The Nature Conservancy in Oregon Announces New Director

PORTLAND, OR – Today, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Oregon announced its new director, Derek Johnson. Johnson was appointed to the position following a competitive search and begins his new role on April 3.

“I am honored by the opportunity to lead The Nature Conservancy’s work in Oregon and look forward to working with our chapter’s incredibly dedicated staff, trustees, donors, volunteers and partners,” said Derek Johnson, Oregon State Director. “Together, I am confident that we will scale up our work to greater impact in Oregon, significantly contribute to TNC’s global goals and further our mission to create a world where people and nature thrive.”

Johnson is an established leader in the Oregon chapter of TNC, serving most recently as the Oregon Deputy Director of Operations & Stewardship and on its executive leadership team. For almost two decades, Johnson has led teams and initiatives to ensure Oregon’s most critical lands and waters are connected, protected and managed to sustain nature for generations to come. During his tenure, he has guided connections across the organization in support of the chapter’s pursuit toward more equitable outcomes in conservation and science.

“Derek is a compassionate, empathetic and committed leader driven to preserving Oregon’s most special places while building strong ties to the communities within them,” said Christine Vernier, Chair of TNC’s Board of Trustees in Oregon. “Derek is a unifier. The call to action in Oregon’s current strategic plan is ‘Nature Unites Us’ and Derek exemplifies this core value.”  

Johnson started his TNC career in Wisconsin from 1999-2005 managing land protection transactions. He moved to Portland as the Director of Protection in 2005 and has served in several roles with the chapter since then, working across the diverse landscapes on both sides of the state. When not working, Johnson and his family are usually cheering on the Portland Trail Blazers, seeing live music or enjoying nature throughout Oregon. Derek grew up in North Carolina and has a B.S. in environmental science from UNC-Chapel Hill.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in Oregon and 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org/oregon or follow NatureConservancyOR on Facebook and @nature_oregon on Twitter.