Talia McAllister, CEO

Talia McAllister is the Chief Executive Officer of Econautics, a Fort Worth–based nonprofit pioneering sustainability education through its Living Laboratory model—a collaborative framework designed to address environmental, health, and economic disparities in underserved communities. Appointed by the organization’s founder and endorsed by the prior CEO, Talia leads Econautics with a bold vision rooted in equity, transparency, and community resilience. Econautics’ current focus is Woodhaven, an east Fort Worth neighborhood where single-parent households comprise an estimated 70% of families with children. Since stepping into the role in early 2024, she has spearheaded a strategic transformation that includes rewriting the organization’s bylaws and mission, recruiting a more diverse and representative Board of Directors, and rebranding Econautics to amplify its voice and attract new partners, volunteers, and donors.

Talia brings over 15 years of experience in mission-driven communication, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International Relations from Texas Christian University, where she cultivated her passion for storytelling and global equity. Her commitment to ethical fundraising is backed by advanced training from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where she earned certificates in Fundraising Principles & Techniques (2017) and Developing Major Gifts (2019).

Her career began in journalism as a reporter and features writer for The Daily Republic, where she covered education, crime, and human-interest stories with a focus on community engagement. She maintained an education blog, broke news via Twitter, and spoke to hundreds of high school students about writing and college access. That foundation in storytelling—paired with her later work at Southwest Airlines resolving complex customer issues and training cross-functional teams—shaped her ability to communicate with empathy, precision, and impact.

Prior to Econautics, Talia served as the first full-time Grant Writer for Parkland Health Foundation, where she built a comprehensive grants program for the foundation to support Dallas County’s public health system. She also spent nearly eight years at the North Texas Food Bank, managing foundation relationships and securing critical funding to close the hunger gap across a 13-county region.

Across every role, Talia has demonstrated a rare ability to translate complex community needs into compelling, fundable solutions. Whether advocating for food security, health equity, or environmental justice, she builds inclusive coalitions and mobilizes resources to drive measurable change. Her leadership at Econautics reflects a lifelong commitment to uplifting both people and the planet—through strategic vision, ethical communication, and hands-on innovation.