Defenders of Wildlife today announced the selection of Andrew Bowman as its new president and CEO. Bowman brings more than 25 years of conservation and non-profit management experience to Defenders.
“My career has been focused on advancing bedrock conservation laws and protecting places for wildlife to thrive. I am thrilled to take the next step in this ongoing journey by taking the helm of Defenders of Wildlife,” Andrew Bowman said. “Defenders is uniquely positioned within the conservation community to ensure a future teeming with wildlife and biodiversity. I look forward to working with its dedicated staff to achieve its mission.”
In his current role as president and CEO of the Land Trust Alliance, Bowman provides national leadership to a network of nearly 1,000 community-based conservation organizations supported by over 230,000 volunteers and 6.3 million supporters. During his tenure, Bowman has guided the conservation community to major victories in Washington, DC, including markedly increased federal conservation funding and legislation that ensures the integrity of the federal tax incentive for conservation easement donations.
“Andrew’s rich leadership background combined with his conservation expertise in the political, legal and advocacy arenas, makes him an ideal president and CEO for Defenders of Wildlife,” said Mark Caylor, Chair of Defenders’ Board of Directors. “We are excited to welcome him back to Defenders to lead the continuing evolution of our critically important organization.”
Before joining the Alliance in 2016, Bowman served as the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s program director for the environment, overseeing all environmental grant-making. During his 11 years there, he developed more than $100 million in grants and program-related investments.
“Andrew has deep roots within the conservation community and is a long-time supporter of Defenders’ vital mission to protect the wildlife and wild places we love. I am delighted he was chosen as my successor and know Defenders and its staff will be in capable hands,” said Jamie Rappaport Clark, Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO.
Prior to his time as a conservation funder, Bowman worked for Defenders in Oregon and at the law firm Perkins Coie LLP. He holds a J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law, an LL.M. in environmental and natural resources law from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, and a M.A. in city and regional planning from the University of California at Berkeley.
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For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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