Board Member
Elyane Stefanick (pronounced Ely-ahn) (pronouns: she/her) is a nonprofit leader with 20 years of experience working on the intersections of sustainability, climate change, land conservation, and social justice, while shifting public policy to benefit communities and the environment.
Since 2016 she has been the California Program Director at Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF). There, she oversees CLF’s work to protect, expand, and defend California’s National Conservation Lands by building and strengthening grassroots advocacy and community partnerships throughout the state. Her work includes advancing campaigns to protect nature; mentoring and training community leaders to be effective advocates; working with State, Federal, and Congressional leaders on issues related to public lands; and managing a portfolio of grants to support indigenous and grassroots leaders in California. Elyane is committed to building a conservation ethos that is inclusive and brings justice to those historically excluded from the movement. She also co-leads CLF’s efforts to center equity across the organization.
Prior to joining CLF, Elyane worked at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation where she administered grant portfolios aimed to conserve the ecological integrity of the western U.S. and Canada and to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. While at Hewlett, Elyane also played a lead role in the Foundation’s efforts to expand equity in the conservation field, spearheaded the Foundation’s sustainability program and facilitated projects aimed at improving the organization’s environmental footprint.
Earlier in her career, Elyane supported individuals serving time in the criminal justice system through a program that offered alternatives to incarceration. There, she mentored participants in job development, designed and managed environmental restoration projects, supervised crews, and advocated to increase funding for restorative justice programs. Prior to that, Elyane served as a vegetation management consultant to the utility provider, Pacific Gas and Electric.
Through her love of the outdoors, Elyane has completed ecological research in California, Belize, and New Zealand. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
In her spare time, Elyane serves on the Leadership Council for Save the Redwoods League, is on the Steering Committee for Oasis: A Green Equity Collective, enjoys exploring the outdoors with her kids and dogs, leading art classes for youth, teaching surf lessons and ocean safety with Salted Roots, and getting in the water herself when the conditions are just right.