About Chris Hill

Chris Hill (pronouns: she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation. With a robust background in community organizing and environmental law and lobbying, Chris brings over 15 years of experience in advocating for the protection of both communities and the natural world. Chris's passionate advocacy for a just, equitable, and sustainable future–one in which all people benefit from clean air, clean water, and equitable access to the outdoors–is rooted in community-based organizing.

Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris holds a B.A. in broadcast communications and electronic media from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and a J.D. from Vermont Law School.

From an early age, Chris fostered a love for the outdoors through activities like backpacking, climbing, and snowboarding. This connection to nature led her to a career in conservation, which she started by serving as a grassroots organizer in Appalachia and tackled issues such as mountaintop removal, coal mining, and just transition initiatives.

Over the years, Chris has developed a distinguished career as a public policy advocate, adeptly navigating state, regional, and federal landscapes. With over a decade of experience as an environmental lobbyist, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to advancing environmental causes. Most notably, Chris served as the first Chief Conservation Officer at the Sierra Club, where she led the organization’s legacy campaigns focused on land conservation, water, and wildlife, as well as outdoor access and outdoor equity. In this role, she made history as the first Black woman to head this work at the Sierra Club, reflecting her exceptional leadership and dedication to environmental conservation.

Chris serves on the boards of Trout Unlimited and One Green Thing. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Sage Fly Fishing.

In 2019, Chris collaborated with The Outbound Collective to share her story through the film "Where I Belong" shedding light on her affinity for fly fishing, her advocacy endeavors, and the importance of outdoor equity. The film won the American Conservation Film Festival’s 2021 Best Short Film and has been featured at esteemed festivals like the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour and the Mountain Film Festival, among others. Watch Chris's story here.

When Chris isn't working, you can find her outside on the river fly fishing with her dog Sammy and husband Greg.

She currently splits her time between Haines, AK and Washington, D.C.

“All lands are ancestral lands. I live in Haines, Alaska, the unceded ancestral lands of the Lingít Aaní (Tlingit). I hope this land acknowledgment inspires others to stand in solidarity with Native nations.”

— Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer