ESLT is thrilled to announce Mark Drew, Ph.D., as its new Executive Director.

With over 25 years of experience in conservation, leadership, and natural resource management, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization. 

A life-long conservationist, Mark has worked both in domestic and international conservation in Asia, Oceania, the eastern Caribbean and a decade here as Eastern Sierra Regional Director for California Trout. His professional experiences span a wide range of conservation initiatives including strategic planning, conservation within freshwater, marine and terrestrial realms, policy and government relations, partnership building, fundraising and organizational development. 

Mark will assume the role of ESLT’s Executive Director on January 8, 2025. The public has an opportunity to meet Mark this Thursday at ESLT’s Holiday Mixer from 4pm-6pm.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to lead the ESLT team into the future,” said Tim Bartley, Board Chair of ESLT. “He brings a remarkable blend of regional, statewide and international experience and passion for conservation; he’s the ideal choice to lead our organization to new levels of success. When Mark was leading the CalTrout team in Mammoth, they initiated a number of visionary projects with lasting impacts on our landscape and our communities. ESLT and the entire Eastern Sierra conservation community celebrate Mark’s return.” 

Most recently, Mark served as the Director for the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pacific, where he was responsible for strategic implementation of all programs in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, as well as policy work across the Pacific region. Prior to this role, Mark held positions as Lead for WWF’s Resilient Asian Deltas and Conservation Program Director for WWF-Cambodia. Preceding working in Cambodia, Mark spent a decade directing a freshwater and fisheries program in California with California Trout, focusing on strengthening freshwater conservation and water security for people and nature in California.

Central to all of Mark’s work has been a focus on building successful collaborations between public, private, and NGO sectors to advance the needs of people, the environment and economic development. In Mark’s earlier career, he spent several years in the eastern Caribbean leading marine and terrestrial protected areas work for The Nature Conservancy, as well as having conducted research in the Asia-Pacific on coastal aquaculture, coastal wetlands and documenting the socio-economic importance of agroforestry systems and fisheries in Small Island Developing States.

“I am honored to be joining ESLT,” said Mark. “I look forward to working with the incredible and growing staff and board, as well as with landowners and a broad array of partners to protect the Eastern Sierra’s natural resources for future generations.” 

Mark holds a B.S. degree in Forestry and Natural Resources Management, an M.A. degree in International Development Policy and a Doctorate degree in Forestry and Resource Conservation from the University of Florida.  

Interested in learning more about ESLT’s work? Come meet Mark Drew at the upcoming Holiday Mixer at the ESLT office at 250 N. Fowler Street in Bishop from 4pm-6pm on December 12th, 2024. It’s a great opportunity to connect with the ESLT team, learn about ESLT’s conservation efforts, and discover how you can get involved in supporting local conservation.