Elizabeth Gray

About Elizabeth Gray

Dr. Elizabeth Gray is a global conservation leader, advancing the National Audubon Society\'s agenda throughout the Americas. Trained as a scientist and ornithologist, she is the first woman to hold the title of CEO in the organization\'s 117-year history.Elizabeth has spent more than three decades as a dedicated conservationist, spending considerable time in the field nationally and abroad. She has a strong history of success as a major gifts fundraiser, raising 6, 7 and 9-figure gifts for conservation and climate change. Elizabeth has been a champion of increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the conservation movement and throughout all levels of environmental organizations, supporting her teams in educating and empowering the next generation of conservation leaders.Prior to Audubon, Elizabeth worked at The Nature Conservancy where she fostered a culture of excellence, inclusion and impact. Her accomplishments include motivating her teams to complete the $130M Cumberland Forest Fund, an impact investment project protecting acres in a key migratory corridor; establishing the largest oyster restoration project in the world in the Chesapeake Bay; founding the first urban conservation program in Washington, D.C; and launching regional programs in climate adaptation and natural climate solutions across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Elizabeth\'s previous international projects include work in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Elizabeth was awarded a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Washington and an A.B. with highest honors in psychology from Harvard University.Specialties: Strategic leadership, Fundraising, Climate change, Change management, Board management, Coaching and mentoring.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   National Audubon Society

   Nov 2021 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Elizabeth leads a 700+ employee, 2 million member organization operating across 50 states and 7 countries, with a network of 450 grassroots chapters, 160 college campus chapters, 32 nature centers, and the Audubon Magazine. A mission-driven leader, she drives innovative solutions to conservation and environmental challenges by protecting birds and the places they need across the western hemisphere, with a focus on climate change and equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and justice.

Education

• Harvard University

  A.B., Psychology and Animal Behavior

  1983 — 1987

• University of Washington

  Ph.D., Ecology

  1988 — 1994

Skills

• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Grants
• Science
• Research
• Ecosystem Services
• Biodiversity
• Strategy
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Education
• Volunteer Management
• Wildlife
• Natural Resources
• Endangered Species
• Conservation Issues
• Fundraising
• Ecology
• Environmental Awareness
• Community Outreach
• Environmental Issues
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Environmental Policy
• Sustainable Development
• Natural Resource Management
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Capacity Building
• Ecological Restoration
• Workshop Facilitation
• Facilitation
• Non-Profits
• Program Management
• Leadership Development
• Conservation Biology
• Entrepreneurship
• Management Consulting