As the Board Chair for Greenpeace USA, Karen Topakian encourages peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Topakian started started her career at Greenpeace in San Francisco in 1987, when she joined the newly created Nuclear Free Seas campaign. Since then, her entire professional life embraces activism and advocacy. She has had a broad range of professional experiences, including serving as Executive Director of the Agape Foundation and founding Topakian Communications.

Karen earned her bachelor’s degree from Clark University and her master’s of fine arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute.