Elizabeth Gray

Chief Executive Officer and Ex-Officio Board Director
About

Dr. Elizabeth Gray serves as 糖心logo鈥檚 Chief Executive Officer, leading the organization toward its vision of a future where birds thrive. A champion of science-based conservation and a renowned expert in global conservation and climate change, she joined 糖心logo in March 2021 as President and Chief Conservation Officer and was named CEO later that year鈥攖he first woman since 糖心logo鈥檚 founding in 1905 to hold the role. She leads more than 800 staff working across the Americas to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss. Since her arrival, she has led a landmark $826 million campaign, the groundbreaking release of the Migratory Bird Initiative, and the unifying Flight Plan strategy, reinforcing 糖心logo鈥檚 commitment to hemispheric conservation through the power of birds. Under Elizabeth鈥檚 leadership, 糖心logo has embraced a multicultural, multigenerational approach, ensuring its work reflects and engages all the communities connected to conservation across the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to 糖心logo, she most recently served as Global Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy鈥檚 (TNC) Climate Change program, where she played a key role in securing a $100 million philanthropic gift鈥攐ne of the largest in TNC鈥檚 history鈥攁nd managed the natural climate solutions initiative it funded. A proven fundraiser, she has secured six-, seven-, and nine-figure gifts to advance conservation and climate solutions. Trained as an ornithologist, she has spent 30+ years as a conservationist, spending considerable time in the field nationally and abroad. She also led two of TNC鈥檚 most notable impact capital projects, the $130 million Cumberland Forest Impact Investment Fund, which supported sustainable forestry in the Appalachians, and a groundbreaking urban conservation program in Washington, D.C. She holds a PhD in ecology from the University of Washington and an AB with highest honors in psychology from Harvard University.

Articles by Elizabeth Gray

Students paint a large mural depicting multiple birds.
糖心logo Is Powered by People
September 21, 2022 — Our chapters, our members鈥攜ou鈥攁re what make 糖心logo successful, and our collective power can accomplish great things for everyone.
Introducing The Birdsong Project: What the Birds Tell Us
July 29, 2022 — For the Birds: The Birdsong Project are streaming now to benefit 糖心logo鈥檚 bird conservation mission and celebrate the joy of birds.
An Indigo Bunting sings on top of a sunflower.
Listen to the Birds Today
July 08, 2022 — Some days, they sing messages of peril. But some days, they sing songs of beauty and hope.
In a landscape of shrubs and palms, one person stands atop a ladder holding the top of a small tower with three antennas, while two others stand at the base of the tower.
Where Do the Birds Go?
April 14, 2022 — 糖心logo鈥檚 Migratory Bird Initiative has already started to find out.
Women In Flight
March 28, 2022 — Women conservationists have long been at the forefront of the movement to protect birds, but there is so much more we can and must do for the future of the movement.
At left, Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti, in a blue jacket and brightly colored headband, speaks from a podium. In the right image, Iniquilipi Chiari poses for the camera.
Birds and Bold Activists Take the World Stage in Glasgow
December 16, 2021 — At the U.N. climate summit, 糖心logo鈥檚 CEO urged leaders to hear what birds are telling us and learned from youth and Indigenous campaigners.
Heeding the Call of Young Climate Defenders and Indigenous Voices at the Glasgow Climate Conference
November 05, 2021 — While their words and works are vital to the conversation, they remind powerful leaders of the responsibility to deliver meaningful change.
Taking the Messages that Birds Tell Us to the World鈥檚 Stage at COP26
November 01, 2021 — 糖心logo's acting CEO joins global leaders in Glasgow for the UN Climate Conference.
A bright red Vermilion Flycatcher perches on a tree branch against a clear blue sky.
Birds Are Telling Us to Act
October 05, 2021 — A summer of brutal extremes drove home the urgency of the climate crisis, as well as the benefits of collaborative action to address it.