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Sara Hessenflow Harper

Sara Hessenflow Harper is a partner at The Clark Group. Working in both the Richmond, VA and Washington DC offices, Sara’s work focuses on climate change policy and the coming low carbon markets for the agriculture industry. Work with recent clients includes scoping the carbon aggregation potential for agricultural associations, providing strategic advice and positioning for agriculture-climate research, providing clients with connections and representation to leading Capitol Hill staffers working on the carbon offsets issue and renewable fuels/low carbon fuels issues.

Prior to her current position, Sara served as the national security and climate policy analyst for the national non-profit environmental group, Environmental Defense. While there, she worked on policy to accredit and launch new bio-energy “carbon offset” markets as part of the solution to climate change and America's dependence on foreign oil. Sara worked with fellow Clark Group colleague, Laura Sands to create Environmental Defense’s Climate Farmer Advisory Council. This group, comprised of past presidents and farm leaders from numerous farm commodity groups and associations now educates policymakers and other farmers about the potential of carbon markets and what agriculture has at stake in climate change legislation.

Sara’s expertise in the policy areas of agriculture, energy and environment spans a decade in Washington DC including her work as a legislative assistant for Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and later, for Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS). Sara went on to become the lead foreign policy and national security advisor for Sen. Brownback focusing on the Middle East and China.

Sara received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University. She grew up in Beloit, Kansas, and is the granddaughter of farmers on both sides of her family.

Check out Sara’s blogs on the ag offsets issue and on eco-pragmatism at: www.agoffsets.blogspot.com and www.ecopragmatism.blogspot.com