Changing Tides

CHANGING TIDES

A discussion with former Chief Executive Officer Renata Woodward and new Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Merrill about the changing leadership at the Nature Trust and their shared passion for conservation in New Brunswick.

WRITTEN BY CONSERVATION AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, CHEYENNE CURRIE

After 12 years of dedicating her life to conservation in New Brunswick, Renata Woodward is onto new adventures. The Nature Trust has recently added Stephanie Merrill to our team as the new Chief Executive Officer. She has returned home from Saskatchewan to ensure the places she loves are protected, forever.

Our Conservation and Engagement Manager, Cheyenne Currie, sat down with the two leaders to reflect on Renata's career at the Nature Trust and learn about Stephanie's vision for the organization.

Former Chief Executive Officer, Renata Woodward.

Renata began her journey with the Nature Trust as the Conservation Program Director in 2009. She served as the Nature Trust's Chief Executive Officer for a decade. Under Renata's leadership, the Nature Trust grew to a $2.7 million operation with $13 million in assets and a complement of twenty plus employees with a culture of success, ambition, and growth. Most importantly, she molded the organization into a key pillar of conservation in New Brunswick with a sound reputation supported by more than forty funders and thousands of members and volunteers. Together, they have worked to secure a network of over 70 nature preserves consisting of 10,000 acres of land protected in perpetuity.

Renata is known for her positive attitude and ability to inspire those around her. She has an unmatched drive and rarely did her visions go unfulfilled. When asked about her greatest conservation success, Renata speaks to her time spent mentoring hundreds of young conservation leaders.

"During my 12 years with the Nature Trust, I had the privilege to work with many young people who were in school or just finished their education. Instilling passion or giving a chance to youth to experience the field of land conservation and watch them succeed after their internships at the Nature Trust was a huge success for all of us," said Renata.

Renata speaks fondly of memories she shared with mentors, volunteers, stewards, landowners, funders, partners, and staff she met through her time with the Nature Trust. She is grateful for meeting like-minded individuals who share her passion for conservation on the East Coast.

One of the people she’s had the pleasure of meeting and working with along the way is Stephanie Merrill.

"My first memory of Stephanie was when she worked on a project associated with wetlands. She was connecting with different people about supporting a new and exciting project," said Renata.

"At that time, the Nature Trust was a completely non-advocacy-based organization. However, I felt the work that Stephanie was doing was so important... Stephanie's ambition and passion made me educate myself on conservation organizations' steps to become more advocacy oriented.
She was an example for me of how things need to get done on the ground and how we cannot be silent on things that effect causes we care about most."

Renata had difficulty choosing one memory that stood out the most during her time at the Nature Trust. One left a lasting impression.

"I will never forget a trip to the South Wolf Island Nature Preserve. I had participated in a two-day-long expedition to clean up the island and complete a botanical and bird survey.
I felt like we were completely cut out of the world… I woke up to the sound of whales blowing air into the water while the seals were squawking over something nearby, protecting their young.
The storm petrels were making their calls in the nearby forest. I will never forget this moment because I never felt more alive."

Renata has recently moved to Québec with her daughter to farm and pursue consulting ventures.

"Thank you to all the friends, mentors, donors, volunteers, stewards, and my kids for being a part of my life over the past 12 years. I am super excited to continue to watch the Nature Trust and support your successes as you work towards your future goals."

Growing up, Stephanie's weekend trips to her family cottage on French Lake, a part of the Grand Lake chain, were filled with swimming and beach walks, which turned into a lifelong appreciation for outdoor spaces that bring people together.

"I have a lot of fond memories being the oldest grandchild on my mum’s side of the family. Spending summers at the family camp, being on the water, playing on the shore, and in the treelines with cousins, watching and listening to the loons through binoculars with my Nan. It became where I wanted to be as an adult too, it is a part of who I am now,” said Stephanie.

Current Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Merrill.

Stephanie's love of natural spaces in New Brunswick led her to a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Science in Forestry. She has worked for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, the Canadian Rivers Institute, and the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan. Stephanie has returned home to New Brunswick because she believes in the role each of us can play in the conservation movement.

 Stephanie has spearheaded many projects related to the protection of important places in New Brunswick. Most notably, her work to engage citizens on the concerns of shale gas fracking in New Brunswick.

"I felt really determined about being able to respond professionally to a huge need around the province. The people of New Brunswick wanted someone to speak up on their behalf, and I felt very privileged to play that role. I learned a lot personally about what drives people to want to be living, learning, and playing in this province,” said Stephanie.

Now, returning home to New Brunswick, Stephanie is ready to lead the Nature Trust and build on the momentum of recent successes.

"When you go other places, live in bigger cities, or travel abroad, you get perspective on what you have at home. We still have intact green space and forests that provide habitats and clean water and air. So it is important to appreciate that and instill this appreciation in others, to ensure we protect it. As humans, we protect what we love, and we love what we have positive experiences with."

Stephanie envisions engaging New Brunswickers in developing their own positive experiences: accessing, protecting, and stewarding nature. She looks forward to working with the Nature Trust community to grow the preserve network to increase wildlife connectivity throughout the province and ensure New Brunswick's plants and wildlife have refuges of suitable habitat forever.

Stephanie is confident that we will meet our shared goal to protect 15,000 acres by 2030. (Thank you to the many supporters who have brought us within only 5,000 acres from this goal!) Also, Stephanie looks forward to getting out to our preserves, building trails, removing invasive species, monitoring with stewards, and learning everything about being a part of the Nature Trust community.

"I am excited to meet the amazing people Renata speaks so highly of and learn about what makes you so dedicated to the organization and nature conservation,” said Stephanie. “Conservation is not about the leader or the CEO; it is about building the team and the community of people needed to take on the huge task of protecting important spaces in the province. I am looking forward to helping to continue to build that."