Heather KUHLKEN

As the Founder and Executive Director of the award-winning non-profit organization, Families in Nature, Heather Kuhlken combines her experience as a biologist and educator with her passion for nature to inspire, train, and mentor the next generation of conservationists.  She is known for her collaborative, results-focused leadership style and an ability to bring diverse stakeholders together to create innovative programs and partnerships. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Adventures in Ecology: A Guidebook to Inspire Environmental Literacy, Outdoor Exploration, and Nature Connection for All, which provides more than 1,100 hands-on, science-based lessons for people of all ages. Heather is the Co-Chair of the IUCN’s #NatureForAll USA, serves on the International Task Force for Nature Based Education, and is a Commissioner for Education and Communication with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Heather is also the co-founder of the non-profit Tela Coral, collaborating with the local community to conserve the uniquely resilient coral ecosystem of Tela Bay. As a biologist and published nature and underwater photographer, she continues to contribute to climate change adaptation, coral restoration, and ocean conservation work, and leads expeditions to nature-rich destinations around the world.