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LKO Strategic Solutions

Where Forestry, Science, & Law Converge for a Sustainable Future

Where Forestry, Science, & Law Converge for a Sustainable FutureWhere Forestry, Science, & Law Converge for a Sustainable FutureWhere Forestry, Science, & Law Converge for a Sustainable Future
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  • Our Services
  • Meet the Founder & CEO
  • Contact Us
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Our Founder & CEO

Our Founder & CEO

Our Founder & CEO

Lauren K. O'Shea is an interdisciplinary leader with a J.D. and Ph.D. in natural resources, driving strategic, science-based solutions at the intersection of forestry, law, and biodiversity. She has a proven track record of building public-private partnerships, advancing collaborative conservation, and leading multi-stakeholder initiatives that deliver real-world impact. 

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Our Shared Vision

Our Founder & CEO

Our Founder & CEO

At LKO Strategic Solutions, we grow and activate strategic partnerships to promote sustainable practices that conserve our planet's natural resources while meeting the needs of the private sector. We believe that responsible stewardship of natural capital not only mitigates risk but also creates enduring value for future generations.

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Our Clients

Our Founder & CEO

Our Clients

We work with a wide range of clients, including private landowners, timber companies, construction and architectural firms, nonprofits, think-tanks, and government agencies. Our goal is to provide customized solutions that meet the unique needs of each client, while prioritizing strategic partnerships, innovative approaches, and sustainable impacts.

our services

Strategic Leadership & Vision Execution

Executive Communication & Public Speaking

Executive Communication & Public Speaking

Driving organizational direction, creating innovative approaches while aligning initiatives with long-term goals, and leading teams through growth and change.

Executive Communication & Public Speaking

Executive Communication & Public Speaking

Executive Communication & Public Speaking

Delivering complex ideas with clarity to diverse audiences; representing organizations at high-level forums and stakeholder engagements.

Cross-Sector Partnership Development

Executive Communication & Public Speaking

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs

Acting as a liaison for private interests by building and managing collaborative conversations and actions across public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors to advance shared environmental objectives.

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs

Applying interdisciplinary knowledge of forestry, biodiversity, natural resources management, and environmental systems to inform sustainable solutions.

Law, Policy, & Regulatory Affairs

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs

Law, Policy, & Regulatory Affairs

Navigating environmental law, regulatory compliance, and public policy development to support conservation and land use outcomes while reducing risk for private entities.

Data-Driven Research & Analysis

Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs

Law, Policy, & Regulatory Affairs

 Employing rigorous methodologies to generate insights, evaluate impact, and inform science-based decision-making, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods and approaches.

Meet Lauren K. O'SHEA

Summary

Lauren is a visionary conservation leader and interdisciplinary expert with dual credentials in law (J.D.) and natural resources policy (Ph.D.), driving impactful change at the intersection of forestry, law, and corporate sustainability. 


Lauren brings over 15 years of experience shaping collaborative solutions across the private, nonprofit, and government sectors—specializing in landowner engagement, regulatory affairs, strategic communications, and collaborative solutions. 


She has a proven track record of leading groundbreaking initiatives, uniting diverse coalitions, and influencing national policy on working lands conservation. Adept at securing funding, managing programs and staff, and building trust across diverse stakeholder groups.


Lauren has also been recognized nationally for thought leadership, innovation, and advancing pragmatic, science-based strategic solutions.

Education

2011 - 2017

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA,

WARNELL SCHOOL OF FORESTRY

& NATURAL RESOURCES

   - Ph.D. in Forest Resources

   - Master of Natural Resources


2004 -2007

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA,

SCHOOL OF LAW

   - Juris Doctor

   - Class Rank: 13


1999 - 2003

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

   - B.A. in English with Honors

   - Minors in French and Psychology

Work Experience

LKO Strategic Solutions, LLC | Founder & CEO | 2025 - Present

  • Provide strategic solutions tailored to meet the needs of diverse clients across private, nonprofit, and governmental sectors  

Forest Landowners Foundation | President | 2023 - 2025

  • Developed and executed a strategic growth plan integrating programs, donor development, and mission-driven goals
  • Leveraged grants and contributions to establish innovative programs, including the $600k+ project Forest Factor: The Sustainability Tracker 
  • Forged and strengthened key partnerships across diverse sectors

Keeping Forests | Director of Strategic Initiatives | 2022 - 2023

  • Directed a multi-stakeholder system map and innovation workshop with 25 stakeholders from 10 states to stimulate U.S. wood markets 
  • Pioneered new approaches to establish markets and payments for ecosystem services using community-based social marketing

Conservation Without Conflict | Executive Director | 2021 - 2022

  • Led a 60+ member coalition of agencies and organizations from across the U.S. in advancing collaborative wildlife conservation 
  • Provided strategic direction to align conservation goals with the needs of private landowners across a broad range of working lands

Forest Landowners Association | General Counsel & Director of Regulatory Affairs | 2017 - 2021

  • Built trust and partnerships among hundreds of private landowners, agencies, and NGOs using innovative outreach and field engagement 
  • Facilitated collaborative conservation agreements to promote stewardship and  compliance while reducing regulatory risk

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Georgia, Admitted 2008 
  • Federal Court, Northern District of Georgia, Admitted 2008

Affiliations

- University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources,

   Alumni Steering Committee      

   Member, 2021 - Present; Chair, 2025 - Present

- The Longleaf Alliance, Board of Directors

   Member, 2022 - Present 

- Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council to the Dept. of Agriculture & Dept. of  Interior

   Member, 2022 - Present

- Forest Landowners Foundation, Rob Olszewski Fund Advisory Council

   Member, 2021 - 2023 

- Keeping Forests, Executive Committee

   Member, 2020 - 2022

Select Awards & Honors

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Southeast Regional Director’s Honor Award, 2023


University of Georgia

“40 Under 40" Award, 2020


Forest Landowners Foundation

Rob Olszewski Fellowship, 2016 - 2017


University of Georgia 

Emerging Leaders, 2015 - 2016


Blue Key Honor Society

Member since 2014


Xi Sigma Pi, National Forestry Honor Society

Member since 2011


Georgia Law Review

Senior Managing Editor, 2006 - 2007, Editorial Board 2005 - 2007


Order of the Coif

Member since 2007


CALI Award

Excellence in Legal Professionalism, 2007


Phi Beta Kappa

Member since 2003

Select Publications & Media Coverage

O’Shea, L. K. (2025). Family landowners are struggling to sell their wood – and that could cost forests big-time. Sustainable Packaging News. https://spnews.com/many-family-landowners-are-struggling-to-sell-their-wood-–-a/ 


Rangus, E. (2021). Lauren K. Ward (O’Shea): …And through the woods. Georgia Magazine.

https://news.uga.edu/lauren-k-ward-and-through-the-woods/


Sellers, R.S., Kreye, M.M., Carney, T.J., Ward (O’Shea), L. K., and Adams, D.C. (2021). Can payments for watershed services help advance restoration of longleaf pine? A critically engaged research approach. Forests. 12(3), 279. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12030279 


Ward (O’Shea), L. K. (2020). America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative: Celebrating a successful decade of collaboration. Forest Landowner Magazine. Nov./Dec. Issue.


Ward (O’Shea), L. K., Green, G. T., & Izlar, B. (2018). Family forest landowners and the Endangered Species Act: Assessing potential incentive programs. Journal of Forestry. 116, 529–538. https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvy048

Contact Us

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LKO Strategic Solutions, LLC

(404) 919 - 1229 contact@lkosolutions.com

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