Welcoming Our 2026 Board of Directors

We are pleased to announce our Board of Directors for the 2026 to 2027 term, including the addition of a new external member who brings a deep and unique perspective to our work.

Please join us in welcoming Jon Allan to the Board.

Introducing Jon Allan

Jon Allan is President and Founder of the Jon W. Allan Group, a private consultancy focused on strategic insight across freshwater systems, the Great Lakes, energy, and environmental policy. His work centers on the intersection of ecological, economic, and social value of water and natural resources, helping organizations navigate complex challenges through research, policy guidance, and environmental strategy.

Jon brings nearly four decades of experience applying scientific and policy based understanding to some of the most pressing issues facing the Great Lakes region. He retired in 2019 as Director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, where he supported efforts to protect, restore, and sustain the Great Lakes watershed.

Prior to that role, Jon held several executive positions at Consumers Energy, working across environmental and energy management, regulatory affairs, and strategic development. His career also includes time in the nonprofit sector and in arts management at Michigan State University, as well as teaching roles in biology, ecology, and environmental impact assessment.

Jon holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Michigan State University in Fisheries and Wildlife and Zoology, along with additional graduate work in Environmental Policy and Law.

A Leader in Great Lakes Policy and Strategy

Throughout his career, Jon has played an active role in shaping water policy and environmental strategy across the region. He contributed to the Great Lakes Compact negotiations and co chaired the State Water Use Advisory Council, guiding strategy and implementation efforts.

His experience includes service on several State of Michigan advisory groups, including the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council, the Climate Action Council, and the Environmental Advisory Council for the Department of Environmental Quality. He has also served on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Parks.

Jon has held leadership roles with the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers. He currently serves on the International Joint Commission Water Quality Board, chairs Michigan State University’s Institute for Water Research Advisory Board, and sits on the Board of Governors at Cranbrook Institute of Science, where he also chairs the Freshwater Forum.

His research on wetlands, stream ecology, and water policy has been published in both the United States and Canada, and he continues to advise organizations across the region on environmental planning and policy.