Sean McMahon
Sean McMahon is executive director of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, a clean-water initiative supported by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Pork Producers Association. In that capacity he works to help increase the pace and scale of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy by encouraging Iowa farmers to adopt voluntary conservation practices aimed at reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways.
Previously Sean was North America agriculture program director of The Nature Conservancy, focused on strategies to make agriculture more environmentally sustainable including through more effective advocacy and implementation of the Farm Bill, strategic partnerships with agribusinesses, and engaging in agricultural supply chain initiatives designed to help farmers produce more food, feed, fiber and fuel in an increasingly sustainable manner.
Sean has worked on natural resources policy for over twenty years. He served as state director of the Conservancy’s Iowa Chapter, implementing statewide strategies to improve natural resources conservation. His work included leadership efforts to conserve Iowa’s most important natural areas. As chair of the Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Campaign, he also led a successful effort and coalition of more than 130 organizations dedicated to securing increased funding for clean water, soil conservation and wetland restoration. Before joining the Conservancy, Sean directed national land stewardship campaigns for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). There he advanced national policy and advocacy work to protect public and private lands—most notably sites such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana. Sean also led NWF’s agriculture policy work leading up to the 2008 Farm Bill.
His experience with agricultural policy extends back to 2001, when he worked on the 2002 Farm Bill as assistant director of government relations for the National Audubon Society. In addition, Sean worked for the Department of the Interior in a variety of capacities, including as deputy director and acting director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs where he received two vice-presidential awards for his work to reinvent government.