NEW YORK (March 10, 2022) – The National Audubon Society celebrates the newest additions to its National Board of Directors: Diane Ross-Leech, retired Director of Environmental Policy at Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Michael Mavrovouniotis, former Director of Research at TGS Management; and Theresa Pella, retired 30-year professional in air quality regulatory programs.
“Birds and people are living through a pivotal decade to act on climate and species loss. We need bold and collaborative approaches to move environmental policy on climate change and species protection forward on local, national and global levels to ensure a sustainable future,” said Dr. Elizabeth Gray is the CEO of The National Audubon Society. “The newest directors on the National Board bring many years of knowledge and expertise that will help Audubon expand its impact and advocacy for solutions to protect air, water and land for birds, other wildlife and communities across the hemisphere.”
Diane Ross-LeechBorn in California, she is passionate about environmental stewardship. She retired in 2018 as the Director of Environmental Policy for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. She is an expert in the design of innovative strategies for corporate sustainability, climate adaptation, endangered species and land resource management. Her previous roles included the Board of Audubon California, where she was the Board Chair from 2012-2022. She was also the Board of Golden Gate Audubon Society, which she served as President from 2008-2012. Diane is Secretary of California State Parks Foundation, and a long-standing member of the San Francisco Bay Trail Project. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon appointed her to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission under the California Department of Parks and Recreation in August 2020. From an early age, Diane has been an avid outdoorswoman – hiking, camping, canoeing, backpacking, skiing, snow shoeing, and birdwatching throughout California and the West.
Michael MavrovouniotisHe hails from Cyprus, a small island nation. His research interests included complex chemical reactions and process design, biochemical pathways, high data analysis, artificial intelligence, and high-dimensional data analysis. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from M.I.T. He was also a Director of Research at TGS Management, an investment firm in Irvine, California. There he worked on financial data analysis, the development of models for financial instruments’ behavior, model-based decision processes and monitoring and improving trading systems. From 2018 to 2020, he was a Special Advisor to Wellspring Climate Initiative and a member of the Sequoia Climate Fund Board until 2021. Michael is an avid birdwatcher who is especially interested in bird behavior and habitat. He has volunteered as a naturalist with Sea & Sage Audubon, and is currently involved in stewardship programs and interpretive programs at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. He believes that preserving natural ecosystems is the most important long-term challenge facing humanity. This requires the participation of people from all walks of the globe.
Theresa PellaAfter serving as the Wachiska Audubon Society Board Chair in Lincoln (Nebraska), she has joined the National Board. Her 30-year career included a 30-year stint in the development and management of air quality regulatory programs and projects. She worked with federal, state, and local agencies. She holds a B.A. She holds a B.A. in Management and a M.A. The University of Illinois at Springfield. She is also a Nebraska graduate of the master naturalist programme, where she continues her learning and contributing to community science as much possible. Theresa has lived in many places, including the desert, mountains and hill country, as well as volunteering for the natural environment. She first saw birds as a part the natural world during a master naturalist course in central Texas. The instructor showed her how to catch insects with a flycatcher. She strongly believes that it is only possible to save what you know.
Audubon welcomed new executive and top leaders in 2022 with the appointments of Marshall Johnson, Justin Stokes, Chief Conservation Officer, Allison Vogt, Chief of Staff, Sarah Rose, Vice President of Climate, and Justin Stokes, Deputy Chief Conservation Officer. New leadership internally and on the National Board will work together to grow Audubon’s grassroots network of more than 1.8 million members and 500 chapters to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
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The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works in all 50 states of the Americas, using science, advocacy, education, and on-the ground conservation. Audubon’s unparalleled reach span spans state programs, chapters, nature centers, and partners. This allows Audubon to reach millions of people each year in order to inform, inspire, join diverse communities in conservation action. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization that has existed since 1905. It believes in a world where wildlife and humans thrive. Learn more about how you can help at www.audubon.org Follow us on Twitter @audubonsociety.
Media Contact Chandler Lennon, [email protected], 212.979.3063
