Heather Richards

As the Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Heather oversees the Fund’s Conservation Acquisition programs in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia and Virginia. She also continues to serve as Virginia State Director, developing and implementing conservation projects throughout the Commonwealth.

Since 1997, Heather has worked in the field of wildlife and land conservation and has extensive experience in implementing conservation programs on the ground in diverse communities. Her experience with land trusts includes chairing the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, as well as more than 10 years of leadership with Virginia’s United Land Trusts (VaULT). She was also a founding member of the Our Virginia Outdoors coalition, which is working to secure dedicated funding for land conservation in Virginia. Prior to coming to The Conservation Fund, Heather led land conservation and land management programs at the Piedmont Environmental Council and Potomac Conservancy. She also coordinated species conservation and wildlife reintroduction programs for Defenders of Wildlife.

Heather holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Political Science and Environmental Policy from American University.