In a letter to the board of directors, Lisa Samford has announced that she will be stepping down from her position as Executive Director of Jackson Wild in September, following the organization’s summit in Jackson, Wyoming.
Samford has held the position of Executive Director for twenty years and has grown Jackson Wild to be an internationally recognized Summit, film competition, and conservation convening.
Lisa Samford addresses the crowd at the 2023 Jackson Wild Summit in Burgenland, Austria.
Photo by Ale Ponzo.
In her letter, Samford states:
“I have spent a lot of time reflecting about what we have accomplished together over the years: creating innovative global partnerships, accelerating the amplification of underrepresented and inclusive perspectives, elevating impact-driven storytelling, facilitating professional development, and constructing world-class pipelines for early career filmmakers in the climate, conservation and nature film sectors. ...
Lisa Samford addresses the crowd at the 2023 Jackson Wild Summit in Burgenland, Austria.
Photo by Ale Ponzo.
... I feel honored to have witnessed such amazing transformation and growth in the global community we have built together and am deeply grateful for the relationships and partnerships that have developed in the process. To say that this has been a privilege is an understatement.”
Lisa Samford (right) and Bill Gardner (left) speak at the Grand Teton Awards Gala at the 2023 Jackson Wild Summit in Burgenland, Austria.
Photo by Grace Bowie.
Bill Gardner, Board Chair of Jackson Wild said:
“We will miss Lisa’s leadership, vision, and the inclusive community that she has built during her tenure as Executive Director. Because of Lisa’s tireless efforts, Jackson is known globally for its convening power and dedication to excellence in filmmaking and conservation. The board of directors of Jackson are immensely grateful for all of Lisa’s contributions.”
Lisa Samford (right) and Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) Ivonne Higuero (left) speak at the 2023 World Wildlife Day celebration in Washington, DC.
Photo by Grace Bowie.
The board will begin a search for a new Executive Director in the coming months. Interested parties may send an email to: board@jacksonwild.org
ABOUT JACKSON WILD:
For over 30 years, Jackson Wild has been a catalyst for accelerating and elevating impactful storytelling at the nexus of nature, science, and conservation. Through innovative and collaborative community gatherings, skill-building initiatives, and mentorship programs, Jackson Wild creates an inclusive forum for storytellers to more deeply illuminate connections to the natural world and our collective responsibility to the wild.
Jackson Wild’s international board members include: African Wildlife Foundation, ARRI, ARTE France, BBC Studios, Blue Ant Media / Love Nature, Conservation International, Doclights, GBH, Gorongosa Restoration Project, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, National Geographic Content, National Geographic Society, Nature/WNET, Netflix, NEWF (Nature, Environment, Wildlife, Filmmaking), Off the Fence Productions, ORF Universum, PBS, RED Digital Cinema, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Smithsonian Channel/Paramount, Sony Electronics, The Nature Conservancy, Terra Mater Studios, Wanda Films, Wildstar Films, and World Wildlife Fund US.
Visit: jacksonwild.org
Follow: facebook.com/jacksonwildorg, twitter.com/jacksonwild & instagram.com/jacksonwildorg |
