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The Nature Conservancy is pleased to announce that Charles Bedford has accepted the role of Regional Managing Director for Asia. Bedford will start January 30 and will relocate to Hong Kong, where the new region’s operating center will be based.

“From work to protect the important marine areas of the Coral Triangle to working collaboratively to achieve a sustainable balance for people and nature in China, Asia is home to some of the Conservancy’s most ambitious conservation projects,” said Mark Tercek, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “I’m confident that the strong team we have in place in Asia will continue to produce creative and innovative solutions to the region’s and the world’s most pressing conservation challenges.”

Bedford has played a key leadership role in the region since 2009, quickly moving from a short-term advisor role to Deputy Managing Director, North Asia. Previously, he spent nine years leading the Conservancy’s Colorado chapter, shaping it into one of the organization’s most globally focused operating units and serving as a member of the team that created both the Mongolia and Colorado River programs. Prior to joining the Conservancy, the Fort Collins, CO native served as director of the Colorado State Land Board, where he led management of three million acres of state lands, and was legal counsel and environmental policy advisor to Colorado Governor Roy Romer.

In his new role, Bedford will work closely with regional TNC leaders, including greater China’s Jim Zhang, Australia’s Michael Looker and leaders in Indonesia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to identify and advance essential marine and land conservation priorities. Initially, Bedford will focus on creating a TNC headquarters in Hong Kong to serve the Asia region and working with the region's business and government leadership on next-generation conservation solutions.

For more information about The Nature Conservancy, its leadership and its work around the world, please visit nature.org.