Alaska Conservation Foundation today announced the appointment of Ann Rothe, a seasoned nonprofit executive and conservationist, as its new executive director. Rothe has been serving as the interim executive director since former Director Nick Hardigg resigned in June.
“After a national search, the ACF board of trustees voted unanimously and enthusiastically to hire Ann Rothe as ACF’s executive director,” said Chair Nancy Lord. “Ann brings a strong combination of management and development skills, and has a long history with and commitment toAlaskaconservation. We’re delighted to have her leading the organization into the future.”
Rothe joined ACF in 2007 as a senior program officer to focus on oceans, mining and other issues. In recent years, she has served as Deputy Director and led the Bristol Bay Watershed and Fisheries Protection campaign. Previously, she worked as an environmental consultant working on a range of issues from environmental health to education. She has held positions at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, US Department of Interior, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation (whose Alaska office she established), Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council which she helped create shortly after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and Trustees for Alaska, where she served as executive director for ten years. She has resided inAlaskafor more than 30 years.
Rothe assumed her new position on Monday. “I’m excited to be at the helm of the Foundation as we move forward in helping to realize a broader, more influential conservation movement that can affect enduring change,” said Rothe. “For more than 30 years, ACF has had a critical role in helping to raise awareness and funding forAlaska’s conservation issues. ACF working with our partners is well positioned to foster new gains in research, best practices, and public involvement in managingAlaska’s natural resources in the future.”
Founded in 1980 by legendaryAlaskaconservationists Celia Hunter and Denny Wilcher, ACF is a public foundation dedicated to connecting philanthropists toAlaska’s grassroots conservation efforts. In its history, ACF has made more than $33 million of grants to conservation causes inAlaskaand has a $5 million endowment. For more information, visit www.alaskaconservation.org.
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