Joel Pannell serves as a key leader at American Forests, guiding the organization’s urban forest policy strategy and advancing its engagement with policy makers, senior government officials, partner organizations, key stakeholders
and other related entities. He plays a central role in shaping and promoting policies that integrate urban forestry into broader public policy goals, with a focus on expanding access to healthy, climate-resilient green spaces in communities with limited access to natural resources.

Pannell brings nearly two decades of experience in public policy and government relations, with a strong track record of building coalitions and securing bipartisan support for initiatives that improve the places people live, work, and play. His leadership has contributed to the development and growth of the only federal grant program focused on urban park access, and he was instrumental in launching the Ten Minute Walk Campaign—a national effort to ensure that all people live within a 10-minute walk of a park.

Prior to joining American Forests, Pannell led the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign and served as director of urban policy at The Trust for Public Land. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland and the Center for Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.