David Yarnold

David Yarnold: Author, Photographer, and Nonprofit Leader

David Yarnold is an accomplished writer, photographer, and nonprofit executive who is currently working on a book titled "The Geography of Hope: Real-Life Stories of Optimists Mapping a Brighter Future" to be published by Esri Press in October 2024.123

After a successful Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism career, Yarnold served as the CEO of the National Audubon Society from 2010 to 2021, where he led a major transformation and growth of the organization.12 Under his leadership, Audubon's funding doubled to $150 million, membership increased 10-fold to 2 million people, and the organization won the General Excellence award from the American Society of Magazine Editors.2

At Audubon, Yarnold was introduced to geospatial mapping (GIS) by his staff, which inspired him to travel the world and tell the stories of people using GIS to find solutions to global challenges.12 This experience led him to write his upcoming book for Esri, where he is currently a writer and photographer.45

Yarnold has a track record as an influential civic leader with a commitment to equity, diversity and social justice.1 He has served on the board of the Computer History Museum and as vice-chair for American Leadership Forum/Silicon Valley.2

Prior to his nonprofit work, Yarnold was the Executive Editor of the San Jose Mercury News, where he led the paper's transformation into one of America's ten best newspapers, nearly tripling its revenue.2