Anja is the Associate Director of U.S. Plastics Policy at Ocean Conservancy, where she works to advance policy solutions at the state and federal level to reduce single-use plastics, hold plastic producers accountable and support the transition to a circular economy.

An engineer and material science expert, Anja earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Science at Stanford University. She was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for her doctoral research examining plastic waste management challenges and developing novel methods to break down common plastics.

Anja Brandon was part of the team of environmental advocates that helped draft and pass the strongest plastics legislation in the country, SB 54 in California. She has also been instrumental in drafting of federal policies aimed at addressing the plastics pollution crisis such as the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, the Protecting Communities From Plastic Act, and the recently passed appropriations language that pushed back on chemical recycling.

In addition to being an invited speaker at national and international conferences, Anja has been an invited lecturer teaching about plastic pollution and policy solutions at universities including Stanford, Oregon State University, Wellesley, and Bennington College.

Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Anja was the AGU/AAAS Congressional Science Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), where she was the lead policy advisor on issues including plastics, ocean and water pollution, and toxic pollutants.

Anja grew up on the coast in Seattle, Washington, where she fell in love with the ocean. Committed to sharing this love, she started volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium, where she first learned of the challenges facing the ocean and developed a passion for being part of the solution.