About The Nature Conservancy - Stephanie Meeks on the Conservancy's Future

Stephanie Meeks is the acting president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. A 20-year veteran of non-profit management, fundraising and marketing, Meeks is currently implementing a long-term strategic plan to expand the organization’s global reach. The plan will also implement priority conservation strategies that address issues such as climate change, sustainable use and new ways to value natural resources and encourage innovation at every level.

"This is clearly an exciting time for The Nature Conservancy: The threats to our mission have never been greater, yet the opportunity for us to make a difference has never been stronger."

— Stephanie K. Meeks, acting president and CEO, The Nature Conservancy

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The Conservancy Salutes Steve McCormick
Read about Steve McCormick's accomplishments as president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy from 2001-2007.

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Steve McCormick resigned on October 1 after six years as president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy's chairman of the board, John Morgridge, said of McCormick: "His relentless pursuit of excellence at the Conservancy and lifelong commitment to conservation has left an indelible mark on our organization and on the conservation of so many of the Earth's special places."

Nature.org asked Conservancy Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Meeks, who has stepped in as interim president and CEO, to talk about the search for a new president as well as the organization's present state and future directions.

Nature.org: By most any measure, it appears the Conservancy is in a good place. Will Steve McCormick's departure disrupt any plans?

Stephanie Meeks: Business is continuing as usual at the Conservancy — we remain committed to the global conservation agenda established during Steve’s tenure. The organization has risen to a new level of conservation — one that engages humans to protect all life on earth. Our mission will continue to guide us as we now head into the next phase of the Conservancy’s future, where we will tackle the most ambitious conservation agenda in our organization’s 56-year history.

Nature.org: What does that agenda look like?

Stephanie Meeks: We are entering a very exciting new phase as an organization. In the coming weeks, we will launch the most ambitious campaign for conservation in history — to ensure the effective conservation of places that represent at least 10 percent of every major habitat type on Earth by 2015.

This campaign includes conservation projects on five continents and addresses global challenges such as climate change and the health of freshwater systems and how to we can more sustainably meet the needs of people.

Nature.org: What do you think is going to be Steve McCormick’s legacy for the Conservancy?

Stephanie Meeks: Steve helped transform the Conservancy into a truly global organization, capable of leveraging its resources to promote conservation around the world. Under his leadership, the organization launched new programs in Africa, South America, Australia and Asia and made substantial strides in protecting the world’s oceans.

At the international level, Steve helped to broker complex, pioneering financing mechanisms that provide new approaches and funding sources for critical conservation work. And he pushed the organization to pursue ever greater opportunities to work with others beyond the traditional conservation community, achieving successes such as the Forest Carbon Partnership agreement recently announced at the G-8 summit.

The organization and its members recognize Steve’s many contributions to the Conservancy over the past 30 years. He will be missed. Fortunately, we have tremendous support and we’re prepared to continue moving forward in our mission.

Nature.org: What are you looking for in a new president and CEO? And when does the leadership team hope to have one in place?

Stephanie Meeks: The search for Steve's successor will begin immediately. Our board of directors has begun forming a search committee and will also engage an executive search firm. The organization has a strong executive team in place with nearly 100 years of combined experience in the conservation field. This group will be able to provide the stability and leadership needed, while the board searches for a new CEO.

I have hope that the future leader of this organization will equal Steve in his commitment to help the Conservancy continue to grow and make a tangible impact on conservation around the world. The protection of the planet’s biodiversity is not only our mission, but it is a noble endeavor and an awesome responsibility worthy of leader who brings global experience and the kind of innovative thinking needed to advance new conservation strategies that will slow the rate of biodiversity loss at a significant scale.

Nature.org: Are you excited about the future of the organization?

Stephanie Meeks: This is clearly an exciting time for The Nature Conservancy: the threats to our mission have never been greater, yet the opportunity for us to make a difference has never been stronger.

I am committed, our board is committed, our leadership, our members and our staff are committed, and I am certain that — with all that passion applied toward to our goals — we will be successful.