Heather Barklow, Chief Strategy Officer
Heather Griner Barklow is a mission-driven executive with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning the nonprofit, academic, and private sectors. As Chief Strategy Officer at the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, Heather leads strategic initiatives that advance regional and national conservation goals and serves as a key liaison for the National Grasslands Coalition, fostering communication, collaboration, and engagement across partners.
Prior to joining SGI, Heather served as Chief Operations & Finance Officer and Board Secretary for American Prairie, where she played a central role in the organization’s national expansion, capital campaigns, and conservation land acquisition strategy. Her leadership contributed to the development of the National Discovery Center in Montana and the successful stewardship of over 140,000 acres of conservation lands. Earlier in her career, Heather held senior leadership roles in finance and capital markets with Wells Real Estate Funds, where she managed more than $3.8 billion in real estate acquisitions, and also served in administrative leadership at Montana State University.
Heather is a skilled communicator, strategic planner, and team builder known for navigating complex organizational change with pragmatism and compassion. She holds a Master’s in Accounting from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Auburn University. She is also a former Certified Public Accountant and has been recognized for her leadership by organizations such as the Urban Land Institute. Heather is pleased to return back home to the southeast and further the mission of SGI. She is looking forward to being able to use her skills and experience to protect land and preserve our precious and increasingly rare southeastern grasslands!