David Yarnold

David oversees ALF's vision, strategy, fundraising and foundational Fellows program.

Yarnold, a longtime journalist, bestselling author and non-profit executive, is the former Executive Editor of the San Jose Mercury News and CEO of the National Audubon Society, among other roles.

Yarnold spent nearly 27 years at the San Jose Mercury News in 12 positions. He was a leader of the newsroom staff that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake and he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing. Yarnold also was recognized by the Asian-American Journalists Association, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists for his leadership creating more inclusive news coverage and newsroom staffing.

He is the author of the best-selling book: The Geography of Hope; Real-Life Stories of Optimists Mapping a Better World, published in October, 2024.