About Jill

Jill Abelson has supported Ward Circle Strategies communications, media and public affairs work for nonprofit and government agency clients innovating in environment, sustainability, education and public health for more than a decade. A subject matter expert, multi-linguist and gifted writer, she has been one of the firm’s go-to communications strategists. Since 2020, she has led our U.S. media effort on behalf of the French nonprofit, Plastic Odyssey, and has been a key contributor to our work for the Environmental Defense Fund and the State of California Listos Program.

She spent nearly two decades working in environmental policy at the U.S. EPA, leading global marketing, communications and partnerships for the Energy Star program, at the White House Office of the Vice President, at Florida DER and at California EPA/ARB, where she co-created and helped lead pioneering federal and state campaigns focused on climate education, sustainability, public health and water resource management.

As SVP at Golin and at public affairs firms Ketchum West and Glover Park Group, she counseled top corporate leaders and organizations on strategic communications, media relations, thought leadership, executive visibility and major events. She has guided communications and outreach for a wide range of corporations, startups and nonprofit groups, including NextEra Energy, Johnson+Johnson, Nestle USA, Impossible Foods, EOS Climate, Honeywell Corporation, United Technologies and Population Media Center. Her gift for writing, pitching and engaging media has earned client placements in top mainstream, trade and specialty outlets, notably ABC News, Fast Company, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.

Jill has a B.A. in Political Science and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Middlebury College.

She is based in San Francisco.

Career Highlights

• Ward Circle Strategies, Senior Advisor
• Plastic Odyssey, U.S. Communications & Partnerships Director
• Golin, SVP, Corporate Communications
• Ketchum West, VP, Corporate ESG & Sustainability Practice Group
• U.S. EPA, Communications & Marketing Manager, Energy Star Products Program
• Greenpeace USA, Writer & Press Liaison
• U.S. Senate, Legislative Aide

3 Fun Facts

• The daughter of two Miami Dolphins fanatics, Jill is a lifelong sports fan. She attributes the San Francisco Giants’ World Series wins to her work -related relocation to S.F., in 2010!
• On a winter media tour for the U.S. EPA, she once criss-crossed the entire state of Minnesota and got to drive a Bobcat. 
• Jill speaks English, French and German.