Jayme Breschard: Forging Resilience — Leading Climate Adaptation Through Innovation and Collaboration

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Abstract
This lecture traces my journey to becoming a distinguished leader in climate adaptation and resilience. It examines how lived experience, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative problem-solving cultivated my expertise in this dynamic discipline. As a Senior Planner at the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council in Rochester, New York, for 13 years, I refined my ability to distill complex technical data into accessible, community-driven solutions through strategic grant writing, facilitation of stakeholder workshops, and tailored place-based planning. My transition to private consulting allowed me to pioneer climate-focused services, developing critical tools such as climate action plan templates, programmatic crosswalks, and vulnerability assessments while mentoring emerging professionals to navigate this evolving landscape.
Now serving as the inaugural Director of Resilience and Community Infrastructure at the New York State Department of State's Office for Planning, Development, and Community Infrastructure, I am committed to shaping the next generation of climate leaders. This lecture will explore the synergy of public and private sector leadership, the strategic foresight required to foster resilient communities, and the self-confidence needed to embrace uncharted challenges. Attendees will gain actionable insights into adaptive leadership, the value of interdisciplinary approaches, and strategies for driving transformative, equitable change in the face of climate uncertainty. This presentation underscores the critical role of innovative leadership in advancing sustainable, community-centered resilience.
Biography
Jayme Breschard, AICP, CFM, is the Director of Resilience and Community Infrastructure at the New York State Department of State Office for Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure (OPDCI). In her role, Breschard will develop and implement new programs and initiatives while continuing to form strong partnerships with key state agencies and external partners. She will focus her efforts on the development of an officewide strategic resilience plan with implementable actions, creating innovative approaches and performance measures for resilience policy goals, in addition to leading the design, implementation, and tracking of resiliency-focused grants.
With nearly 25 years of experience in community development and environmental planning, Breschard has gained expertise in both the private and public sectors. This work has involved supporting communities in the preparation of grant applications, as well as overseeing project management and execution. Breschard has worked directly with communities on the benefits of floodplain, stormwater, and watershed management, together with hazard mitigation planning. She has led and developed climate action branding and marketing campaigns and served on state and national boards, including the Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel to the New York State Climate Action Council. She is a graduate of Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a dual B.A. in Geography and Historic Preservation, and Cornell University with an M.A. in Historic Preservation Planning.