Heidi Binko is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Just Transition Fund, and has dedicated her career to championing economic resilience and sustainable development in coal-impacted communities across the United States.

With an audacious goal to reach all of the hardest hit coal communities by 2028, Heidi and her team have offered innovation and hope for those significantly impacted by the energy transition, notably rural and Tribal places. Under her leadership, the JTF pioneered a national model for the equitable implementation of federal funds by helping disadvantaged communities overcome barriers to successfully accessing federally investments in locally led projects. Today, many organizations, at the national and state levels, have replicated this approach, and regularly seek JTF’s guidance and leadership.
Heidi’s commitment to this model and her expertise have been instrumental in leveraging nearly $2 billion in public funding to support projects that create tangible economic impacts in more than 300 coal communities across 28 states.

A sought-after speaker, Heidi has delivered remarks at the White House under the Biden Administration, Climate Week, Aspen Ideas, Richmond Federal Reserve, and numerous other high-profile venues across the country, sharing her insights and expertise on the energy transition. She played an instrumental role in informing and influencing national policy, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, under the Biden Administration, to increase availability of federal funds for transitioning communities through the National Economic Transition platform.

Last year, Heidi was honored by Google as one the most influential women in climate change, and she continues to champion equitable solutions for the energy transition.