Audubon Board Welcomes New Directors to Guide Hemispheric Efforts to Reverse Alarming Decline of Birds

NEW YORK – The National Audubon Society announced two new additions to its Board of Directors: Pamela Hurtado Berger, an environmental advocate who is passionate about conservation and environmental sustainability, and Dr. Mamie Parker, a wildlife biologist with a lifelong dedication to conservation biology and environmental stewardship.

With a shared passion for protecting birds and their habitats, Ms. Hurtado Berger and Dr. Parker join Audubon at a critical moment for the planet. Their appointments come as the organization accelerates its bold strategy to reverse the alarming decline of birds across the Americas and confront the urgent environmental challenges of our time. Their leadership will help guide Audubon’s work to build a more resilient, biodiverse, and sustainable future—for birds and for all of us.

“Audubon’s strength has always come from the people who bring their passion, expertise, and commitment to this work,” said Dr. Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society. “Pamela and Mamie are conservation leaders who understand what is at stake—for birds, people, and the planet. Their leadership will help shape our efforts across the hemisphere at a time when bold action and collaboration are so urgently needed.”

“I am pleased Pamela and Mamie are bringing their deep environmental expertise to Audubon’s Board of Directors,” said Dr. George S. Golumbeski, Chair of the Audubon Board of Directors. “As experienced ambassadors for conservation, they will meaningfully contribute to Audubon’s efforts to address the most significant threats to bird habitats and deliver lasting environmental and economic benefits to people.”

Pamela Hurtado Berger, of Santiago, Chile, founded Fundación Cosmos, a nonprofit that aims to foster the human-nature connection through innovative community-centered initiatives. Under her leadership, Fundación Cosmos has developed nature-based territorial management models, designed accessible parks that provide green spaces for underserved communities, created healing gardens in healthcare facilities, and promoted environmental education programs that engage and inspire future generations. She is also the Co-Founder of Fundación Kreen, based in Patagonia’s Aysén Region, where she has spearheaded the establishment of the Santuario Meullín-Puye, a pristine conservation area and critical biodiversity hotspot. Santuario Meullín-Puye serves as a natural laboratory for scientific research and ecological outreach, while also fostering educational programs that promote environmental awareness and strengthen bonds with local communities. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to preserving ecosystems, empowering communities, and fostering partnerships for environmental sustainability. Ms. Hurtado Berger earned her Master’s degree in Landscape Design from Conway School of Landscape Design in Massachusetts.

“I am thrilled to join the Audubon's Board of Directors,” said Pamela Hurtado Berger. “Audubon’s mission is important, and I’m looking forward to having a positive impact on the future of birds and the places they live—throughout the hemisphere—so that we can continue to strengthen our connection with nature.”

Dr. Mamie Parker, of Dulles, Virginia, is a distinguished fish and wildlife biologist with nearly three decades at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where she served as Regional Director, Head of Fisheries, and a Senior Executive Service member. She has extensive experience in ecological impact assessment, private lands conservation, fisheries and wildlife management, and aquaculture. Her assignments took her across the United States, including Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. Beyond her agency work, she led initiatives earning the William P. Reilly Environmental Leadership Award, the Presidential Rank Award, and the John L. Morris Lifetime Achievement Award. Appointed by the Governor of Virginia, she chaired the Department of Wildlife Resources Board and was inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame as the first native Arkansan to lead the nation’s fisheries program. Dr. Parker serves on the boards of the National Wildlife Federation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, The Nature Conservancy-Virginia Chapter, and Brown Advisory Sustainable Investment. Internationally, she has worked in Southern Africa as an Aspen Institute Fellow and advocated for climate action at the World Fisheries Congress in China. She studied at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the University of Wisconsin, and Harvard’s Kennedy Executive Education Program. Her lifelong dedication to conservation and environmental stewardship continues to inspire future generations, particularly girls and underrepresented groups.

“Realizing that we need all hands-on deck to save our birds and wildlife habitats, I believe it’s my turn,” said Dr. Parker.  “As an underrepresented member of the birding community, it’s my turn to step off the sidelines and assist in reaching out to a broader range of voices—making Audubon’s best even better at this critical time.”

About Audubon  

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety. 

Media Contact: 

Heather Barlow, heather.barlow@audubon.org