WASHINGTON, D.C. – SEPTEMBER twelfth, 2024 – The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation introduced immediately the appointment of Desirée Sorenson-Groves as President and Chief Govt Officer (CEO), efficient October seventh, 2024. Ms. Sorenson-Groves is a confirmed chief in wildlife conservation with broad govt expertise.
“We couldn’t be extra excited to welcome an govt the caliber of Desirée to the administration group,” commented Main Basic (Ret.) E. Grey Payne, Chairman of the Board of Administrators of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation. “She is a confirmed chief with a distinguished monitor file and in depth expertise in wildlife conservation and Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System advocacy.”
Ms. Sorenson-Groves joins the Refuge Affiliation following her function as Vice President of Land and Habitat Conservation at Defenders of Wildlife the place she led Defenders’ work to preserve private and non-private lands and waters essential to defending and sustaining biodiversity. Beforehand, Ms. Sorenson-Groves was Director of the Arctic Refuge Protection Marketing campaign the place she led a various and multi-pronged marketing campaign of conservation with Indigenous organizations and companions from religion, environmental justice, veteran, looking, out of doors recreation, wildlife, and local weather teams. From 2005 to 2019, Ms. Sorenson-Groves served in a lot of roles with the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation, together with the Vice President, Authorities Affairs, and as Chair of the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement.
“I’m thrilled to return to the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation and lead the group at such a important time,” Sorenson-Groves commented. “The Refuge System is going through monumental challenges, and I do know we can assist.”
“I’m enthusiastic about the way forward for the group and of the Refuge System,” stated Lynn Scarlett, Vice Chair of the Affiliation. “I’ve labored with Desirée since my tenure on the Division of the Inside and am thrilled she’s going to lead the Affiliation at such a important time.”
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The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation is a non-profit completely targeted on defending, selling, and enhancing the 850-million-acre Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System, the world’s largest community of lands and waters put aside for wildlife conservation.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Director of Communications & Advertising at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.