Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a resolute defender of the environment whose reputation stems from a series of successful legal actions. Kennedy was named one of TIME magazine's Heroes for the Planet for helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The achievement helped spawn more than 130 Waterkeeper organizations around the globe.

Kennedy serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic and is co-host of "Ring of Fire" on Air America Radio. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant district attorney for New York City.

He has worked on environmental issues throughout the Americas and helped several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. He is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City's water supply. The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. He helped lead the fight to turn back the anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress.

Kennedy is the author of The New York Times bestseller Crimes Against Nature (2004), St. Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy (2005), The Riverkeepers (1997) and Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr: A Biography (1977). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, The Nation, Outside Magazine, The Village Voice and many other publications. His award-winning articles have been included in anthologies of America’s Best Crime Writing, Best Political Writing and Best Science Writing.

Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied at the London School of Economics, and he received a law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and master's degree in environmental law from Pace University School of Law. He is an ardent outdoorsman -- a master falconer and expert kayaker, skier, sailor and fisherman.