CGBD Welcomes Lynn Lohr, New Executive Director
Below is the letter from Barry Gold, CGBD President, and Lois DeBacker, Vice President, to the CGBD Membership announcing the appointment of Lynn Lohr as Executive Director of the CGBD.
Dear fellow CGBD members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Lois and I are delighted to announce the appointment of Lynn Lohr as Executive Director for the Consultative Group on Biological Diversity, effective April 11, 2011.
Lynn will succeed Michael Fischer, whose decision to retire stimulated the search for a new Executive Director. The entire CGBD owes Michael a deep debt of gratitude for his vision and leadership over these past three plus years of service. Michael is handing over to Lynn a strong and vibrant organization, whose membership and staff are well poised to address the biodiversity conservation challenges ahead.
Lynn is currently Vice President for Resource Development for Fair Trade USA, which works to guarantee that farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods are paid fair prices and wages, work under safe conditions, protect the environment, and receive community development funds to empower and uplift their communities. During her time at Fair Trade USA, Lynn helped build the ethical consumer movement; enhanced the organization’s fundraising capacity, including capturing funding for system conversions and infrastructure; and supported producers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Before joining Fair Trade USA, Lynn helped establish the administrative and grantmaking systems of the Broad Reach Foundation in southern California. Prior to that, Lynn spent almost eight years as Executive Director of the CGBD, giving her a deep appreciation for the organization and the work of its members. Previously as Philanthropic Policy Analyst for Consumers Union, Lynn advocated for communities as new foundations were formed from the conversion of nonprofit health institutions. Lynn originally moved to California from Minnesota to work for the Foundation for National Progress, publisher of Mother Jones magazine.
During the extensive search process that involved many qualified candidates, it became clear that Lynn is the right leader for the CGBD. Lynn brings to the CGBD a renewed vision of the potential domestic and international impact of collaborative efforts to advance the protection of the world’s biological diversity and the communities that depend on it.
On behalf of other members of the search committee (Kay Treakle, Jenny Russell, and Angel Braestrup) I would also like to thank Dan Sherman of Explore Company for his guidance and the broader CGBD membership for their advice and insights during this search. Please join me in welcoming Lynn back to the CGBD.
Sincerely,
Barry D. Gold
President of the Board and Chair of the Search Committee
Lois DeBacker
Vice-President of the Board
