Deborah is a nonprofit executive who’s led mission-focused conservation, education and scientific organizations for more than 30 years. She provides consulting services on strategy, organizational development and governance to non-profits. She is a public speaker and author.  

As CEO at the Woodland Park Zoo, Deborah she expanded the zoo’s field conservation programs to operate or support 35 projects worldwide, created the zoo’s first sustainability plan, and oversaw the opening of Zoomazium, the first Leeds Gold certified building at any US zoo. Deborah was VP for Conservation Science for The Nature Conservancy, where she led an international team of scientists helping to identify and steward networks of lands and waters that could sustain biodiversity in the face of multiple ecological changes. She recently retired from National Audubon Society, where she served as the Executive Director of the Washington program.

Deborah has served as an officer and executive committee member on numerous state and national Boards including the Puget Sound Leadership Council, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, Cultural Access Washington, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Society for Conservation Biology. Her PhD is in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.