Prior to joining the staff at River Network, Nicole worked at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for 19 years. While at TNC, she served as Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Global Freshwater Team, guiding a team of technical experts, helping projects articulate new strategies and solutions, providing budgetary oversight, and expanding organizational capacity and influence across the US and around the world. She also held roles related to knowledge development, conservation planning, stewardship, and public policy. Before TNC, Nicole worked on law and policy aspects of conservation in the US and Costa Rica and as a professional river guide leading adventures around the world. She holds a J.D. from the University of California, Davis and a B.A. in economics and ecology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Understanding how people relate to water and what water needs to remain healthy has been a central tenet of Nicole’s professional career for more than 25 years. As President of River Network, she is responsible for guiding River Network toward its mission in collaboration with staff and board members, engaging supporters and partners, expanding River Network’s reputation and public image, motivating staff, and other duties. River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters for all life.