Stephanie Burkhart

Stephanie Burkhart joined The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2026 and serves as our Washington state director. In this role, she leads a team of more than 80 staff and works closely with a dedicated board of trustees to advance high‑impact, science‑ and community-based conservation across the state.

Stephanie comes to TNC after serving as deputy regional director for the National Park Service. In this role, she oversaw 65 park sites across eight Western states and Pacific territories, directing operations, hundreds of millions in capital projects and a workforce of 5,000 employees and 21,000 volunteers. She championed the establishment of new national parks that expanded access to nature and more fully represented America's history by recognizing the significance and strength of local communities. She also secured the acquisition of key landscapes to conserve wildlife corridors, protect open space from development and strengthen the resilience of natural systems. In her past and current roles, her most meaningful work has centered on connecting people to nature in ways that inspire lifelong stewardship and on advancing co-stewardship models that honor and support Indigenous-led conservation.