initiatives. Meridian Implementation Fund engages in legislative activity on behalf of stakeholders who have built consensus in Meridian Institute projects.
The Meridian ecosystem of institutions is focused on building understanding, driving consensus, and ensuring the hard work of stakeholders results in impact.
In addition to his organizational leadership responsibilities, Todd oversees strategic initiatives including the Investing for Impact Institute, Generation Climate Alliance, and Kumu Landscape and Analysis initiative.
Todd serves as a strategic advisor to Meridian projects, including but not limited to those related to agriculture, food systems, water, climate, big data, and clean energy. He has extensive experience in the USA and internationally.
Todd cut his teeth as a mediator, facilitator, and strategist over 20 years ago, working on the cleanup of Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility in the USA. He is a trusted advisor to foundations and funder collaboratives. He has served on multiple boards including his current role as an Independent Director with the DendriFund.
A native of Kansas, Todd now lives in Vermont with his partner Val, where they run a part-time B&B for fun. Todd and Val also enjoy time in Switzerland (Val is a Swiss national) and in Colorado, where Todd’s family has a cabin 30 miles from the nearest town. When Todd is not working or spending time with his kids, you’ll find him running, skiing, or cooking with Val.