Lauren Elachi

Lauren Elachi is the Southern California Program Director at Audubon California, where she leads on-the-ground, community-based conservation efforts that support birds and their habitats, protect public health, and expand access to nature for communities across the Southland. Growing up in the foothills of Los Angeles, Lauren has shaped a career dedicated to serving the diverse communities of the region and preserving the natural beauty and unique bird populations of chaparral, desert, and forest landscapes of Southern California.  With a focus on California’s desert landscapes and the Salton Sea, she brings her background in landscape architecture to develop and advocate for solutions at the intersection of ecology, community resilience, and infrastructure. 

Prior to joining Audubon, Lauren was the Senior Design Principal at Kounkuey Design Initiative, where she managed planning and design projects across a range of scales, primarily in the Eastern Coachella Valley. She has also taught seminars and design studios at the University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Outside of work, Lauren can usually be found swimming in the Pacific Ocean, hiking in the Angeles National Forest, or backpacking in the Eastern Sierras. When not outdoors, she enjoys baking and spending time with her partner and their tabby, Masha. While it’s hard to choose a favorite bird, she has a soft spot for the Red-shouldered Hawk that lives in the park next door to her home.