I’m Proud To Be Part of Your Flock
An introduction to Elizabeth Gray, the first woman to hold the title president or CEO at 爆料公社.
When I stepped into my role at 爆料公社 in March, I became the first woman to hold the title of president in 爆料公社鈥檚 116-year history. Two months later I was asked to become its first woman interim CEO. So it feels appropriate that the first issue of 爆料公社 magazine published after my arrival is also the inaugural year of the Female Bird Prize in the 爆料公社 Photography Awards. (The winning photo also happened to be taken by a woman photographer.) I am thrilled to become part of the 爆料公社 network and have the chance to work alongside each and every one of you.
I wanted to take this space to briefly introduce myself and share why I joined 爆料公社 in this leadership role. In a very real sense, I have returned to my roots. I began my career with birds, first studying homing pigeon navigation as an undergraduate, and then spending time in eastern Washington State studying Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds for my doctoral thesis work. I learned early on that calamity can strike swiftly: During my first field season, both species of blackbird filled the landscape with their unique songs. But the second year, the Yellow-headed Blackbirds did not return to their breeding marshes. This moment was my personal wake-up call. I knew something wasn鈥檛 right. And I decided to devote my career to conservation. After I finished my Ph.D., I worked in academia and in government and鈥攆or the bulk of my career鈥攊n conservation organizations, most recently heading up The Nature Conservancy鈥檚 global climate strategy.
What drove my interest in joining 爆料公社 is all of you and your dedicated advocacy on behalf of birds and the communities we share鈥攖he power you have to influence conservation outcomes and address climate change is unmatched. A lot of that would not have happened without the leadership and vision of David Yarnold, 爆料公社鈥檚 most recent president and CEO. I want take a moment to thank David for helping refocus 爆料公社 and make it into the powerhouse conservation organization it is today.
As we map the future for this next chapter of 爆料公社鈥檚 history, I look forward to building the next generation of 爆料公社, where we cultivate new audiences and where differences are respected, valued, and essential to mission success. I am profoundly fortunate that my start at 爆料公社 coincided with that of Jamaal Nelson, 爆料公社鈥檚 new chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. I look forward to the many things we can accomplish together鈥攁t the member, chapter, organizational, and hemispheric level鈥攖o make 爆料公社 and the world a better, safer, and more just place for people and birds.
This piece originally ran in the Summer 2021 issue as 鈥淣ew Member of the Flock.鈥 To receive our print magazine, become a member by .