Nicole Silk

Understanding how people relate to water and what water needs to remain healthy has been a central tenet of Nicole’s professional career for more than 25 years. Her work has always been about people first, including her insistence that everyone needs equal access to safe, clean affordable drinking water, protection from floods and other water-related disasters, and the benefits of healthy rivers. The future she seeks is one where healthy rivers exist alongside thriving communities, economies, and cultures.

As President/CEO of River Network, she is responsible for guiding River Network toward its mission in collaboration with staff and board members, engaging supporters and partners, expanding River Network’s reputation and public image, being a change agent for a more diverse and inclusive movement for our nation’s waters, and other duties. River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain all life.

Prior to her role at River Network, Nicole worked at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for 19 years, including launching and directing TNC’s first global initiative that helped TNC realize its role as a leader in freshwater conservation. Before TNC, Nicole worked on law and policy aspects of conservation in the US and Costa Rica and as a professional river guide. She holds a J.D. from the UC Davis and a B.A. in economics and ecology from the UC Santa Cruz. Visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolesilk/ for more information.

When she is not working, Nicole spends as much time as possible outdoors, including longer adventures on rivers with her family and friends.